Modern Vespa

Instead I did something about the speedometer error on my Beverly

1. remove the rear handlebar cover including the speedo.
2. Dismount the gauge panel from the cover.
3. Remove the "lens" from the G. panel
4. Pull out the small stopper pin for the speedo needle
5. Pull of the silvery cover from the needle
6. Now the needle will go down to were the spring force is zero
7. Note at which reading the needle stops.
8. Pull the needle gently of the shaft with your fingers, this feels rather scary at first. The shaft for the needle is very thin.
9. If the needle stopped at, let's say, 5 km/h and your error is 10% then you should put back the needle on the shaft at "-5 km/h"
10. Turn the needle a bit and put back the stopper pin
11. Assemble everything back on the bike in the reverse order
12. Go for a ride and enjoy your new-found accurate speedo.

PS. This would probably work on a Vespa too



Last edited by jk_single on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:06:13 +0000; edited 1 time

Great! I often wondered if you could do something like this non-destructively, but I've never had the courage to try.

Speaking of speedometer error. I have noticed since my last long ride using my GPS, that the 300 Super's speedometer is pretty much 10 km/hr off except at speeds near and greater than 100 km/hr where it is closer to 12-14km/hr off. Essentially, if the speedometer didn't start at 10 km/hr (it never goes to zero, the lowest is 10 km/hr) it would be pretty accurate.

cool, but i kinda like my built in 5mph ego booster on the vespa

Vespa replaced my speedo(300 GTS). It was off 20%. The new one is about 10% fast. The replacement was done under warranty I did lose my original odometer

Mine is like that also, up to 80 it is now spot on, after the calibration. And at 100km/h there is a 2-3% error, this is probably the best you can get with this high-quality instrument

I have two '05 Vespa GT 200L scooters. They're both about 20% fast in the mid range of 45 to 65 mph when checked with a GPS.
The odometer readings, however, are spot on wth the GPS and the highway mileposts.

Nice! I added a link to this thread from the speedo Wiki:
FAQ: Speedometer Accuracy and Related Topics

I continue to wonder why the factory doesn't do this to begin with, for every maker who deliberately allows faulty instrumentation out the door. There should be a law to prevent such deception... as that class action suit mentioned, such faulty instrumentation means the miles indicated are not the actual miles ridden, which, far as I know, is illegal, according to the DMV. It's the equivalent of rolling back/rolling forward the clock... I know rolling it back is illegal, but "rolling it forwards" should also be illegal, because this is what manufacturers do when they let faulty instruments out the door. A lie is a lie.


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Just because the speedo reads high does not mean the odometer does. The odometer is usually pretty accurate, however far off the speedo is.

This is a true statement. My BMW reads 2.5 MPH faster at all speeds (Except at ZERO). My Odometer reads exact distance traveled. I verified this with my GPS. My Honda reads ONE MPH faster and the Odometer is accurate. Auto makers must design it this way to keep you from speeding. If you alter your tire size then you will have inconsistencies with both Speed and odometer readings.

I couldn't find what I was looking for in the search, but I guess this a close enough topic.

Can you remove the speedo lens on a Vespa P200E without destroying it? My dad seems to think the bezel will screw off and then you can remove it, but I looked at the bezel and it doesn't look threaded, it looks molded on from the factory. Somebody please tell me which one of us is crazy.

Far easier to add your own marks (thin strips of tape, whatever) to the outside. Non-invasive and correctable.

huh? I'm not trying to change the speedo, just clean the inside and maybe turn the odometer back to zero if I can since the engine is totally rebuilt and I'd like to know how many miles I'm putting on it without having to remember how many I started with.

I guess you do realize that it's illegal to turn your odometer back. If I remember correctly it's a federal offense. How ever at 61 I have been know to misremember.

Well if I were trying to resell it I totally understand that, but what's the difference between running it until it turns back
over to zero or just buying a new odometer altogether? I would rather just get a new one but I'm trying to save money.

Whether I reset the mileage or not, I'd still like to get the bezel off so I can paint it.

P.S. my odometer reading on the title is N/A anyways for some reason, so as far as legalities go I think I'm safe.

Not dealing with these types of things I don't know. However I would imagine that there is paperwork that needs to go to the DMV with the old odometer reading as well as the reason for the need to change odometers. I'm not sure how you managed to have n/a for mileage on your title and registration. Here in Louisiana that information has to be on the paperwork when applying for the 2 documents. Of course that may differ from state to state.

Any way as I said I'm no expert just things I have noticed in my short 61 years on this earth. And we all know that the only constant is change.

I found this solution for speedo error:

http://www.healtech-electronics.com/

More expensive than the OP's method, but then, far more versatile. Click on SpeedoHealer...


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From what I can tell, this won't work on our scoots. We have cabled speedos, not electronic.

Well, from what I read, it does allow you to replace your original (mechanical) speedo with an electronic version you can calibrate to your individual bike. So, it can have some application, though it would take someone willing to convert, with the attendent extra expense.

Besides, I know some people here have motorcycles as well as scooters, so this could work for them, if not for their scoots.


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A lot of them are electronic - I haven't had a mechanical speedo on a scoot for years.

The problem with the speed healer is that it'll change the odometer reading to be low, if used to lower the apparent speed.

Re-marking the dials in some way is best, but for those with a digital speedo readout the lower odometer reading has to be accepted.

The cheap and cheerful fix is mount a bicycle computer. Accurate speed, odometer, tripmeter and some have backlighting for night riding. You calibrate it based on your exact tire size.

+1

That's always my first addition to a new bike so I can calibrate the dials to it. Then it comes off again.

I leave mine on. Either I'm lazier than Jim, or, clearly, I don't have enough scooters!

Know of any on which the LCD display does not crap out in very cold weather?

I had a Sigma on my old Vino, but the display went blank every time the temperature got below 40 degrees F.

Let me double check my Sigma tonight; I was surprised that it was still functioning in my unheated garage a few weeks ago. Sigma specs them (BC906) between 32F and 140F. Perhaps your problem was with the battery?


Edit: My LCD is still sharp and clear with the below freezing temp of the garage.

Last edited by Harvey on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:55:05 +0000; edited 1 time

Not sure... it was the supplied battery that had been in use only a couple of months. As I had already confirmed that my larger tires now had the speedo spot-on, I took the Sigma off the bike.

This is from their FAQ. I have a cable-not wires-going from my front tire to the back of my gauge cluster. Are they talking about something else or am I thinking of the wrong thing?

AFAIK, the speedos on most Vespas are mechanical drive, and this device won't work with them. Not sure about the GTS.

GTS is mechanical.

I suspect most if not all Vespas are. Easy way to tell for those who aren't sure if they have a bowden cable or wires - if the odometer is in the speedo dial and the odometer is mechanical, then the speedo is driven by a mechanical Bowden cable. If the odometer is an LCD digital display, the speedo sensor is a Hall effect electronic device, and the 'analogue' speedo display is driven by a stepper motor.

I can't ever fix that..it'll totally hose my mileage claims!