Hondaline Speedo Drives Mythbusted

[daddy420big]

so how much different is there really bc i have a trip meter for a 200es and was woundering if i could use it on a sx or 250es . iam talking about the drive peace and use as a speedo

[Marty]

Physically they look the same but both drives spin opposite direction when mounted!!!
Both drives mount on whatever side the application is for and both need to spin clockwise to activate speedometer or odometer. So a 200s speedo drive that mounts on right side of forks be placed on a 200x or left side fork and expect speedo to work. And speedo drives go on specific side the have a boss on wheel that drives speedo gear.

[atcmatt]

I really just feel like these were a money making thing for Honda. They were never meant to be 100% accurate. Take it for what it is I guess and enjoy your needle that moves on your speedo on your vintage ATC. Cant beat that. I love that I have them on mine just for the cool factor. The 200es one wont work on a 250es and sx BTW.

Matt

[wonderboy]

Based on my math comparing the different front tire sizes, I get a range of speedo accuracy from roughly +6% to -6%.

For example, if the speedo is assumed correct for a 350x with a 23.5" front tire (stock) at 55 MPH, then a Big Red at the same vehicle speed would indicate 51.5 MPH and a 250SX would indicate 58.5 MPH.

My example picks the 350x as the baseline since it is in the middle of the tire size ranges. If the speedo is accurate on the smallest tire (say the 22" front on the 250SX), then it means that the biggest tire (the 25" on the Big Red) would be +12% (roughly).

Keep in mind also that this is a percent error, so the slower you go, the smaller the actual speedo error in MPH.

Whichever the case may be, I think the speedo accuracy is fine by me.

[atcmatt]

Fair point. I reckon your bang on the money!

[Roo Rides]

Question? I have a speedo and drive gear that came off an 84 200es and I want to put it on an 86 250sx
How does one go about doing this ?
I was told to convert the drive gear but I haven’t a clue of how to do that.
If that’s what need ls to be done could you do a step by step instructions to help me out ?
Thanks brother!

[Dirtcrasher]

The ES had a 25" front tire, the SX had a 22" front tire. IDK which side the brakes are on but the drive is opposite the brakes, it will only spin in the correct direction on a model with the brakes on the same side.

The speedometer will not be accurate, not very close either being that far off. If you just want to see a speedometer needle move, just rig up an XR drive and sell the ES drive to someone that wants the correct drive.

You cannot swap internal parts because nothing is available, it's not much use to you without a 200ES unfortunately...

[kb0nly]

I have a speedo on my 200ES, OEM original, and compare that to GPS its always off +/-3mph or so, they are only so-so accurate... LOL...

I have a GPS speedo on my 81 200 and 82 200E, those are more accurate then the OEM cable driven speedo. In the end, for most they just complete the look of having all the options installed. I have speedos on all of ours because we city ride them here and we are required to follow the speed limit in town, so go over 30 which is plenty easy and we could be ticketed for speeding.

[atcmatt]

You and use the worm gear out of a cb400 into the 200es speedo gear and it will work on a 250sx/250sx. That’s what I have on mine. Speedo, like mentioned is not entirely accurate but it’s not too far off.