Ivan’s Flash Tuning

[torch]

Be it altering the sensor output electronically or monkeying with tire sizes correcting the speed will throw the odometer out in the other direction. I was hoping it was something that could be adjusted in the flash, since reports are that the US speedos are reasonably accurate.

 

[RossKean]

Does centrifugal force change the rolling circumference?

It might increase circumference, depending on the stiffness of the tire carcass, speed and (probably) temperature. Similarly, tire wear will decrease the circumference. Who knows if these factors are significant - I don't.
The calculator will provide a good approximation for the difference between two tire sizes.

As for a relative difference in speedo accuracy between US and Cdn bikes, I am a bit surprised but I haven't seen comparative data. Again, it's close enough for me and I ultimately rely on the GPS anyway. Always annoying when a gauge is incorrectly calibrated, especially when it is done deliberately by the manufacturer.

 

[Mr_Canoehead]

I can confirm that my Cdn bike reads around 8% high, however the odo seems accurate. It's pretty easy for the mfg to not directly correlate the two since both are electronic.

The manufacturers need to have an accurate odo by law but it seems like all the Euro manufacturers overstate the speed. I found this in a Globe and Mail article:

The difference between actual speed and the speed dial tends to get noticed more with German cars because their speedometers are designed to never report a speed lower than actual speed. European law (ECE-R39) says speedometers cannot show speeds less than the actual speed, and they must never show more than the 110 per cent of actual speed plus 4 km/h. So, under those rules, a car could be moving at 100 km/h, but the speedometer could legally display as high as 114 km/h.

Yamaha Canada probably uses the Euro spec instrument panel to get km/h (and the damn immobilzer came along for the ride).

My BMW 1150GSA's speedo always read 10% high, so I changed out the drive gear from a different model. Now the speedo is right on but the odo is low by 10%, something I can live with, since I look at the speedo all the time and the odo only for service (and no, before someone asks, I'm not concerned about being criminally charged with odo tampering ).

 

[torch]

You are probably right about the European dash. Maybe that's why we got the immobilizer with the Gen II.

It bugs me that my speedo is inaccurate because European law forces manufacturers to overstate speed in that market. That is not the case here -- a motorcycle doesn't need to have a speedometer or odometer at all in this province.

The odo is accurate, so I'm sure it's just a line of code somewhere -- ABS unit, ECU or dash. US models have selectable km/miles display in the dash which was disabled for Canadian models. If the design philosophy is similar, the culprit may well be the dash itself.

 

[RossKean]

US models have selectable km/miles display in the dash which was disabled for Canadian models.

The US model Gen II is not selectable in the digital odometer display for km/miles (or °F/°C). (I had a US model 2007) Gen I was selectable.
Gen II is fixed Imperial measurement. Interesting though that if you are in average MPG mode, it still updates exactly once per kilometer (0.62... miles).
The analog speedo dial is in miles with kilometers in smaller (unreadable with my eyes while riding) print on the face.

 

[torch]

The US model Gen II is not selectable in the digital odometer display for km/miles (or °F/°C). (I had a US model 2007)

Really? Interesting. I've seen a Gen III that was selectable. Weird that the Gen II was not. So much for any thought of retrofitting a US dash then... <lol>

 

[graytaz]

Funny that if it's likely a line of code that the variance isn't consistent. My '08 reads about 5% high so 100kph is actually 95.
When I got my '03 Gen 1 in '02, I wrote Yamaha a letter specifically asking for kph and mph speedometer ranges as so many of us ride in the US and got absolutely bupkus as a response. A selectable dash would be the best solution but us actual riders / purchasers don't get any input. Does anyone know if the Canadian Gen III gets that selectable dash?

 

[sapest]

Funny that if it's likely a line of code that the variance isn't consistent. My '08 reads about 5% high so 100kph is actually 95.
When I got my '03 Gen 1 in '02, I wrote Yamaha a letter specifically asking for kph and mph speedometer ranges as so many of us ride in the US and got absolutely bupkus as a response. A selectable dash would be the best solution but us actual riders / purchasers don't get any input. Does anyone know if the Canadian Gen III gets that selectable dash?

