| Author | Message | ||
     Jphish |
(Not to be confused with 'lowside') Has anyone out there changed the primary gearing and decided: the upside wasn't worth the downside ? I sometimes 'cruise' @ 80-85 in those daylite wide open spaces, with occasional short bursts to the triple digits... if conditions are just right. But generally stay within legal speed limit parameters. Going to AK and Central America in the next year - wondering if the swap is right for my 08' model Uly ? Does the 11% difference really provide noticeable low speed, dirt road advantage ? Inquiring minds... Thanks all ! j | ||
| Thrux181 |
It does for me. More control on dirt roads and more engine braking. 75 MPH at 4000RPMs is fine with me. If I tried to 'cruise' at 80-85 around here it would get expensive. | ||
| Ratbuell |
OK, like JP I tend to cruise at around 80 - more bike-dictated (RPM "sweet spot", if you will) than it is my choice. You're saying 4000 rpm (which is where I am at 80) only drops it about 5mph? I think I (and my driving record) can live with that... Edit - my bike is an '06 (Message edited by ratbuell on December 31, 2008) | ||
| Jphish |
Ah! the wide open spaces (rapidly getting less spacey however) of the western US. On hwy 50 in Nevada, for about 200mi, don't think we were ever UNDER 85. Having confessed to that, you can see about 5 mi ahead and behind, and only sage brush along the roadside. Can hide a jackrabbit, but not a deer or bovine. Plus @ 85-90 the mirrors don't vibrate as much! | ||
| Rotorhead |
Jphish, I have the same concerns you do. I'm still looking for a 6th gear sometimes. I love doing LD trips and the super slab gets in the way of all the good riding spots. Looking to do a coast to coast run with a AK visit in there to get 49 of 50 states on my ULY. only 8 states to go! I pulled the trigger and did the swap. I've put 200 miles on and tried it in all conditions fire roads, rocky double track. city, twisties and a slab stretch. As advertised it did the low end stuff great! I will be going much further off the pavement. It did make the slow speed handling not a chore or clutch workout. I was turning stop to stop more than i did ever before. On flat road my 06 will idle ,with no chug along, at 1000 RPM at 7.6MPH on the GPS. As for the top end is where I'm not as disappointed as I thought I would be. That extra 500 RPM smooths out the bike vibrations. Key to really long hauls is that vibration. It will wear you out without thinking about it. This weekend will be a 2 tank super slab ride to check the mileage. Hopefully I will not be disappointed. Still have all the other parts to go back to if I need to. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Rotorhead, Please do report to us after your superslab ride. I too have similar concerns as the others who have posted here. I like to cruise at at least 80 in the interstates. As most traffic on the interstates runs at nearly 90 these days, it's downright dangerous to be cruising as speeds much lower than that. I want to be able to pull a comfortable 80 to 85 without buzzing me and my engine to death. Please let us know how things go. Cheers. A- | ||
| Werewulf |
my 06 firebolt and the 08 uly, both run hotter in the summer with the lower gear... not a problem though... | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
can anyone who has run this setup for a while report on gas mileage iv'e been tempted but don't wish to lose the fantastic mileage i get | ||
| Froggy |
Bob, just don't shift into 5th gear, that will be very close to how the bike will be with the change. I experienced 10% less fuel economy by trying that, others gain more. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Out here in the sparsely-populated southern Rockies, I usually ride around 70 mph (yes, I'm an old geezer). With the stock gearing the engine is at 3500 rpm at that speed, and is very RELAXED. It's like meditation for me. The XB9 gearing at the same speed feels much "busier" to me, and definitely interferes with that state of relaxation. As I said, I ride long distances through sparsely-populated country, and the stock gearing provides me with a very "mellow" ride. I love it. That said, I would welcome a lower first gear for numerous off-pavement situations. Six-speed? --Doc | ||
| Froggy |
Seven speed, we need one more gear below first and one more above 5th, than I will be happy  | ||
| Thrux181 |
With a combination of dirt roads, curving roads and interstate, I'm getting 44 MPG. This is with 500 miles on the conversion. My altitude runs from around 1000 to around 3000. | ||
| Jphish |
Thanks all - the 08' redline was bumped up to 7100 - don't know if that will matter much in the overall scheme of things. 75mph @ 4000rpm is still 3000 below redline. That shouldn't tax the old Vtwin too much. Everything is a compromise in such things - finding that spot between reasonable dirt road manners and good touring comfort - perhaps this is the place where ms. Uly and I can peacefully coexist. As soon as all the snow is melted off the roads & not raining TOO hard (maybe Sunday) I will take it out for the 4th gear test, running between 3500-4500, and see if she complains too much. That should provide an answer for this particular bike. My KLR and my buddy's are both 06's - exact same everything, except color. His rides fine between 4-5K rpm, mine is decidedly buzzy. Shouldn't be that way, but it is. Let you all know of my 'test' results. Still welcoming input. Happy new year Badwebbers! j | ||
| Khelton |
No downside, none | ||
| Jphish |
Rotorhead - Let me know how your mileage changes with the "test" trip this weekend. It's not a primary concern with me - the trade off, I think, still would be on the plus side. Just curious. I do periodically take trips where there may be 160 mi 'gap' between available fuel stations. I carry 2 1qt fuel bottles on those trips - just in case. Normally get 45-48 mpg - but have hit 40mph headwinds where it was down to 35mpg. Not stellar...even for an 08' model. Happy new year! It's pouring rain here now after 2 weeks of snow - so doubt I'll get out on the Uly this weekend. Enjoy your ride.'chow' j | ||
