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► Modify message ( Re: 18/38 conversion- seriously? )

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:o rob not sure what you mean that 1st is too tall. I had switched my sprockets. Bike is completely stock other than a Roadhouse exhaust and K&N air filter. Now to get it out I am 5'11" and about 250 lbs. First picture is of my bike prior to going to the East Coast and riding the Cabot Trail. For shits and giggles I weighed my gear prior to leaving and that included 3 gals of gas in case. That put the weight of the bike at 325 lbs. 
  I have never had to feather the clutch to take off. I cruised out to Montreal along the TC and maintained 120 to 130 kms all the way, from Montreal to Sackville I was again along the TC and was cruising along at 120 to 140 km. I think I might have had to gear down for one long hill but do not recall having to downshift often if at all. 
   Now Rob I am not going to get my panties in a knot because you disagree with me, I will say each to their own and I stand by my liking the gearing I have set up for my riding style and my riding speed. I have ridden from North Bay to Billings MT, and back via the TC in Canada with this set up and it has proven itself to me.
   I would like to find a stock set up and ride along with them and see when and how often the shifting is done......Soon as I can get out I will try and make a record of my shifting at what speeds and what the tach is showing.......

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Posted by greenbarn

- April 28, 2018, 10:08:17 AM

Wow, I'm really surprised- first time I've ever heard of anyone thinking the 18/38 was too high. I have never mapped my shift points, but I know before the swap, with stock gearing, at 70 MPH it would seem to be revving so high on the highway it would seem like it was coming apart.

Also, I know the 18/38 gearing is nearly identical to the gear ratio of the belt conversion kit.

Posted by Tfrank59

- April 28, 2018, 09:25:42 AM

Well I've been running the stock gearing on my Drifter and I think like you I found it a little tall to begin with. I have no intentions of gearing up, but that's because I do very little riding at higher speeds. Mostly I ride between about 35 and 55 miles per hour and occasionally for an exit or two I'll get on the freeway (as a point of reference the stock gearing on my 800 is roughly the same as the gearing on my 1500 Valkyrie). I've made friends with the stock gearing on my 800, so I'm good with it just the way it is. I know some of our friends on this forum will chime in and say they like what they did gearing up but perhaps that's because a lot of them go on long trips (some of them even riding 2 up and they still find sufficient power to climb hills). To each his own.

Posted by rob f

- April 28, 2018, 09:11:17 AM

I have done the 18/38 sprocket swap and just finished my first highway ride. I was not impressed.
Now , I am sure this comment will get a lot of VDR member's panties in a knot but hear me out.
I needed to change out the sprockets and chain anyway so I will not be asking GB for a refund as Ratman had suggested in an earlier post
Some background info first: I have not ridden this bike with the stock sprockets it came with, as I just bought it Dec2017. The bike is pretty much stock except for a k/n filter, so hp is pretty much factory. Most of my roads are 90kph to 120kph (55mph-75mph). My personal comfort zone is around 105kph (65mph) These are my shifting speeds with the 18/38 conversion......
1-2 @40k/25m
2-3 @ 70k/45m
3-4 @95k/60m
4-5 @110k/68m
Does this shifting range sound right to you other 18/38'rs?

My experience: Took it on a 2hr run on the hyway into a strong crosswind. Could not hold it @ 110k/68m in 5th gear on any kind of hill. Ran it most of the way in 4th @ 105k/65m and on occasion had to dump it into 3rd on a very steep hill. The bike seems to be running fine and has new plugs. New properly inflated tires and I only weigh 170lbs ,solo, no luggage.

Bottom line: For my riding conditions the stock 800cc's cannot handle the 18/38 conversion . Also am finding that I am feathering the clutch too much at start up and also braking too much coming into intersections. 1st is way to tall for my liking.
I will try the cheap route first and change the front back to 17t. May be just enough. If not, I will have a pair of slightly used 18/38 sprockets for sale.
R

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