The Yellow Box is a speedo correction unit. All VFRs seem to be 8% high. So if you are going 90mph you are actually going 82.8. 25mph=23. If you've ridden 3,000 miles you've actually have gone 2,760. Quite annoying and accelerates depreciation.
If anyone is fairly unfamiliar with maintenance that I am then these instructions may help. I got my gracious help from Yippee757.
Of course, the unit comes with good instructions, these just help the understand and simplicity of the entire project. Good Luck.
I'll be adding some pictures to this. I plan on doing the install this weekend.
1. Remove LH Fairing 2. Remove sensor from bike, it's just two bolts at the fwd sprocket. 3.Take the whole thing in the house and solder it there. 4.Make sure you strip the wires a minimum of 4 inches from the connector. 5.Strip the black wire, do NOT cut it. 6.Strip the green wire, do NOT cut it. 7.Cut the pink wire and strip both ends about and inch 8.Solder it all up, make sure the white from the box goes to the sensor side of the pink wire and the green from the box to the connector side of the pink. 9.Bring it out to the bike and plug it in. 10.Turn the key on 11. You should have indication on the speedo at this point. If not, check your wiring 12.Install the sensor, do NOT wrap the wires yet, trust me. 13.Start the bike on the center stand. 14.Put the bike in gear and let the clutch out 15.You should have a speed showing up now other then "0" 16.If you do NOT have a speed indication, you need to check the wiring. 17.If the speedo indicates, you can shut down the bike. 18.Remove the sensor and tape the connections. 19.I routed the wire up the wire bungle by the frame and under the radiator hose. Then I zip tie the box in the bay for the LH turn signal. You'll see a clear boot over some connectors. That's where mine sits. 20.I did all the test runs and dialed in 8% correction. 21.Apply RTV to the box switched and the connector. RTV is a GE product that is silicon based. The box is NOT water tight. Even though it's in the fairing, I'd hate to run it because I didn't goop it up. The RTV will come off if you need it to. 22.Reinstall the fairing, now is a great time to do your oil change too.
stevesklar, Jan. 09 2003,06:01The Yellow Box is a speedo correction unit. ?All VFRs seem to be 8% high. ?So if you are going 90mph you are actually going 82.8. ?25mph=23. If you've ridden 3,000 miles you've actually have gone 2,760. ?Quite annoying and accelerates depreciation.
I was under the impression that, while the speedometer runs eight to ten percent optimistic, the odometer itself is reasonably accurate. ?
stevesklar, Jan. 09 2003,05:01If you've ridden 3,000 miles you've actually have gone 2,760. ?Quite annoying and accelerates depreciation.
Hold it folks. Based upon everything I've read (and checking my own odometer on a number of occasions) the VFR odo is right on the money. It's the speedo that's 8% off (also verified). the Yellow box will change both the speedo and the odo, which means you'll show less miles than you've actually put on.
But if the speedo is off and the odo isn't how would adding the yellow box make the odo off? If the error isn't on both I don't understand how it would also add to the odo when you put the box on.
Yes, my speedo is about 8% high, the odo is right on (ie. <1%). ?Verified by GPS.
Yellow box finally going on this weekend. ?I ordered some Hitachi 3 pin connectors so I don't have to slice/dice the speedo sensor wire and have the option of removing the yeller box should I sell the bike.
The reason I never went about doing this mod is I like to try different tires, Dunlops, Bridgestones, Avons, ect to find the best setup. I understand the speed sensor is run off of the same shaft as the front sprocket. There is no permenent way of calibrating it since tires wear down, esp rear tires, front tires spins a different rate as the rear around corners.
Say you install the yellow box and calibrate it to some outside source like a radar gun or a GPS (set up hi or low from the dip switches 5%,10% or more) and then you ride it for 3000miles it will be off again because you wore off 1/4" of rubber, so now the tire profile is smaller your going slower than indicated because you calibrated it with a tire that was 1/4" thicker in diameter. So you put on new tires again and the dynamics change yet again. There is alot of uncertainty in the whole idea!
nah I can deal with the little bit of inaccuracy! But still show us the pictures of your install! I am interested in the whole thing!