| Jphish |
Khelton - Thanks! No equivocation on that validating response. Appreciate it. Perhaps Buell should make lower gearing an option - like the luggage? Enjoy 09'. j | ||
| Werewulf |
48 on the firebolt... 42 on the uly.... | ||
| Ourdee |
- but have hit 40mph headwinds where it was down to 35mpg. In the headwinds as with uphill runs a lower gear can net you better gas mileage. | ||
| Dr_greg |
No downside, none That's IYHO. Like I said, the feel of the bike (IMHO) is more stressed with the XB9 primary ratio. The "feel"...that's subjective, not objective, but important to me on a bike like the Uly (not as important on a sportbike, for example). Others, like yourself, feel different. That's fine. The 4th gear test is the thing to do; if you don't mind the feel you're good to go. As I've said many times, most things are like food: neither "good" nor "bad"...it's whether you like them or not. --Doc | ||
| Danger_dave |
I have no desire to do it. I like the gearing just fine as standard. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I put the Pro-Series pipe on Joules, my Uly, not long before snows fell and saw a drop in mileage. Next up in January is the 9 primary. I hope it doesn't add in linear fashion to the drop already observed with the higher flow pipe. Temps seem lower though, most likely due to fatter mixture from the dyno tune. Since I predominately try to use Joules for off-roading, adventure riding, loss of top end doesn't concern me too much. Although I ride from Medicine Bow Mtns in Wyoming to Toas, NM, so touring comfort is hopefully not noticeably degraded. ~jammer | ||
| Thrux181 |
Doc, I believe what ever a person wants from a bike is fine. But much "busier" does not equal more stressed. Bill | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
Just ordered the components from American Sport Bike. Life is full of compromise. I'm not particularly thrilled at the notion of increasing the revs while cruising above 80mph. But I'm tired of slipping the clutch in traffic and on dirt roads. Tipsy | ||
| Jphish |
Yep, I agree. There is a theme emerging here. It's not a good / bad, better / worse thing. It's a compromise of which the cost / benefits depend on how we intend to use the Uly. More as an adventure sport tourer or Adventure dual sport?... However one defines those categories. (of course a 6 speed with a lower 1st gear would resolve the issue - are you listening in East Troy ??) I love riding this machine... except on the forest roads. Too much clutching and stumbling, in rough, unstable situations - which doesn't improve my already marginal confidence. I tend to substitute with the KLR in those conditions - when I'd really rather be riding the Uly. (my Uly is also a 'fish bike' - takes me camping and fishing to those off the beaten path places) So I will perform the "4 grand" test as soon as the weather here moderates down to just showers. My default inclination would be to just do it, at least for the Summer AK Dempster / Dalton part of the trip and probably Central America in the 09-10 winter. I'll keep the stock parts for change over later if it proves to not be the right choice. One of those fortunate situations where we can actually go back for a "do over". Thanks Badwebbers - appreciate all the input. Post results as they occur. 'chow' j | ||
| Tootal |
Before I decided to do the swap I was running smoothly along at 70 mph when I realized I was in 4th gear. I shifted to fifth and could actually feel more pulsation out of the engine. It was smoother at the higher rpm. That's when I decided to go ahead and do it. I run five over the limit on the superslabs so I'm occasionally at 80 when traveling but around here 65 is the limit. I have been talking 6-speed ever since I bought the Uly. I came off a Cagiva Gran Canyon with the best six speed I've ever snicked. I suggest Erik take a secret ride on a Ducati and then go copy it!! I'm looking forward to riding through parking garages, up jeep trails, etc., without having to constantly feather the clutch.  | ||
| Dr_greg |
Doc, I believe what ever a person wants from a bike is fine. But much "busier" does not equal more stressed. Absolutely CORRECT. For me, it's a very subjective thing. Completely a matter of personal preference. Besides, "stressed" was a very poor term for me to use. Stress has a particular meaning: force/area. Thanks for pointing that out. --Doc | ||
| Danger_dave |
I dislike 6 speed gearboxes. Complete overkill in a 100hp road bike. | ||
| Hangetsu |
I dislike 6 speed gearboxes. Complete overkill in a 100hp road bike. I'm not too sure I agree with that. If you want close ratio shifts, to attain the low speed rideability evert one here is craving, but still not lose the high-end cruising ability the Uly currently has, six speeds is the only way to go. in fact, less HP is a reason a six speed is the way to go. Of course the Uly has plenty of torque to compensate, but in general, a bike with less HP will be a more pleasant ride with more gears. You get the low ratio for easy starts and low speed rideability and close ratio shifts to keep the engine running in the power band through to a gear suitable for low RMP, high speed cruising. Yes, the Uly is a prime candidate for a six-speed gearbox. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Nah - simply doesn't need it. You'd end up rowing it between 3rd and 4th instead of leaving it in third and hammering though the twisties. Harleys could get away with 3 - Triumph rocket could do with two. (Message edited by danger_dave on January 02, 2009) | ||
| Danger_dave |
In 5 to 10 it will all be moot anyway. Variable ratio hydraulics will be de rigeur. (Message edited by danger_dave on January 02, 2009) |
