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Guest
Guest
I noticed my 78 GS1000 reads fast on the speedo. 60 mph indicated is more like 50. And I think 100 mph is more like 80-85. Is this inherent to these bikes?
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humhead
Guest
Road tests of !000s mention "optimistic" speedos. I don't think they were quite as bad as you 're seeing. Is everything on yuor bike stock?
Terry
Terry
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bradleymaynar
Guest
Bruce, how did you come to that conclusion on your speedo? I once thought my speedo was giving me the same way off readings after passing a roadside speed sign. You know, the ones they put in areas where traffic is known to always run over the limit. Anyway, it wasn't long after that that I got myself and 7 other bikes pulled over for speeding in WI. Turns out my speedo wasn't that far off.
I think the deputy checked our speed (keeping up with us in the cruiser) as high as 83. That's about the fastest my speedo had said I was going. I've since checked it by following my wife in her car and having her keep a steady speed. Our speedos may exaggerate, but it's not by much.
Brad tt
I think the deputy checked our speed (keeping up with us in the cruiser) as high as 83. That's about the fastest my speedo had said I was going. I've since checked it by following my wife in her car and having her keep a steady speed. Our speedos may exaggerate, but it's not by much.Brad tt
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runewolf
Guest
Checking my 750 against my GPS it is about 5 -8 mph over what the bike is actually doing. I'm not too concerned over that, if I think I'm going 75 and I'm actually only going 70 maybe I won't get a ticket 
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Guest
Guest
bradleymaynar said:
By comparing it to my 1150. I have run my 1150 through a 5 mile speedo check at 70 mph and it is spot-on. I had a friend on my 1000 following me in that same stretch... I was going 70 and he said the speedo on the 1000 was reading a little over 80.
And the other day, after synching and readjusting the carbs on the 1000, I was getting on it pretty hard from a dead stop, shifting at 8500 rpm. When I was maxed out in third gear shifting into fourth, the speedo said I was going 115 mph. Cruising at 100 indicated just seemed more like 80 or 85.
When I get my parts back from paint, I'll run the bike through that 5 mile speedo check and bring a stop watch.
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Guest
Guest
humhead said:
Yes, everything is stock.
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humhead
Guest
Here's some numbers from a March 78 test of a 1000.
Indicated Actual
30 mph 27mph
40 mph 35.3 mph
50 mph 44.5 mph
60 mph 53.5 mph
These from an April 79 test of a 1000E.
30mph 25.43mph
60mph 51.48mph
Looks like this was a design flaw.
Terry
Indicated Actual
30 mph 27mph
40 mph 35.3 mph
50 mph 44.5 mph
60 mph 53.5 mph
These from an April 79 test of a 1000E.
30mph 25.43mph
60mph 51.48mph
Looks like this was a design flaw.
Terry
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Guest
Guest
Great info to have, Terry. Thanks! Those number pretty much jive with my bike.
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SqDancerLynn1
Guest
I chalk some of it up to tire sizes Instead of 3.25 or ??? we are using metric # tires. WHile a 100/90/19 is best for handeling a 110/90/19 will be more acurate in relation to the speedo reading
My '79 1000E is about 3-5 mph fast, depending on speeds.
My NOS gauge set reads identical to the original set. Both are fast.
About 66/67 mph at 4K...actual is about 63.
I don't pay much attention to indicated speed shifting from 3rd to 4th, but mine is closer to 100 mph between these shifts. Your indicated 115 seems high. My 4th gear shift to 5th gear is about 115.
My NOS gauge set reads identical to the original set. Both are fast.
About 66/67 mph at 4K...actual is about 63.
I don't pay much attention to indicated speed shifting from 3rd to 4th, but mine is closer to 100 mph between these shifts. Your indicated 115 seems high. My 4th gear shift to 5th gear is about 115.
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Pharkmeh
Guest
ran mine along side our toyota camry - speedo reads about 12kph too fast...
might help me avoid a ticket or two so its not all bad
might help me avoid a ticket or two so its not all bad
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cberkeley
Guest
The speedo on my GS650 is 5% optimistic. Clocked it and the odometer against my Magellan GPS.
