How accurate are the speedometers?

[HAPPYDAVID]

I have just become the proud owner of a 2006 GT. I was wondering if anyone is aware of the accuracy of the speedometer on the GT. As has been mentioned numerous times regarding the percentage off it is on the LT, I was wondering if this applies to the new GT. Would appreciate any information on this. I would like to keep the ticket count down.

[eljeffe]

5 mph at 75 mph indicated is what I experienced.

[Shogun54]

At least BMW is consistent, error being the usual 7-10%.

[mpillis]

If my speedometer reads 75 am I going about 70 or 80?

[gulfxray]

If my speedometer reads 75 am I going about 70 or 80?

probably closer to 70... At least that was true in my case.

[eljeffe]

Your speedometer will read high, not low. Under DOT regulations, it is okay for a speedo to read high by as much as 10%+2.4mph. It is not allowed for a speedo to read low at all.

[messenger13]

It is not allowed for a speedo to read low at all.Then how come that's what you keep telling the LEOs?! :D

[meese]

Jeff doesn't have time to look at the speedo. He's too busy watching the double yellow for passing opportunities. :)

[donsexton]

The speed odometer on my LT is way off. It reads about 10% high.

If you use the odometer and time a measured mile it will come out very close. You can even reset the average mph (if you have that ability on your bike) while riding at a steady speed, and it will be very accurate. The average speed agrees with my GPS.

I don’t understand why we pay a premium for an expensive bike and have to live with speed odometers that are so inaccurate.

[Ted]

I don’t understand why we pay a premium for an expensive bike and have to live with speed odometers that are so inaccurate.

This way, in theory, you'll never get a ticket if you drive at or even slightly higher than the posted speed.

Not sure where you are, but here in Southern California the speedometer is pretty useless anyways....most of us ride "with the flow" of traffic, which is usually about 20+ mph over the posted speed (freeways, that is, not surface streets).

Besides, about a month ago I took my brother-in-law for a ride....we hit an indicated 106 mph - and he thinks we were going 106! Didn't have the heart to tell him......

[messenger13]

Besides, about a month ago I took my brother-in-law for a ride....we hit an indicated 106 mph - and he thinks we were going 106! Didn't have the heart to tell him......I did the speedo mod to mine a few months ago. Now that the speedo is correct, the LT seems slower. Funny how the mind works.

[TouringProf]

I used the sunlight-powered speed indicator at the entrance to the subdivision I live in to test my speedo. Just like my LTs, the speedo seems to be 10% off. At least I don't have to learn a new algorithm for mental speed correction!

[jpalamaro]

Just curious Jeff . . . did you get my PM a few days ago?

[eljeffe]

nope. what was it about?

[hugoscheuer]

According To My Gps, My Speedometer Reads 1.5 Miles Fast At 65.
06 Gt

[jkersh1]

BMW makes great bikes, they just can't seems to get the whole 'miles' thing ;( The odo's on both my '02 LT and '97 GS are 5% high, and the speedos 8% high. Referenced to GPS, and AzDOT measured miles.

[larrykay]

Today, I did a speed check on my 06 KGT. AT a reading of 100mph, my gps said 96.3 and at 110 on the speedo, the gps says 106. I did not do spped checks at slower speeds, as the bike does not want to go slowly......

[fas]

Today, I did a speed check on my 06 KGT. AT a reading of 100mph, my gps said 96.3 and at 110 on the speedo, the gps says 106. I did not do spped checks at slower speeds, as the bike does not want to go slowly......

Yep, mine has the same problem.. This GT just doesn't like going slowly. It likes slicing thru traffic.