Speedometer calibration

[Carlo]

It's probably to keep you from blaming them if you get a speeding ticket. You have to be going past the indicated speed limit to get a ticket for exceeding 60mph for example.

It's also been traditionally used for bragging rights. Everyone thinks their bike is faster than it really is. I suspect the manufacturers do it as much for that as to avoid tickets.

 

[Cycle61]

From the Ducati owners manual

On the electronic section of the manual for my Multistrada

"The instrument panel receives information about the actual
speed (calculated in km/h) and displays the number
increased by 8%."

Holy crap, really?

 

[DaveT319]

It's a conspiracy!