My speedometer is WAY off. By DrRocco (Read 1,662 times)

[DrRocco]

Long before I even bought my junk Chinese scooter, I was well aware that the speedometers on Chinese bikes are very "optimistic."  Most things I had read said that if your speedo says 45 MPH, you're most likely actually doing somewhere between 35 and 40 MPH.  A large stretch of my daily commute exists in a 45 MPH zone, so I try to run where my speedo reads between 45 and 50 MPH, just to be safe.  

After a couple weeks of doing that, I got curious as to exactly how fast I was going, so the last two days, I've ran a GPS app on my phone that tracks speed and position on a graph.  On day one, I couldn't believe how far off it was.  On day two, the GPS data showed the same as the day before... As it turns out, when my speedometer says I'm going 40-45 MPH, I'm actually going 55-63 MPH.

Chinese pieces of junk... geesh!  I wish I had spent $3K on a Ruckus that goes 35 MPH.  Instead, I spent 1/4 of that for a machine that goes twice as fast.  Woe is me.

[beebo]

I don't know--maybe I'm just lucky, but my speedo reads within 2-3 mph of my GPS at any given speed. The last time I checked it with the GPS, I set the alarm at 80 mph and when it went off, I looked down at the speedo and it read about 82mph. When I got back to the house, I checked the GPS log file and it actually recorded a top speed of 81 mph. Now that was with new Shenkos, which seemed to be a little taller than the stock tires, tho they had the same numbers (size) as the original tires. I do think my odometer is a little optimistic, but not much. Maybe 5% or so. I am going to check that when the weather gets a little more stable around here.

[Bashan]

What is your bike Beebo? Most Chinese scooters are physically incapable of going 80 MPH. My Fashion will hit 75 given enough time and no head wind. My Citycom will pop 80 but it's an EFI with 16" wheels. I'm just sayin', there's something wrong here. I'm not being argumentative it's just physics.

My first Bashan read 15 MPH over the actual speed. The speedo read 60.....it was actually going 45. Good marketing! Rich

[150rider]

You could crank back on the gas and drive at 35.  Might work.

[Bashan]

Apr 19, 2014 0:22:51 GMT -6 150rider said:

You could crank back on the gas

I'm not sure what that means...can you explain that to me?

[twowheeler]

My BMS is off by 2 mph

[jvino]

Yeah crack that gas and do 35 wow what a rush huh basham. I can't what to hear the response on that one.

[jvino]

Dr rocco I think you have more power now with your scooter compared to a ruckus. But I would think the ruckus is a very dependable scooter. Well at least you now how fast your going so if you see a cop u know to slow done. Not that a cop would give you a ticket though.

[beebo]

@ Bashan: Mine is a Roketa branded YY250T w/13" wheels and some minor mods/tuning tweaks. 2011 I think. I modified my intake and exhaust, re-jetted the carb, changed out the torque spring to a stiffer one, haven't messed with the weights...yet. I think I can gain some performance with lighter weights...might try it this spring.

This scoot would barely do 55 when I bought it. Now it will barely do 80. Now it gets around more like I expected it to do when it was new. And I swear, even with 6200 miles on it, it STILL feels stronger with every ride!Gotta love it!!

[mxmatt]

My Lifan 150 speedo is always about 5mph faster than GPS after about 15 MPH. *contmplating buying a TaoTao*

[Bashan]

Apr 19, 2014 8:46:41 GMT -6 jvino said:

Yeah crack that gas and do 35 wow what a rush huh basham. I can't what to hear the response on that one.

35 what? Parsecs per hour? Pick it up dude, I'll blow by your arse.

Yeah Beebo, if you did those things even with those wheels you could pop 80. I was touching 75 stock with the Fashion and that has a 10" rear wheel! That does cross your mind when you're passing an SUV at 70.

Parsecs, Jvino....Par...sex. Ooh... I was naughty!

[Alleyoop]

SHOT 80 mph is that ALL? My 150 bored out Trike that weighs 350 lbs I have had it up to 120mph WHEN I PUSHED IT OFF THE GRAND CANYON GPS VERIFIED
Alleyoop

[jvino]

Ok basham don't get it? I am having a hard time believing some of these scooter speeds allthough I could be wrong. Mabye for 250s and larger scooters I wouldn't think 150s could reach that speed.

[Bashan]

You are correct my friend, that would be a real stretch for a 150. Now Beebos is a 250 vertical, the same as my Fashion. Mine will hit 75 given enough time on a flat road. It is feasible with a little tweaking touching 80 is possible. Alley is talking about using gravity as a booster but there is the abrupt stop at the bottom. I jerked around with a Bashan 150 for a couple years and hit 64 if I remember right measured with a GPS. It was shrieking and didn't like it one bit. I was headed a little bit downhill too. Having said that, MonsterGY6 builds GY6s that he says will pop 75. Having talked with Steven I would say that's true. His motors sell for $1,000.00+ and his bikes for much more. But consider, they are all BBK and no longer 150cc. Go look online and see how big 150 ccs is and tell me how that could easily move a scooter over 80. Now look at 50cc and tell me how it moves the damn scooter! Now look at your gastric capacity and tell me how you got all those damn ribs down last Tuesday! That's right, I'm watching your arse...I'm watching all of you! Put it down TW...just put it down. Alley, hand me that BBQ sauce will you? I smell bacon, is Jack here? Rich.

[mxmatt]

Apr 20, 2014 16:21:02 GMT -6 Bashan said:

You are correct my friend, that would be a real stretch for a 150. Now Beebos is a 250 vertical, the same as my Fashion. Mine will hit 75 given enough time on a flat road. It is feasible with a little tweaking touching 80 is possible. Alley is talking about using gravity as a booster but there is the abrupt stop at the bottom. I jerked around with a Bashan 150 for a couple years and hit 64 if I remember right measured with a GPS. It was shrieking and didn't like it one bit. I was headed a little bit downhill too. Having said that, MonsterGY6 builds GY6s that he says will pop 75. Having talked with Steven I would say that's true. His motors sell for $1,000.00+ and his bikes for much more. But consider, they are all BBK and no longer 150cc. Go look online and see how big 150 ccs is and tell me how that could easily move a scooter over 80. Now look at 50cc and tell me how it moves the damn scooter! Now look at your gastric capacity and tell me how you got all those damn ribs down last Tuesday! That's right, I'm watching your arse...I'm watching all of you! Put it down TW...just put it down. Alley, hand me that BBQ sauce will you? I smell bacon, is Jack here? Rich.

Bashan! You might have the worst case of ADD I have ever encountered!