Modern Vespa

It struck me, riding home today, that all of the complaints about inaccurate speedometers seem to have one thing in common. Everyone's gauge reads consistently 5% high. Why don't we all individually, or one of us with everyone's support, write to Piagia/Vespa and suggest that they redesign the screen for the gauge and make the numbers match the needle?


Or am I way off base here?

Yeah, right, it's been going on for years. Good luck with that.
I think the 5% is supposedly within their 'fudge factor' for engineering purposes.

Legal purposes more than anything else.

Curious . . . do most people find that their speedometers are off by a percentage or a flat mph/kph regardless of speed?

All my American vehicles have speedos which are 100% accurate; all my European ones (German, Italian) are 5-7% optimistic...

5% is the maximum legal variance in most jurisdictions for a standard speedometer. Piaggio, like most for-profit enterprises, has no reason to cut into their profit margin to provide something that most people don't even think twice about and isn't legally required.

Honestly, I know my speedo is off and I don't really care much. I expect that it is off by 10% high, 5o indicated is about 45 in reality. I basically ride about the same speed as those around me. When I get to a traffic light, I split up as far as I can. When I am at the front for a green light (either as a split or in a lane proper) I accelerate until the speedo reads the limit and then ride between the groups of cars/trucks. I try to set my pace by staying in the middle of the packs, when possible. LEO is not going to ticket me for going the same speed as all the others on the road near me.

If I am in a situation that I need to rely on the speedo, I just add 5 MPH to the indicated speed. As in, I am in a 45 MPH zone, I keep the scoot at or below 50 indicated. I know this is a little too fast but it's only likely to be 1-2 mph high (46-47 actual). I am willing to risk a ticket for 1-2 mph over the limit and most officers are not going to yank you for such a small infraction.

Yep American built cars and bikes seem to be within 1 or 2 mph always. My wife's VW is off by 4 and my mp3 is off by 5. Must be a European Thang.

PS I think the range is more accurate at higher speeds.

Mine reads at least 10% off and even higher at the top end. Someone on here (jimc?) has his speedo marked off with tape to indicate true speed. One of these days I think I'm going to do the same.

You mean in you car too? They are all
off approx 5mph. Same with my gts.

5% wouldn't be so bad. But that's not the case for me. My ET2 reads 35 when it is going 30. That's more like 15%.

My S150 seems to be 5 mph off across the entire speed range. It has a peg at 5 mph, and I think that, except for that it's accurate. My speedo says 50, it's actually 45...

Yes that more clearly describes my experience - I think it's going about 20 when it reads 25, for example.

My P200E has the opposite problem, it's going about 50-51 when it reads 45.

Fuoco (M3 500) speedo with true GPS markings at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70:



GP800, same speeds:



The GT200 only needs markings at 30 and 40, thereafter it doesn't matter that much - I'm probably speeding!

I've yet to calibrate the UK GTS 250 - but I will post when I have. The US red 300 one is consistently bang on 7mph over from 35 to 55, and I put markers on that, but no photos for a month or two.

My GTV seems to run between 10-15% high. I haven't checked GPS but based on the road-side radar signs, I'm ~15% high.
Best
Miguel

I've noticed my GTV is almost always 8-10mph high. Wife and I did some testing with a 2-lane road and the car speedometer (which is almost exactly acurate). Surprising, really - I figured it would be a ratio thing. Low end jumps up pretty quickly from start.

Makes me wish there was a way to adjust it slightly down.

We have owned three modern Vespas and one BV500. Each was off by 10% when traveling 45-60mph.

OK OK I stipulate that the d@mn things are out by 5% or 5mph. What do we do about it? If anything. How about that?

Don't sweat the speedo, follow the GPS Speed, silly.

the only issue that I have is when riding with a group , and sometimes there are newer scooterists along, they seem to be speed fixated, always trying to go exactly the limit ( according to the speedo, YIKES)
and this puts the group and a 5% below the limit speed that IMHO, sucks for all. as in >>>> holding up traffic. thats all.

If I don't have the gps on, I just subtract 10 from my kilometres per hour. Crude yes, but good enough to keep me from getting a speeding ticket, which is all I really care about.