UFO, Jan. 09 2003,16:28But if the speedo is off and the odo isn't how would adding the yellow box make the odo off? ?
The last time I went to the Yellow Box web site I read that it changes both the speedo and the odo at the same time. It doesn't separate them. They're all part of one system. They will still work to the same proportion relative to each other no matter how you adjust it. So if there's 8% difference between them, and you adjust the speedo to read right on the odo will be 8% off. I suppose that you could adjust it some where in the middle so the speedo read only 4% high and the odo 4% low. I think that I'd rather just think I'm going 8% faster than I really am. It's like moving the clock 10 minutes faster so you won't be late to work.
Interesting problem with the speedo vs odometer. hmm .. guess I'd rather have my speedo correct. Here around Detroit i'm being passed by everyone when i'm doing 75 .. er .. 69mph.
I'll just have to remember to make my oil changes a little more frequent.
UFO -- that's a good :idea: "I ordered some Hitachi 3 pin connectors so I don't have to slice/dice the speedo sensor wire and have the option of removing the yeller box should I sell the bike. " -- I think I'll try RadioShack. Then I won't have to splice & dice it either and it will be more plug and play.
If the speedo was off only 2% i wouldn't be complaining .. but 8% is alot.
To do some speedo verification this morning, I borrow my friend's Garmin Emap GPS. At an indicated speed of 100mph, the GPS registered 92.3mph. The 8% variance is just about accurate.
Tonight on my way home I will do a check of the odometer.
Most speedo on motorcycles are grossly optimistic. My friend's 2000 R1 is about 12% higher than actually.
VFR4Lee, Jan. 10 2003,18:31Anyone try one of those bicycle computer / speedo things? I don't think they're very expensive.
I think it would be a little difficult to glue the little magnet to the side of the wheel and the recepter to the inside of the fork tube so they would be close enough to actually work. Then you have to deal with that wire that winds up the tube to the little piece of velcro where you stick your little veloco-computer gizmo. If you actually manage to get all of that on and working, you might also want to consider a little basket in front of the windshield and maybe one of those little thumb actuated bell thingys on the handlebar.
ROTFLMAO........... put some playing cards on the spokes, bannana seat. heh
Put the sensor on the rear swingarm and the magnet on the inside of the rear wheel out of sight. There is a how to with a picture of how somebody mounted his on the front disk brake.
Okay, an update on the odometer error on my 2000 VFR800:
Tires: Bridgestone BT012, 3000 miles of wear. about 1/3 tread left. GPS used: Garmin Emap Indicated milage: 26.9 miles Actual Mileage: 26.6 miles Error: 1%
Okay, so I'm installing the yellow box V3 and everything works except the speedo. the instructions say that some bikes have a 5V speedo output (which the 02 VFR does) and that you have to put the box into PULL-UP=ON mode...but I can't find anywhere in the instuction sheets how to do this.
If anyone knows what I;m talking about and can help I will :bow: you.
Hmmm.... I think I'll just stick to my stock speedo and odo especially since the odometer is fairly accurate and I have gotten used to adding around 8% to my speedo. ?It's easy and cheap for me. ?More $$ for ? beer.gif ?Mmm.... I said beer.
VFR4Lee, Jan. 10 2003,18:31Anyone try one of those bicycle computer / speedo things? I don't think they're very expensive.
I just installed a Sigma BC800 bicycle computer ($20) the other day. ?I got the wire made for a rear wheel install ($7) since it's almost twice as long as the one supplied with the computer. ?I bought some "rare earth" magnets from Radio Shack and placed a magnet on the brake disk. ?I zip tied the sensor onto the backside of the fork (between the fork and brake caliper). ?I installed the computer using the supplied rubber band onto the banjo bolt going into the clutch reservoir.