From CAD 2016 Owners Manual -
-Steve

 

[torch]

Funny that if it's likely a line of code that the variance isn't consistent. My '08 reads about 5% high so 100kph is actually 95.

Probably a combination of deliberate over-statement and manufacturing tolerance. Mine seems to be +3 at 50 kph, +4 at 100 kph and +5 at 160 kph, so not a pure percentage. As far as I can tell, anyway, given the challenges of perfectly holding a speed with the needle centered on the number long enough to settle out the GPS lag.

I'm tempted to remove the dash and relocate the needle.

Oddly, while there are aftermarket speedometer faces available in either Kph or mph for both the Gen I and Gen II analogue clocks, I've never seen one showing both Kph and mph like the US face. I know Canada is a pretty small market, but surely the demand must also exist in the UK vs Europe arena?

 

[mcatrophy]

Oddly, while there are aftermarket speedometer faces available in either Kph or mph for both the Gen I and Gen II analogue clocks, I've never seen one showing both Kph and mph like the US face. I know Canada is a pretty small market, but surely the demand must also exist in the UK vs Europe arena?

As far as I am aware, all UK vehicles have the kph scale. Picture below is a (random) one of my 2014 2010, the same as RossKean's above, and equally unreadable while riding.
(Click on image for larger view)


(Being stupid, I went into the garage to check my 2018's speedometer. Doh!)

 

[Oldjeep]

Probably a combination of deliberate over-statement and manufacturing tolerance. Mine seems to be +3 at 50 kph, +4 at 100 kph and +5 at 160 kph, so not a pure percentage. As far as I can tell, anyway, given the challenges of perfectly holding a speed with the needle centered on the number long enough to settle out the GPS lag.

I'm tempted to remove the dash and relocate the needle.

Oddly, while there are aftermarket speedometer faces available in either Kph or mph for both the Gen I and Gen II analogue clocks, I've never seen one showing both Kph and mph like the US face. I know Canada is a pretty small market, but surely the demand must also exist in the UK vs Europe arena?

My over generalized opinion is that UK/Europe is probably not a big market for fluffy aftermarket stuff. For the most part it seems like when I see posts from Europe there is almost always the phrase "my mechanic" involved - leading me to believe that most folks there pay others to work on their bikes.

 

[torch]

(Being stupid, I went into the garage to check my 2018's speedometer. Doh!)

Sounds like the sort of thing I would do some days! LOL

 

[mcatrophy]

My over generalized opinion is that UK/Europe is probably not a big market for fluffy aftermarket stuff. For the most part it seems like when I see posts from Europe there is almost always the phrase "my mechanic" involved - leading me to believe that most folks there pay others to work on their bikes.

I think you are right on both counts.

Apart from aftermarket silencers (mufflers) and satnavs (and bling for posers), people tend to keep bikes pretty much as supplied, and because our mileages tend to be low by US standards, and dealers are generally closer, servicing is probably only once a year. For a UK resident, my (pre Covid) annual mileage is high at 8000 miles.

 

[torch]

Oh.
And here I had this illusion of Brits loading FJRs on a ferry or Chunnel train for a jaunt through exotic places like the French Riviera, the Alps or Gibraltar.
Yet another dream crushed by reality...

 

[mcatrophy]

Oh.
And here I had this illusion of Brits loading FJRs on a ferry or Chunnel train for a jaunt through exotic places like the French Riviera, the Alps or Gibraltar.
Yet another dream crushed by reality...

I'm one of the ones that do do continental excursions. Just come back from about 2000 miles in Spain. I might even post it up here. I'd guess about 60, maybe more, motorcycles on the ferry.

(If you really want to, you can read my write-up here, though it's still being amended).

 

[RossKean]

As far as I am aware, all UK vehicles have the kph scale. Picture below is a (random) one of my 2014, the same as RossKean's above, and equally unreadable while riding.
(Click on image for larger view)


(Being stupid, I went into the garage to check my 2018's speedometer. Doh!)

