The Motorcycle Discussion Thread

[Dayze]

I figure there are some motorcycle guys/gals on CP, so I thought we could have a place to talk all things Motorcycles.

Tire Mount and Balance Prices (as of 10/29/16)

Prices based on if you remove the wheels yourself and bring the wheels and new tires with you:

Cycle Gear - $35 per wheel if you buy tires from them. $58 per wheel if you buy tires elsewhere
Rawhide - $65 per wheel (assuming it would be the same at other HD dealers. they book it at 1/2 hr per wheel)
C R Cycle Tires (DeSoto) - $30 per wheel

Cheapest I've found my Michelin Commander II's. Seem like they have good prices on other brands too.
http://www.jakewilson.com - Free 3 day shipping on orders over $75

[Dayze]

rode all over hell today / this evening on an impromptu ride with my brother. somewhow, we ended up in Ozawkie and went to a little place called Hog Holler. had a cool band that sounded great. and apparently, a "Bikini" contest ; "Bare as you Dare". which turned out to be 3 chicks in their underwear; one of them was probably 50 yrs old. and one of the others was a waitress who was working . Biker bars kick so much ass.

2 of the three looked good. 1 of them.....had done that before I"m sure. she had moves I haven't seen since the last time I was at Bazookas. JFC. she was outstanding.

[permachief]

Originally Posted by DC.chief

So I picked an 03 shadow spirit 750 as my first bike not even 2 months ago. I've got fairly comfortable riding it and have started commuting back and forth to work on it which is a good 45 minutes to an hour long drive each way.

Here's my issue.. I hit fifth gear by like 45-50 mph. I could ride 4th out a tad more if I wanted but the bike doesn't like it. The pace of traffic here is 70-80. At 70 mph the engine is screaming at me.

I've read up on replacing the rear sprocket with one that has 3-4 less teeth. or just going down 1 tooth on the front sprocket. This should make the bike a tad slower on accel but give it more top end. Many shadow spirit 750 owners say it makes a huge difference.

My question is do any of you have any experience with making that change on a 750 shadow or any bike for that matter. Any tips or advice would be appreciated as I'm new to this. Or is this pointless to waste time and money on and should I just be looking to getting a bigger bike sooner than expected?

I don't have gearing change experience with bigger bikes like yours but have done gearing changes on smaller (250cc) dirt and dualsport bikes.

If you want to gear the bike higher you would put a smaller sprocket on the rear and/or a larger sprocket on the front.

A 1 tooth change on the front typically is equal to about a 3 tooth change on the rear sprocket.

You calculate the final drive ratio by dividing the rear number by the front number (i.e., 43/14=3.07, 43/15=2.86, 40/14=2.85, etc.) The lower the result, the higher the gearing (I know, its sounds backwards).

The percentage change in the final drive ratio will have the same percentage effect on rpm/mph ratio. For example, changing the final drive ratio from 3.07 to 2.86 is gearing the bike 7.34% higher (3.07/2.86=1.073426). Therefore, assuming that 5,500 rpm in 5th gear previously produced 65 mph, the new gearing will now produce approximately 70 mph in 5th gear at 5,500 rpm (65x1.0734=69.77). (Note: This also assumes that the engine has the needed torque to actually pull the higher gearing which may not always be the case especially in smaller cc bikes.)

With the bikes I have experience on, you can typically change the front sprocket +/- one tooth without lengthening or shortening the chain. A change of +/- three teeth on the rear may require a chain length adjustment (it just depends on how much adjustment span is available on the swing arm where the rear wheel is mounted.) So typically, the front sprocket is the preferred sprocket for a gearing change initially (and front sprockets are typically cheaper than rear sprockets).

Getting your bike properly geared for your specific use is definitely worth it. It will only increase your enjoyment of the bike.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by permachief

I don't have gearing change experience with bigger bikes like yours but have done gearing changes on smaller (250cc) dirt and dualsport bikes.

If you want to gear the bike higher you would put a smaller sprocket on the rear and/or a larger sprocket on the front.

A 1 tooth change on the front typically is equal to about a 3 tooth change on the rear sprocket.

You calculate the final drive ratio by dividing the rear number by the front number (i.e., 43/14=3.07, 43/15=2.86, 40/14=2.85, etc.) The lower the result, the higher the gearing (I know, its sounds backwards).

