Inflating your odometer reading

[Meltdown]

I'm still trying to figure out why someone would actually want to do this.

 

[Scrib]

Well, in my case it would be helpful, but hurtful (having more mileage than actual). I have a bike on its way from Texas and it only has 5800 miles on it - it's a 49 state model and I'm in Claifornia. Now California is really screwy in many ways and this is one of them: You can import a 49 state vehicle less than 10 years old assuming it already has 7500 miles on it. Also, you are required to register the bike within 20 days.

So in this case adding mileage instantly would be [helpful], but not really in my best interest. Legally, I should not be bringing this bike in since it's not legal to ADD mileage in-state to hit the 7500 mile marker. Luckily, the tags are good until November so I just have to be "good" and I should be ok. BTW if DMV were to find out, the bike gets blacklisted here and can NEVER be registered in California. This is the only reason why I would "advance" my odometer - to ensure a 49 stater could get registered here in California.

 

[Bounce]

I've heard this before, but is anyone really sure, or is this just kind of an assumption? I know that when I take a trip on the bike and zero the odometer and my GPS, my bike always shows more miles than the GPS. The funny thing is it's about 5% more than the GPS and my speed is usually about 5% higher than actual. I'm betting our odos are reporting slightly higher mileage than we are actually riding.

my 98se Wing and the 03 FJR were/are both within at least 1% on the odo when the speedo was about 5% to 10% optimistic on the bikes. I noticed that when I started documenting IBA rides. the odos were always much more accurate.

it's because the optimistic reading on the speedo isn't an accident. mfgrs intentionally make speedo read high to avoid claims by people wanting to ride at the edge of the speed limit and then getting a ticket because the odo was too close for whatever reason (set for factory tires and the owner swapped to something else, etc.). anywhere else in the world wouldn't matter but in the US, sooner or later, someone would try and sue them after getting a ticket.

As for the CA import issue, take a week off and go for a ride. You'll be happy you did and your mileage should be easily over the minimum limit. If you don't have that kind of time, take a 3 days weekend and do it. Heck, it's only 1700 miles do it on a regular 2 day weekend.

 

[Scrib]

As for the CA import issue, take a week off and go for a ride. You'll be happy you did and your mileage should be easily over the minimum limit. If you don't have that kind of time, take a 3 days weekend and do it. Heck, it's only 1700 miles do it on a regular 2 day weekend.

Plan on it! :yahoo:

 

[HotRodZilla]

I've heard this before, but is anyone really sure, or is this just kind of an assumption? I know that when I take a trip on the bike and zero the odometer and my GPS, my bike always shows more miles than the GPS. The funny thing is it's about 5% more than the GPS and my speed is usually about 5% higher than actual. I'm betting our odos are reporting slightly higher mileage than we are actually riding.

my 98se Wing and the 03 FJR were/are both within at least 1% on the odo when the speedo was about 5% to 10% optimistic on the bikes. I noticed that when I started documenting IBA rides. the odos were always much more accurate.

it's because the optimistic reading on the speedo isn't an accident. mfgrs intentionally make speedo read high to avoid claims by people wanting to ride at the edge of the speed limit and then getting a ticket because the odo was too close for whatever reason (set for factory tires and the owner swapped to something else, etc.). anywhere else in the world wouldn't matter but in the US, sooner or later, someone would try and sue them after getting a ticket.

As for the CA import issue, take a week off and go for a ride. You'll be happy you did and your mileage should be easily over the minimum limit. If you don't have that kind of time, take a 3 days weekend and do it. Heck, it's only 1700 miles do it on a regular 2 day weekend.

I am aware of the speedo differences, but am still unsure if an optomistic speedo relates to an optomistic odo. Fred's last explanation seemed to make pretty good sense, and I have never checked the bike against a measured mile, because I don't think there are any in NM, and I don't remember every hitting one while on the bike. Next time I'm out of state, I'll have to try it.

I guess I could hold the bike at 60mph on the GPS and see how far the bike odo reads in 60 seconds. I guess when I'm riding it, I'm just not that worried about it.