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wiredgeorge
Guest
The phenomenom of the optimistic speedometer is not a Suzuki issue. The speedometers used on many metrics from the 70s/80s are magnetic. As time passes, the magnetism decreases and the speedometers grow more and more optimistic. Your speedometer CAN be recalibrated if you don't mind rolling up your sleeves. I will post a link to an article describing how to do it. While the article is for a Beemer, I think it will work on almost any magnetic speedometer. After reading the steps, you may find that it isn't that important to have an accurate speedometer! bwhahaha
http://home.jtan.com/~joe/speedo.htm
FWIW: Almost all motorcycle speedometers are a shade innacurate (optimistic) even on a brand new bike but the old ones get really optimistic. My KZ carb test bikes are all in the range already mentioned... a reading of 60mph is about 50 mph.
http://home.jtan.com/~joe/speedo.htm
FWIW: Almost all motorcycle speedometers are a shade innacurate (optimistic) even on a brand new bike but the old ones get really optimistic. My KZ carb test bikes are all in the range already mentioned... a reading of 60mph is about 50 mph.
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stanski68
Guest
gps on bike
gps on bike
I mounted a handheld GPS on my bike, ........they give you exact mph.
I had use of a radar gun and they were identical, Anyway the magazine article was correct at 60 mph you are actually going 53, or seven off.
What they did not tell you is it gets worse the faster you go. The GPS also keeps track of top speed, I thought I hit 110 from my speedo, the gps does not lie I only went 93.9mph!!!!
Maybe this is a good thing.
PS the odometer is more accurate because average speed is lower
97 miles indicated was actually 91
The reason I did this was to calculate gas mileage my 1979 GS1000e gets between 26-29 with a cut up air box, and probably jetted, stock pipes.
So if you are calculating gas mileage with your odometer it is worse than you think.
gps on bike
I mounted a handheld GPS on my bike, ........they give you exact mph.
I had use of a radar gun and they were identical, Anyway the magazine article was correct at 60 mph you are actually going 53, or seven off.
What they did not tell you is it gets worse the faster you go. The GPS also keeps track of top speed, I thought I hit 110 from my speedo, the gps does not lie I only went 93.9mph!!!!
Maybe this is a good thing.
PS the odometer is more accurate because average speed is lower
97 miles indicated was actually 91
The reason I did this was to calculate gas mileage my 1979 GS1000e gets between 26-29 with a cut up air box, and probably jetted, stock pipes.
So if you are calculating gas mileage with your odometer it is worse than you think.
Not sure what exact mods you have, but 26-29 is low. Typical pod/pipe mod's on a correctly jetted '78/79 1000 will take about 4 mpg from stock mileage, if ridden nearly the same.
How do you drive the bike? Fast or normal? What main jet, jet needle e-clip position (stock needle?) and pilot jet do you run? How are your pilot fuel screws and side air screws set? What color are your plugs after just "general" riding around? Have you ever checked compression?
Not trying to turn this into a tech problem. Just wondering why the poor mileage from a "cut up airbox" and stock pipe.
No, it's not typical of this bike. Not if correctly tuned/jetted.
How do you drive the bike? Fast or normal? What main jet, jet needle e-clip position (stock needle?) and pilot jet do you run? How are your pilot fuel screws and side air screws set? What color are your plugs after just "general" riding around? Have you ever checked compression?
Not trying to turn this into a tech problem. Just wondering why the poor mileage from a "cut up airbox" and stock pipe.
No, it's not typical of this bike. Not if correctly tuned/jetted.
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stanski68
Guest
79 GS1000E Gas Mileage
79 GS1000E Gas Mileage
I drive it fast AND normal, I just calculated it again and I got 27 mpg.
I just have never had the carbs apart..... the plugs look like it is running rich, but it runs great, ildes at 1200 to 1400, and does not have any flat spots.
Back to the speedo I went 107 on gps and speedo showed 120.
79 GS1000E Gas Mileage
I drive it fast AND normal, I just calculated it again and I got 27 mpg.
I just have never had the carbs apart..... the plugs look like it is running rich, but it runs great, ildes at 1200 to 1400, and does not have any flat spots.
Back to the speedo I went 107 on gps and speedo showed 120.