It only took about 1 hr to figure out where to put it and to measure the wheel circumference. ?It works like a champ. ?Nothing is permanent and it's inconspicuous. ?I took pictures and will post them someday.
Then you have to deal with that wire that winds up the tube to the little piece of velcro where you stick your little veloco-computer gizmo. If you actually manage to get all of that on and working, you might also want to consider a little basket in front of the windshield and maybe one of those little thumb actuated bell thingys on the handlebar.
LMAO Carol. :laugh:
Thanks too to Cheez for the more serious answer. $27, that's not bad at all. Although I think I can live with the speedo error OK. wheel.gif
VFR4Lee, Jan. 15 2003,20:42Thanks too to Cheez for the more serious answer. $27, that's not bad at all. Although I think I can live with the speedo error OK. wheel.gif
Nothin' but serious 'round here ?:twist: ? tongue.gif ?
The cool thing about the bike computer is having the max. speed, actual trip time, and average speed readings. ?Just another toy to play with ? biggrin.gif
I figured out my problem...there was no problem. V3 of the yellow box automatically detects both 12V and 5V pulses...contrary to the instructions which are admittedly out of date according to Blackrobotics. ???
UFO, Jan. 16 2003,12:14I figured out my problem...there was no problem. ?V3 of the yellow box automatically detects both 12V and 5V pulses...contrary to the instructions which are admittedly out of date according to Blackrobotics. ???
Funny, I was just going to post to see if you had figured it out yet. ?Glad to hear you did ? beer.gif ?
I agree, for a zillion dollars you'd think the wiring would come with the necessary connectors, jacket, etc. ?But I suppose they'd need to charge a bazillion dollars if they added that stuff.
I live in Olympia - lets hook up for a ride, shoot the shat, modification knowledge exchange day, or something.
cheez, Jan. 16 2003,13:46I live in Olympia - lets hook up for a ride, shoot the shat, modification knowledge exchange day, or something.
tbeemer from over at ST.N also lives in Olympia..actually he now works in the building next to me. He has a VFR that his wife rides (he rides a 929) and we're going to do some riding this summer. So keep an eye out at ST.N.
Hey back again. My Cop friend said no to 90 mph. So, we did 50 and 60 mph then called it quits. (school was getting out so we could not go like that when the kids are around, I hate school zones) My bike read nominal on both speeds. Since digital is always ambiguous to plus or minus one count I can presume that my speedo is correct. I don't trust cheap GPS (cheap means under $10K) receivers. We tweak ours at work every six months against a ribidium oscillator.
I'd love to confirm my speedo but everyone else's seems off and I know I'm not doing 90 on the highway when the speedo says 90.
I just got a Garmin GPS V .. not exactly 10K but the $$$ came from my pockets. The Garmin = my van and car's speedos so far. Maybe I'll get a chance to test it if the weather warms up before i get the yellow box in.
I haven't installed the Yellow Box yet because it's been about 11 degrees here ... the Day's High. So it will have to warm up a bit before I get a chance to take my plastic off. Bare hands in that cold are frozen quickly.
Recalculating speed in my head all the time (lets see now, 55 plus 10 equals 65 plus 8% equals 70 so I can go an indicated 70 or so without watching for LEOs) was just too much for my feeble mind. ?Splicing in a Yellow box didn't look like fun either.
I found Jim Ahlman's speedo correction box. http://www.rc51.org/data2racing/jim.htm This is a great little unit that comes with two harnesses that match the Honda harness for the sender. ?I took 10 minutes (really) to install. ?Set at 7.5% correction (1% to 25% capable). Checked speed by GPS and pace car. ?Am now right on and very happy with the unit. Cost $90.
After reading all the posts about speedometer correction I think I'm going to order a Speedohealer V3.0. I was able to find one on ebay for $90. It appears to be a nice unit than the others plus I like the top speed feature. When I'm zipping down the road I don't really want to stare at the speedometer (especially when I have to do the math) but it would be nice to look at where I topped out at a glance (especially if it's right).
