My scooters speedometer is off. Anyone know how to adjust it?

Question

Hi! I have a brand new Kymco People 150 scooter. Today I checked the speedometer against a gps and found it was off. the faster I go the more off it is. IE: to go 25 I need to go 30 and to go 45 I need to go 55!!! That seems somewhat extreme. I know they are ussually a bit optomistic.... but that seems like a lot. Thanks or the help!!!

Answer 1

You really can't adjust it directly.  

Motorcycle and scooter speedometers are notoriously optimistic.  You'll find that they'll get a bit closer to accurate as you get some wear on the tires, and reduce their diameter a bit.  

I guess it's better to have it read high than to read low.  Fewer speeding tickets that way.

Answer 2

Actually, as the tires wear the error increases.  If you have a mechanical speedometer and you're fairly mechanically minded, you can take the speedo apart, pull the retaining pin on the "watch" spring, increase the tension a bit  and put it back together.  I've done that before.  Not sure how your instruments are made, but you don't want to destroy things doing so.

The other option is to get some stick on numbers and stick them on the bezel at their appropriate positions.  For example, stick 45 over the 55 speedo number.  Check at sign makers to see if them can fix you up with numbers.  Any more they have machines that laser cut adhesive vinyl and can make any desig you want.