2001 FS650E - Would like a taller gear

grisezd · Jul 16, 2009

Hello all. I should probably post a "new guy", er, post. But this is on my mind right now

I would like to shift my whole gear range up one gear, as 1st seems useless for me on the street (can't even imagine what I'd use it for on the track) and sixth gear tops out at about 75mph. This puts me at about 5500-6500 on the backroads and highways which seems like a waste for just cruising along. This bike is not new, obviously, but is new to me. I did verify that the sprockets are the sizes listed in my owners manual (15/42), no idea if there had been any transmission work from the PO, but he gave me a huge stack of receipts and there's nothing gearing related noted.

Can I get up a whole gear by changing front and or rear sprockets? How large can I go on the front without causing problems?

Hey, thanks. And I'll introduce myself properly later!

Dennis
Ohio, USA
'01 FS650E (replaced a Ducati E900/Cagiva Elefant that really wanted to be a supermoto)

Taffy · Jul 16, 2009

16T front fits with a bit of work - just! that's the equivelant of nearly 3 teeth off the rear. try that first. it'll have the advantage of keeping the chain away from the swingarm, no need to change or modify the chain. put simply, the best way.

you'll also find that because you sit upright that you won't have a lot more left in the speed stakes.

regards

Taffy

grisezd · Jul 16, 2009

Thanks for the response.

By a bit of work do you mean cutting and filing, or just squeezing it in there? I'm not afraid of work, but I've not yet manned up to cutting up an engine case!

Taffy · Jul 17, 2009

i would drift the swing arm pin out and let the r/h/s s/a go back 5mm. you can then get the sprocket past the rubber s/a protector.

regards

Taffy

Freaky · Jul 17, 2009

Something seems a bit odd with the top speed with your gearing of 15/42. I run 15/38 and have been clocked at well over 120mph, a friend who I'm sure has the same gearing as you can easily top 110mph on his 2008 650.
75mph sounds extremely low. On my 650 6th gear is a real big step up, more like an overdrive, is yours the same or is it just like another gear? Maybe someone's had a play with the gearing internally?

Regards Freaky

grisezd · Jul 18, 2009

I should say that I'm basing my numbers off a tach and speedo I put on and "calibrated" myself. Still, when I'm following traffic on a back road, a 55-65mph situation, my tach is indicating something like 5500rpm in top gear. I understand that "redline" is something like 7200rpm, and when I rev it out to 7000 I never see anything faster than say 75mph.

I suppose it is possible I've got some funny transmission work inside.

Am I making the right assumption about the redline? It does seem funny that it pulls so hard right up to redline, I'm used to my previous twins running out of steam well before the rev limiter. Will this motor run out of pull before it hurts itself, or do I need to be careful about high revs?

I suppose I should borrow a GPS and check my speed cal.

kamikaze · Jul 18, 2009

I would say that you are right in your power band at 7000 rpm's, thats why it's still pulling strong at that rpm. Red line is basicly set on any given engine where the maximum horsepower runs out. You should be able to tell that when the engine starts to feel like it's just reving and not pulling anymore. My 550 is around 8,500 rpm.

Cheers
Kamikaze

schultzy · Jul 18, 2009

My Fe 600 came with a 15/40 setup and it was perfect for Michigan trails. I remember doing 85mph down SR 10 once and I believe I still had a gear left. I really have no reason to go faster than that. When I ordered new sprockets I told them "stock" and they sent out a 15/48. I lost some top end but I think I can climb trees!

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2001 FS650E - Would like a taller gear

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