Sport bike v. Tenere

Midnightventure

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Feb 20, 2016
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Eldon, Mo close to the Lake of the Ozarks
About 20 years ago a friend had a Suzuki 1100 GXSR that had been hotted up and lightened up. He also had the latest and greatest 750. He was going to let me try out the 1100 because I was thinking about getting a sport bike. I didn't hardly get out of his drive and got a serious cramp. So I didn't get one. At 65 years old now the Tenere does everything I want and fits the best of any bike I ever had. I just wish it didn't feel like it was going to tip over when it's parked.
 

Longdog Cymru

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Swansea, Wales, UK
The Gen 2 speedos are much more accurate than Gen 1.
How bad were the Gen 1 speedos then? Seems a strange claim to make when the only difference is the Speedo head itself? My Gen 2 shows 80mph when my Garmin shows 72mph. My previous bike, Kawasaki Versys 1000, showed 76mph when my Garmin showed 70mph
 

Boris

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Dec 21, 2013
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midlands. UK
How bad were the Gen 1 speedos then? Seems a strange claim to make when the only difference is the Speedo head itself? My Gen 2 shows 80mph when my Garmin shows 72mph. My previous bike, Kawasaki Versys 1000, showed 76mph when my Garmin showed 70mph
Between 70 & 80mph my Gen 1 bike reads about 5/6 mph fast compared to my TomTom GPS. I thought this was roughly where most road vehicles are with true v shown speed.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Philippines
Between 70 & 80mph my Gen 1 bike reads about 5/6 mph fast compared to my TomTom GPS. I thought this was roughly where most road vehicles are with true v shown speed.
10% error is the max allowed by law in the UK (or was pre 2000s). Most manufacturers run a few % fast/over.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Ventura, CA
How bad were the Gen 1 speedos then? Seems a strange claim to make when the only difference is the Speedo head itself? My Gen 2 shows 80mph when my Garmin shows 72mph. My previous bike, Kawasaki Versys 1000, showed 76mph when my Garmin showed 70mph
Not a “claim”, but rather a fact. My Gen 2 (US bike) is only 1-2 MPH discrepant with my GPS max, everyone I’ve heard with a Gen 2 says the same. I’ve never heard of a Gen 2 being as far off as you describe. Isn’t the “speedo head” the whole thing? It’s completely different between Gens.
 

VRODE

Easy Does It
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Aug 7, 2014
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Northern Vermont
Not a “claim”, but rather a fact. My Gen 2 (US bike) is only 1-2 MPH discrepant with my GPS max, everyone I’ve heard with a Gen 2 says the same. I’ve never heard of a Gen 2 being as far off as you describe. Isn’t the “head” the whole thing?


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Yup. My speedo (Gen2) is always within 1-2 mph of any GPS reading
 

Longdog Cymru

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Swansea, Wales, UK
Not a “claim”, but rather a fact. My Gen 2 (US bike) is only 1-2 MPH discrepant with my GPS max, everyone I’ve heard with a Gen 2 says the same. I’ve never heard of a Gen 2 being as far off as you describe. Isn’t the “speedo head” the whole thing? It’s completely different between Gens.
Yes, the Speedo head/display is totally different but I believe the drive or feed to the speedometer head/display is the same. As a matter of interest, at an indicated 52mph, my Garmin shows 50mph, but as my speed increases, so does disparity between the two.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Yes, the Speedo head/display is totally different but I believe the drive or feed to the speedometer head/display is the same. As a matter of interest, at an indicated 52mph, my Garmin shows 50mph, but as my speed increases, so does disparity between the two.
The speed sensor just sends out a raw pulsed signal that varies with speed. It’s up to the speedo to interpret and display that signal as speed. On a bike like the Super Ténéré, I’m sure the ECU plays a role too. I know on my car I can re-program the ECU for different final drive ratios so the speedo remains correct. The error on my speedo seems to be just an offset rather than a % (slope) error, as the difference remains consistent at higher speeds.


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MattR

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Nov 16, 2019
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North Hampshire UK
So which is more accurate? The GPS is measuring average speed over a given time but the Speedo measures actual speed at that moment?


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Longdog Cymru

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Swansea, Wales, UK
The speedo works off the rear wheel on Gen 1's. I notice changes up to 5 mph based on different tires installed and amount of tread wear.

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That is very interesting indeed! So, obviously, the aspect ration of tyres can have quite an effect. I have changed from Bridgestone A41 to Michelin PR5 Trail and maybe, just maybe one manufacturers 70% aspect ratio is slightly different from another’s aspect ratio.
 

Mak10

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SE Idaho
I always assumed it was the front tire. Is the sensor reading the back tire?
 

SilverBullet

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Dec 30, 2014
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Harmaston, TX
I always assumed it was the front tire. Is the sensor reading the back tire?
Actually not sure but when bike is on the centerstand speedo increases. So either rear wheel ABS sensor or from the tranny.

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