Brits are unique in that they use °C but distance (odometer) is in miles so your LCD gauge unit is a combination of metric and imperial. I assume that yours isn't switchable either. I would have thought that even if they didn't make the unit switchable with the front buttons, there should be a simple way of doing it - DIP switches, a jumper or EPROM. Especially since it is evident that it still "thinks" in metric as per my comment above regarding the average MPG function updating once per kilometer on a US bike. (I asked and nobody could give me an answer.)

Note: Your text says the pic is from your 2014 but unless Europe waited two years after North America for the all-digital display, that is a Gen II dash...

 

[mcatrophy]

Brits are unique in that they use °C but distance (odometer) is in miles so your LCD gauge unit is a combination of metric and imperial. I assume that yours isn't switchable ...

I agree we are unique.

Besides that, we also buy our fuel in litres, but our fuel consumption is in miles per gallon (proper full sized Imperial gallons, not your US undersized ones), all produce sold in shops is weighed in kilograms but with a pounds and ounces equivalent. I buy milk in a 2.272 (yes, that's what it says on it) container, which coincidentally is exactly the same as 4 pints (proper full-sized Imperial ...).

Road distances are given in miles. On motorways there are marker posts every kilometre, warning signs to exits given in miles, and there are three count-down signs to the exit at 100 metre intervals.

And so it goes on.

Oh, all my FJRs have been switchable between Imperial and metric on odometer (and fuel consumption) and temperature.

[edit] You are correct about the year of my FJR, that was my 2010 but taken in 2014, hence my mistake

 

[RossKean]

Oh, all my FJRs have been switchable between Imperial and metric on odometer (and fuel consumption) and temperature.

How do you switch between imperial and metric on the Gen II? Doesn't appear to be an option for either Canadian or US Gen II bikes although it can be done with Gen I and Gen III. Do you have a link to your UK Gen II manual? I would be interested in seeing how it is done. I can only switch between km/L and L/100 km on the fuel consumption meter on my current 2011. Note: The Canadian Gen II only shows km/hr on the speedometer whereas the US shows both mi/hr (large) and km/hr (small).

We (Canadians) don't use gallons either - quite thoroughly converted to metric in official terms, but...
We used to use Imperial gallons but everything is now litres EXCEPT we often discuss fuel economy in miles per US gallon.
(I like km per litre but never embraced the official litres per 100 km.)
Temperatures are °C, except when discussing a fever due to illness although that practice is fading.
Still use tablespoons and cups in baking. (I prefer g and kg where appropriate, especially for dry ingredients)
Coffee cups and beverage glasses are ounces but wine and spirits are litres (or millilitres)
I am equally conversant with meat and produce purchase in kg or pounds/ounces although most (older) people like Imperial.
Most length/distance measurements are metric although my height is in feet and inches and weight is pounds (not kg or stones)
We still buy framing lumber as 2" x 4" and plywood in 4' x 8' sheets
We buy our paint in litres but call a bucket a gallon. (Usually, it is a US gallon, converted to (3.785) litres, but sometimes you get 4 litres)
Hardware might be metric or imperial, depending on where it originates. Nails and wood screws are generally non-metric.

With a strong science (chemistry) background, I am pretty comfortable switching back and forth but some habits die hard.

Edit: I had a quick look at your link to your Spain trip and will have to give it a good read - bookmarked for later consumption.

 

[mcatrophy]

How do you switch between imperial and metric on the Gen II? Doesn't appear to be an option for either Canadian or US Gen II bikes although it can be done with Gen I and Gen III. Do you have a link to your UK Gen II manual? I would be interested in seeing how it is done. I can only switch between km/L and L/100 km on the fuel consumption meter on my current 2011. Note: The Canadian Gen II only shows km/hr on the speedometer whereas the US shows both mi/hr (large) and km/hr (small).

I don't think yours is switchable., however ...

I don't have a link to the handbook pdf, the one I used is no longer valid. I can show you the relevant pages:
(Click on image for larger view)

 

[RossKean]

I don't think yours is switchable., however ...

I appreciate the images from the manual but I didn't see where you could change between °C and °F (°C default), between miles and kilometers (miles default) or between gallons and litres (gallons default). Perhaps my brain isn't functioning on all cylinders today...
It is clear that the choice of units in the UK are different from anywhere else with (Imperial) gallons, miles and degrees Celsius.