I want to change my gearing: Difference between revisions

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====Opinions on some gearing combinations====

*15/44 vs 15/45~~: I find the 15x44 is a good compromise, and it~~'s perfect for 70-80mph riding. I have 2 bikes - One is 15x45 and the other 15x44. The 15x45 is (very marginally) quicker through the gears, pulls harder in top gear at terminal speed / has a higher top speed, but the trade-off is higher RPM on the highway. Either works just fine for me - I run the higher gear on the bike which I use for touring. However, I've also done local club rides (all 600cc+) in the twisties using the 15x44 bike and had no problems whatsoever (the trick to club rides on an underpowered bike is to stay as close to the front as possible to avoid the inchworm effect).

'''15/44 vs 15/45'''

*~~15/42: This works fine in twisties and on~~ a ~~track~~, ~~although I do prefer 15/45~~ for ~~that kind of~~ riding. ~~15/42 can handle performance riding, too. You just~~ have ~~to keep~~ the ~~revs up~~. ~~I'd imagine 15/41~~ is ~~almost~~ the ~~same~~, but to me, ~~15/42 is enough.~~ I ~~wouldn~~'~~t go any lower~~ on the ~~back~~.

*I find the 15x44 is a good compromise, and it's perfect for 70-80mph riding. I have 2 bikes - One is 15x45 and the other 15x44. The 15x45 is (very marginally) quicker through the gears, pulls harder in top gear at terminal speed / has a higher top speed, but the trade-off is higher RPM on the highway. Either works just fine for me - I run the higher gear on the bike which I use for touring. However, I've also done local club rides (all 600cc+) in the twisties using the 15x44 bike and had no problems whatsoever (the trick to club rides on an underpowered bike is to stay as close to the front as possible to avoid the inchworm effect).

*15/41: The 15-41 results roughly in 1000 RPM per 10 MPH in 6th. The engine is doing about 5750 RPM at an indicated 60 MPH and spinning at about 6900 RPM at an indicated 70 MPH. You can check the [[Speed @ rpm calculator|speed calculator]] for more information on speed, rpm's, and gearing.

'''15/42'''

*This works fine in twisties and on a track, although I do prefer 15/45 for that kind of riding. 15/42 can handle performance riding, too. You just have to keep the revs up. I'd imagine 15/41 is almost the same, but to me, 15/42 is enough. I wouldn't go any lower on the back.

*I ran a 15/42....didn't like it. I liked the longer gears around town, but on the highway my mileage seemed to be worse than the 15/45.

:But, I ran that combo for quite a while for most of my long trips. Without quantitative info I can only say "I didn't like it as much as the 15/45".

:Screaming rpms don't bother me if they're 2-3k below redline......

*I had changed my front sprocket to a 15, then about a month later changed the back to a 42. For me it was not good. I'm not sure if it is mostly my weight (~210) plus the weight and wind resistance of my loaded bike and touring windshield, but when I traveled long distance loaded for camping and tools, pushing the bike for speed, I was running WOT all day, and getting mpg in the 40's. That was the reason I missed on my Iron Butt Bun Burner Gold attempt: too many gas stops!

:I later changed back my rear sprocket to the original, so I am now running 15/45.

:Maybe if you weigh less, don't load down so heavily, keep it a bit slower (less than 75-80) and miss the mid-western high winds and hills, it will work better. Others have sworn by the 15/41-42. Definitely, YMMV!

*15/42 works great for me, but I'm only 150# plus or minus. Commuting mpg (65-70) didn't go up noticeably from the 15/45, though. (It did go up noticeably when I went to the 15T front sprocket first, though.)

'''15/41'''

*The 15-41 results roughly in 1000 RPM per 10 MPH in 6th. The engine is doing about 5750 RPM at an indicated 60 MPH and spinning at about 6900 RPM at an indicated 70 MPH. You can check the [[Speed @ rpm calculator|speed calculator]] for more information on speed, rpm's, and gearing.

:The 250 engine has plenty of power, but is a small “peaky” engine that has a narrow power band compared to a big V-twin or an automobile engine. You just may need to spend a little more time in 5th than a stock bike if you live in hilly country or are battling a stiff head wind at highway speeds. Passing can be done comfortably in 4th or 5th. I would look at the 6th gear as an "overdrive".