The percentage change in the final drive ratio will have the same percentage effect on rpm/mph ratio. For example, changing the final drive ratio from 3.07 to 2.86 is gearing the bike 7.34% higher (3.07/2.86=1.073426). Therefore, assuming that 5,500 rpm in 5th gear previously produced 65 mph, the new gearing will now produce approximately 70 mph in 5th gear at 5,500 rpm (65x1.0734=69.77). (Note: This also assumes that the engine has the needed torque to actually pull the higher gearing which may not always be the case especially in smaller cc bikes.)

With the bikes I have experience on, you can typically change the front sprocket +/- one tooth without lengthening or shortening the chain. A change of +/- three teeth on the rear may require a chain length adjustment (it just depends on how much adjustment span is available on the swing arm where the rear wheel is mounted.) So typically, the front sprocket is the preferred sprocket for a gearing change initially (and front sprockets are typically cheaper than rear sprockets).

Getting your bike properly geared for your specific use is definitely worth it. It will only increase your enjoyment of the bike.

Nice great explanation.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by seaofred

This would be a pretty fun ride from Springfield to Branson for you guys.. Lots of little town, but you could mainly go 60-ish. Especially if you are planning on going to Denny's Harley Davidson, its way off of 65 hwy.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Spri...36.6436731!3e0

do you happen to know if those points/towns on the maps have gas stations? or, at least one or two of them?

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by Dayze

do you happen to know if those points/towns on the maps have gas stations? or, at least one or two of them?

Yes, they all do, minus the Jenkins point. It is just an old gas station that doesn't sale gas anymore, but they do have soda's and some food.



One thing I didn't realize about the map I sent you, is it has you coming down HWY 248 to HWY 39 and turning right to go to the actual town of Jenkins. You don't want to do that, because you'll just have to turn right back around and head back the direction you just came from to get to Shell Knob. SO when you get to the HWY 39 intersection, just turn left (South) toward Shell Knob. I've corrected it here: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Spri...36.6436731!3e0 .

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dayze

Nice great explanation.

Yes, very good. Rep to permachief.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by DC.chief

So I picked an 03 shadow spirit 750 as my first bike not even 2 months ago. I've got fairly comfortable riding it and have started commuting back and forth to work on it which is a good 45 minutes to an hour long drive each way.

Here's my issue.. I hit fifth gear by like 45-50 mph. I could ride 4th out a tad more if I wanted but the bike doesn't like it. The pace of traffic here is 70-80. At 70 mph the engine is screaming at me.

I've read up on replacing the rear sprocket with one that has 3-4 less teeth. or just going down 1 tooth on the front sprocket. This should make the bike a tad slower on accel but give it more top end. Many shadow spirit 750 owners say it makes a huge difference.

My question is do any of you have any experience with making that change on a 750 shadow or any bike for that matter. Any tips or advice would be appreciated as I'm new to this. Or is this pointless to waste time and money on and should I just be looking to getting a bigger bike sooner than expected?

First, I think you made an excellent choice as your first bike. I had an 05 Shadow Aero 750 as my first bike. It is a good bike to learn and get comfortable on before you think about upgrading to a bigger bike. I do remember having it screaming at highway speeds, though. As for the your question, I personally wouldn't screw with sprockets and such because I don't want to get something wrong and have my wheel fall off riding down the highway. Unless you are an expert, I would recommend finding a good bike mechanic.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Dayze

do you happen to know if those points/towns on the maps have gas stations? or, at least one or two of them?

[Dayze]

are you mocking the size of my gas tank?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Dayze

are you mocking the size of my gas tank?

Uhh....no.....no.......




yes.

[Graystoke]

Originally Posted by Dayze

are you mocking the size of my gas tank?

I don't know why you just don't carry some xtra gas in cans?
Works for this guy.

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by Dayze

are you mocking the size of my gas tank?

How many miles do you get on 1 tank of gas?

[Dayze]

I have found out the hard way, that I get 90.2 miles lol.
I discovered this about 1/8 mile from the gas station.


I can't remember if it's a 2.2 or 2.5 gallon tank....as though that matters lol.

I'll be making 4 fuel stops on the trip to Branson this weekend.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Graystoke

I don't know why you just don't carry some xtra gas in cans?
Works for this guy.

dude, if I ride to Sturgis next year, I'm seriously going to bungee a DOT cannister of maybe 2+ gallons to the sissy bar I'm getting at some point lol

[Dayze]

I plan on buying one of these hopefully in a few months.