Car and driver did a story about it years ago, i cant find that one but here is a chart showing that they are off, these were done with newer cars. It shows the deviations. They have gotten better over the years.


http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezfl...32f82a5a71.pdf

 

Meh, to me Car & Driver ranks up there with Consumer Reports. 20lbs of bull shiat into a 10lb bag. I've owned probably 10 different makes and models over the last 20 years, all of which have been within 2mph of those construction warning signs. I've also had police officers clock me as a courtesy if I've suspected an issue and again was +/- 1mph.

 

there is one exception Vdub.. motorcycles- ESPECIALLY sport bikes- have optimistic speedometers.. very optimistic actually..

they want the owner to think he is hitting 150 when he is actually hitting more like 130~135... also, it keeps riders from getting ticketed more often than they do.. (at more reasonable speeds, obviously). therre was actually some collusion with Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the DoT to make this happen..

speaking of weird gov't involvement in other things: the DoT, Coast Guard, and makers of JetSkiis all got together and determined that 70mph on the water is fast enough.. so, you can buy a 130 hp ski that can maybe do 65mph, a 155 that can maybe do 68 mph, or jump up with the big boys and get a 215 or a 255/260- all of which will limit your top end to around 70~72ish.. and dig this: it's in the hull design..

you can take a 130 hp SeaDoo for instance, add a larger TB and flash, and bump it to 155 (that is the only difference engine wise OR hull wise)... OR you can add a s/c + flash to a 130 and get a 215.. what you've done now though is add those ponies to a hull design that will allow 85+mph.. if you add the TB, S/c +flash to the 130 IN the 130's hull you're now running 255/260HP, and--- 90~95mph.. the coasties are going to have a hard time catching you, (not to mention you'll break your neck at those water speeds in short order).. edited to add: you're a navy vet.. you KNOW how speed differs on the water.. 70mph is floggin FAST.. 90mph on a 12' waterlined craft? that is almost suicide.. it is extremely hard to control..

I'm not going to argue the automobiles, because they've had a long time to get that right.. w/35" tires, I'm 6% off (reads slower than i'm going).. but they absolutely DO screw around with other types of vehicles, and it 'appears' in effort to keep you 'safe'..

 

Welcome to the age of litigation......

The JetSki manufacturers are probably afraid of being sued for someone else's stupidity. I can see the lawsuit now...... Man buys jet ski, man goes small lake, man runs jetski up to 80 mph, man discovers jetski's don't have brakes, man discovers that it isn't speed that kills, it's the sudden stop. This information does him no good though, as he is now dead. Family steps up and sues the company for producing such a dangerous machine.......

 

Ironically I was just checking this morning to see how far off my speedo on my truck was. According to GPS when speedo shows 60 I'm doing about 63.5. I have stock size tires. I was curious because my dad was following me the other day going 65 and asked me how fast I was going because he said he was doin over 70 most of the way. Drew +1 on the sportbikes. I've got a 2002 gsxr750. Back before I modded it and changed the gearing it was about 5 or 6 mph off at 60. The faster you go the farther off it is.

 

agreed.. what a floggin' world we live in, huh?

So, I buy a brace of GTI130's a couple of seasons ago.. was about to pull the trigger on Sea-Doo S/c's, and already had the TB's.. called down to Wilmington Motorsports and asked if they would support a flash for me, (in effort to compare prices to what I had found at another shop, and from online) and was told "We'll get back with you".. well, they did..

I got the call, and was told 'modifying those engines will negate the warranty".. I said I was aware of that.. they said "we really don't want you to do that. " I asked why?.. they said "we do support mods for race teams and for rental agencies who de-tune them, but we have no guarantee that you know what your doing when you ride those things, so we're reluctant to 'sell' you the tune, but what we WILL 'give' you, is an extended warranty that covers stem to stern, is transferable, and is for 60 months, including all scheduled services"..

duh.. I took it.. it was an option when I bought them that I opted out of.. but it was free now.. so I took it, and sold/gave away the mods I intended to put on them..

what's funny about this though, to me, is that the 130hp skiis put about the same smile on my face as the racier ones I've ridden..

80+ MPH on the water is about STUPID anyway.. ESPECIALLY the ocean.. which is where I ride..

 

I LOVE JetSki's. Convert gasoline DIRECTLY into FUN! Even on a small lake. I tend to chase boats.... and play in their wake. (from a good distance) a couple folks on the lake my parents live on, enjoy watching us play, so, if they see us out, they would hop in their boats, and cruise at a nice steady speed, to generate some nice waves for us to play in. THAT was FUN!!!!

Now that gas is so hideously expensive though.... haven't been on one in quite a while.

 

it cost me anywhere from $50~$100 every time I took them out last season.. I would take them out at least twice a week.. I knew it was bad, but at the year when I tallied the score, well.. I don't even wanna say how much i'd spent..

these had 16gallon tanks, and at WOT that didn't last long.. I could get a good day out of a tank though.. I lapped the island last year- left through the Bogue Inlet, came back in the Beaufort Inlet, lapping Emerald Isle.. came back up the Bogue Sound.. it took a little over an hour and a half (would have been quicker but seas weren't good for scooting that day) and according to the GPS it was a total of 72 statute miles.. I burned a half of a tank on each ski..

here is the day before, in this pic we were 5 miles offshore:






a buddy on his yammi, at five miles out:




I've never seen calmer seas than on this particular day.. there were floggin' jon boats out as far as the three mile marker.. I think we went out as far as 12 that day..


sold them in May, and bought this:



55mpg is hard to argue with.. a 7.9 gallon tank gives me a range of nearing 425 miles..

and, as it is: the speedo reads about 9% higher than what I'm running.. :-D

 

It'd be a good debate on which is more fun... 'skis, or bike.... bike is certainly more useable, and has a great deal more utility than the 'skis......

I am still kicking myself for selling my old bike. Had an 81 Honda CB900C...... It wasn't a back street weapon, but, I rode it like one anyway..... and it did GREAT on gas....

When the opportunity presents itself though, I want to try and pick up on an 83 CB1000C... They only made them the one year, same bike, just a few more cubes..... I see them going for good prices on EBay on a fairly regular basis. Now, just need to have the money.

 

there's quite a market for the old CB's.. they seem to have a cult following.. I had a CB80 when I was a kid.. I beat the crap out of that bike..

Triumph has a retro bike out.. it's floggin' sweet too.. it just won't be too comfortable for long hauls (which I like to do).. and @ $8k, it's too much for a around town ride..

i was just about to pull the trigger on a denim blue harley street glide back in April/May, but then this one came along for unreal cheap- so I took it..

it's the gas mileage I'm really looking for.. and this one is liquid cooled- which is HUGE down here during the summer.. +, riding season is 12 months here usually..