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 ====Opinions on some gearing combinations====
-*15/44 vs 15/45: I find the 15x44 is a good compromise, and it's perfect for 70-80mph riding. I have 2 bikes - One is 15x45 and the other 15x44. The 15x45 is (very marginally) quicker through the gears, pulls harder in top gear at terminal speed / has a higher top speed, but the trade-off is higher RPM on the highway. Either works just fine for me - I run the higher gear on the bike which I use for touring. However, I've also done local club rides (all 600cc+) in the twisties using the 15x44 bike and had no problems whatsoever (the trick to club rides on an underpowered bike is to stay as close to the front as possible to avoid the inchworm effect).
+'''15/44 vs 15/45'''
-*15/42: This works fine in twisties and on a track, although I do prefer 15/45 for that kind of riding. 15/42 can handle performance riding, too. You just have to keep the revs up. I'd imagine 15/41 is almost the same, but to me, 15/42 is enough. I wouldn't go any lower on the back.
+*I find the 15x44 is a good compromise, and it's perfect for 70-80mph riding. I have 2 bikes - One is 15x45 and the other 15x44. The 15x45 is (very marginally) quicker through the gears, pulls harder in top gear at terminal speed / has a higher top speed, but the trade-off is higher RPM on the highway. Either works just fine for me - I run the higher gear on the bike which I use for touring. However, I've also done local club rides (all 600cc+) in the twisties using the 15x44 bike and had no problems whatsoever (the trick to club rides on an underpowered bike is to stay as close to the front as possible to avoid the inchworm effect).
-*15/41: The 15-41 results roughly in 1000 RPM per 10 MPH in 6th.  The engine is doing about 5750 RPM at an indicated 60 MPH and spinning at about 6900 RPM at an indicated 70 MPH. You can check the [[Speed @ rpm calculator|speed calculator]] for more information on speed, rpm's, and gearing.
+'''15/42'''
+*This works fine in twisties and on a track, although I do prefer 15/45 for that kind of riding. 15/42 can handle performance riding, too. You just have to keep the revs up. I'd imagine 15/41 is almost the same, but to me, 15/42 is enough. I wouldn't go any lower on the back.
+*I ran a 15/42....didn't like it. I liked the longer gears around town, but on the highway my mileage seemed to be worse than the 15/45.
+:But, I ran that combo for quite a while for most of my long trips. Without quantitative info I can only say "I didn't like it as much as the 15/45".
+:Screaming rpms don't bother me if they're 2-3k below redline......
+*I had changed my front sprocket to a 15, then about a month later changed the back to a 42. For me it was not good. I'm not sure if it is mostly my weight (~210) plus the weight and wind resistance of my loaded bike and touring windshield, but when I traveled long distance loaded for camping and tools, pushing the bike for speed, I was running WOT all day, and getting mpg in the 40's. That was the reason I missed on my Iron Butt Bun Burner Gold attempt: too many gas stops!
+:I later changed back my rear sprocket to the original, so I am now running 15/45.
+:Maybe if you weigh less, don't load down so heavily, keep it a bit slower (less than 75-80) and miss the mid-western high winds and hills, it will work better. Others have sworn by the 15/41-42. Definitely, YMMV!
+*15/42 works great for me, but I'm only 150# plus or minus. Commuting mpg (65-70) didn't go up noticeably from the 15/45, though. (It did go up noticeably when I went to the 15T front sprocket first, though.)
+'''15/41'''
+*The 15-41 results roughly in 1000 RPM per 10 MPH in 6th.  The engine is doing about 5750 RPM at an indicated 60 MPH and spinning at about 6900 RPM at an indicated 70 MPH. You can check the [[Speed @ rpm calculator|speed calculator]] for more information on speed, rpm's, and gearing.
 :The 250 engine has plenty of power, but is a small “peaky” engine that has a narrow power band compared to a big V-twin or an automobile engine.  You just may need to spend a little more time in 5th than a stock bike if you live in hilly country or are battling a stiff head wind at highway speeds.  Passing can be done comfortably in 4th or 5th.   I would look at the 6th gear as an "overdrive".