I've been using my portable GPS unit to see how far off my speedometer is. It appears to be around 10% (ti's almost dead on if I take the first digit and substract it from the speed so 85 (take the 8 and substract it) = 77. I know my GPS unit isn't always correct as to where it is but the speed calculation is realitive to where you were which is dead on. It shows my cars to be very, very close to the correct speed but the bike to be WAY off (10%).
After reading this thread though I wonder about the odometer. I had compaired trip meters with buddy's after we went for a ride and mine seemed about 10% high leading me to believe the speed sensor itself was off throwing off both the speedometer and the odometer but I'm going to have to do some more testing to find it out. I'd rather have my speedometer accurate than the trip and odometer as long as I know the trip and odometer are off.
GorillaD, Jan 13 2006, 08:22 AMAfter reading this thread though I wonder about the odometer. I had compaired trip meters with buddy's after we went for a ride and mine seemed about 10% high leading me to believe the speed sensor itself was off throwing off both the speedometer and the odometer but I'm going to have to do some more testing to find it out. I'd rather have my speedometer accurate than the trip and odometer as long as I know the trip and odometer are off.
I find it unlikely that both your speedometer and odometer are exactly off by 10%. The speedometer on the bike usually has a built in error (between 5%-10%) and the odometer is suppose to be dead-on accurate.
MFP-2241, Jan 13 2006, 09:33 AMI find it unlikely that both your speedometer and odometer are exactly off by 10%.? The speedometer on the bike usually has a built in error (between 5%-10%) and the odometer is suppose to be dead-on accurate.
More Info.
I did read that thread earlier. The only thing I read in there about the relationship between the odometer and the speedometer beside if you adjust one you adjust the other was: "My understanding is that they put the over reading error in on purpose to have you going slower than what you think you are, some half-cocked saftey idea perhaps?"
But I didn't see any hard evidence of anyone showing their odometer was dead on while the speedometer was off such as having GPS calculations or measured distances to prove it.
I have however in my own experience come to believe that the odometer is long just like the speed is high. On multiple trips my odometer has been substantially higher (in the 10% range) than the odometer on a friends bike who rode the same rode with me.
Either way, before I install a speedohealer I'm going to record some hard evidence on the accuracy of the odometer. I'll probably grab my handy-dandy GPS unit and find a very straight road (which are abundant in this area of nebraska -- you could put the club on your steering wheel, fall asleep, wake up 2 hours later and still be going right down the middle of your lane:) ). Mark the starting point, ride 5-10 miles, then ask the GPS unit for a measurement to compare against the odometer. While the GPS is not absolutely accurate (the long/lat reading could be 100m off in the corn field) the relative reading should be very accurate relative to the inaccurate starting point. If I can find a highway with mile markers that would be a nice double check but the highways don't tend to be as straight as the non-marked rural roads.
We've had a many days this month which were nice enough for riding, next time I get a chance I'll do some measurements and post back for the world to see.
My speedometer reads almost 10% high, I thought it was messed up when I originally got it but over time I read up on it here and everyone who has a 6th gen and stock chain/sprockets has theirs read high too. However, the odometer reads spot on. I confirmed this with a 650 mile trip (each way) last summer and both the odometer and the GPS agreed to within 5 miles, which is less than 1% error.
The really annoying part is that if you fit in a speedohealer or equivalent to make the speedo read correct, you'll make your odometer read under the actual mileage, since they both use the same speed sensor. I personally prefer to have an accurate odometer, I've gotten used to figuring out the speedo in my head when I don't have the GPS on the bike. Just take the indicated speed (example 80 mph), subtract the 8 (now 72) and add 1 (73) and you'll get your true speed as verified by the GPS 9 times out of 10... smile.gif
Chris
End of thread · 35 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 25 Jun 2007