| Author | Message | ||
     Chrisb |
I know a handful had changed their primary gearing over to the XB9 setup. Was wondering if anyone that has done this mod would like to share their opinion about the change in low end and top end. And general overall riding. | ||
| Doncasto |
I have about 1000 miles on my "9" conversion. I find the bike is more responsive across the board . . .with a surprising extra punch when passing on freeways. I have done some gravel roads that required standing on the pegs . . .and was able to negotiate the loose surface/hairpin turns without slipping the clutch, a huge difference and advantage. The bike moves along quite well at freeway speeds with plenty of revs left for going "slightly" over the posted limits. I am particularly happy with the new around town traffic performance . . .I can now creep along without having to over work my clutch. | ||
| Madduck |
this has been a standard mod for sportsters since Harley made the move to different primaries. One of many reasons hot sportsters were made up from the 883 variant rather than the 1200. My experience is that the bike seems to "come alive" with that gearing choice. It is a tremendous improvement that everyone should try. Feel free to disagree. My mileage actually seems to have improved, maybe from having to shift less. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
How much work and $$ is involved in doing the change? Is it something that is easy enough to switch back to stock after being done? Thanks, AR | ||
| Bertotti |
The kit from American Sport Bike is just under 200$. I have it on my short list then I get on the Dakota interstates where people are running 90 and wonder just whether it is a good idea. I ran today in fourth one way 200 plus miles and 5th the return trip. I got better gas mileage keeping it around 4k rpm. The 9 kit is again on my short list. One other note. The 91 octane got better mileage and the 91 with ethanol got a little less. 91 without ethanol added and running at 4k rpm got me 50 mpg. I usually get around 45 to 47. | ||
| Jlnance |
My mileage actually seems to have improved, maybe from having to shift less. I did a test once, drove 90 miles in 5th gear at about 75 mph, and 90 miles back in 4th gear at the same speed. The 4th gear mileage was better.  The engine likes to spin. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Is running in the lower gear for that long good for the engine? | ||
| Treadmarks |
Is it just a front sprocket and a new shorter chain? Anyone got the details and/or part numbers. The 1250 loves to spin up now and I have been considering this to slow the bike down in traffic. | ||
| Chrisb |
Yes just new front and chain. I suspect you'll be looking for front end weights with the 9 primary and 1250 kit | ||
| Black9 |
I've been running this mod all summer on my Lightning, I believe the parts were about 160.00 plus dealer install (not much), and for the type of riding I do most of the time, back and forth to work...some interstate, but mostly stop light to stop light, I'll never go back to stock gearing. With the slightly higher RPM limit of the 08 ,I believe this would be an even better change. | ||
| Matty |
Slight correction - up to '04 the 883 and 1200 XL's used the same primary gearing. Additionally, if anyone is looking into more gearing changes BDL (not affiliated, etc.) manufactures incredibly light engine sprockets, clutch baskets, and final drive pulleys. | ||
| Cavi |
I have over 3000 miles on the 9 primary and love it, would not change back, plenty of poop and pleanty of top end speed. | ||
| Bertotti |
Andrejs2112 have you ever gotten up to speed only to realize you didn't shift to fifth, As fellow Bad webber explained it to me 1 to 4 are now 2 to 5 and the new 1st is just 11 percent lower then the original. I do not shift into fifth until I'm at about 4500 rpm anyway which is around 90 mph. http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/A17150.html (Message edited by Bertotti on September 05, 2007) | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Thanks. | ||
| Bmwdavid |
Question: What is the actual increase in rpm @ 60 mph in 5th over stock gearing? My tach shows about 2900-3000 rpm @ 60 mph in 5th. I find the idea appealing but I'm one of those guys that is always looking for another gear after 5th on my Uly. David | ||
| Chrisb |
David, Ride your Uly in 4th at 60mph. That's what 5th will become if you did the 9 primary swap. | ||
| Bigkuri |
Silly question maybe, but why do you think they over-geared the bike in the first place? It's like a pretty fundamental oversight? Or is the torque so much that a high 1st helped give them good quarter mile times?  Sorry for hijack! | ||
| Bertotti |
I have no idea why they did it that way. I would venture a guess but it would probably be way off. Running higher rpm is louder, they sell the Uly as a 90% street bike 10% off road meaning fire roads, not the stuff some around here are doing with it. Sport tourer higher gearing makes sense, people who want more off road ability would tweak it they way they want it anyway. What fun is a bike that you can't farkle. I stopped by my dealer to see what it would cost if they did it. 196 parts and 65 hourly rate at 1.5 hours. I don't have a torue wrench so this may just be an opportunity to get one. 240lbs wow. While there they had a Uly up on the bench with the front topend off. I was told the spark plug vibrated loose and wore the threads out. I hadn't heard of that before. (Message edited by Bertotti on September 05, 2007) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Bertotti, Check your local auto parts store to see if they loan tools. I had a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench, but it only went up to ~150 ft-lbs. A 240 ft-lb rated torque wrench will set you back quite a few bucks. My local Autozone has a loaner torque wrench that was good for 250 ft-lbs IIRC. You have to deposit the full price of the wrench (~$200 or so), but you get a full refund when you bring it back. | ||
| Bertotti |
I'll check, Sioux Falls is a big city now, I think almost 197k people. I would think there would be a torque wrench here for rent somewhere. Thanks for the suggestion it hadn't even crossed my mind. | ||
| Jlnance |
What is the actual increase in rpm @ 60 mph in 5th over stock gearing? My tach shows about 2900-3000 rpm @ 60 mph in 5th. It will be 11% higher, so thats going to add another 330 RPM. Like Chrisb says, you can approximate this by riding in 4th instead of 5th. I find the idea appealing but I'm one of those guys that is always looking for another gear after 5th on my Uly. I was too until I did the 4th gear/5th gear experiment I mentioned earlier. Now I try to keep the rpm around 4000. The bike has more power, the throttle response is better, and the gas mileage goes up. It was the gas mileage thing that really changed my thinking. I figure if you get better mileage in a lower gear, the engine was being lugged in the higher gear. | ||
| Jlnance |
Is running in the lower gear for that long good for the engine? One would expect that spinning an engine faster causes more wear of things like bearings and rings. The question becomes is the extra wear from running in a lower gear "excessive?" Not being privy to the design specs of the engine we sort of have to guess. My take is this. I see all sorts of posts about Uly problems. Wheel bearings problems, BAS problems, fan problems, kickstand problems, ping problems, luggage latch problems, license plate light problems, rust problems, wiring problems. I have not seen one single post about any engine problem that could be attributed to spinning it too fast, or even just wearing it out. I think these engines are tough. I'm not worried about the engine breaking. I think the rest of my bike will disintegrate before the engine has problems. If I was out in one of the western states with open roads an no enforced speed limit, I wouldn't hesitate to run my Uly at 120 all day, which would keep it spinning around 6k rpm. | ||
| Bmwdavid |
Chrisb, JInance: Thanks for the reply's. Interesting what you said J about the revs in top gear. Me thinks I will try riding one gear lower next time out and see how it feels and also check effect on gas mileage. David | ||
| Treadmarks |
So there I was...... I had just finished reading this thread at 0430 this morning. I was pretty stoked about doing the 4th and 5th gear thing at different speeds. Fast forward to 0530. I am on the expressway in 4th holding the rpms steady.  Not much traffic, eyes glued to the tach. Hit 5th, eyes on the tach....about 600 rpm diff. Back to 4th, then 5th. Eyes glued still. 60mph. 65mph in 4th, then 5th. back to 4th then 5th. Eyes glued, 70 mph. 4th...then 5th. Back to 4th and 5th again..... Holding tach steady...My prehistoric mental abacus is clicking away..Back to 4th and 5th again...Seems like 600 to me....BANG Bluelights and a blasting siren. A Highway patrol motor unit (harley) had worked his way into my blind spot and was pacing me for who knows how long.  He motioned to slow down and I put the speedo on 55....Exactly. He continued to pace me for a few miles, probably running my tags on the tidy tail. The whole time I was shaking like a prom queen, heart racing, coffee kicking in, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack. Hell, I'm still shaking like a ho in church. He finally turned off and I continued to rattle for another 20 miles. I'm to old for this sheit. I think I'm gonna go with the 9 gears, just to slow me down. | ||
| Bertotti |
I don't see how it will slow you down, Drop your top end a bit but I think it will just get you to the higher speeds quicker and a bit louder. | ||
| Raceautobody |
Bertotti, If you want to try the install yourself you sure can over here. Get the parts and primary oil and head over. It will take less time for the install then the ride here and back but the offer is open if you want to wrench on it. Al | ||
| Bertotti |
Thanks I might take you up on that. Thanks a lot! | ||
| Raceautobody |
Just let me know. By the way If you don't have Technoresearch VDSTS you can check that out here too. Also you can compare the front of my '08 to yours. It sounded like you are interested in doing that upgrade. | ||
| Bertotti |
I sent you a PM thanks! | ||
| Froggy |
I went out for a ride today without hitting 5th gear at all. I liked the way the bike felt more responsive, but it hurt my fuel economy. I still need to do more testing but my first tank got only 52mpg, vs my typical 55-60mpg depending on how hard i ride. I shall post more as i find out over the next few days. Would be nice if i had a way to simulate the new first gear |
