Out on the Interstate

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Purplezinger

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I took the Heritage Special for a 30 mile run on I75 yesterday. First time this bike has had a serious outing and it was singing it's song.
It did exceptionally well. 75 to 80 mph at 5000 to 5300 rpm. No glitches, no hiccups, just haul ass and go. I don't think it wanted go back home.
 
Good to hear....I've yet to tackle the interstate, prolly take me 30 miles just to access 71 near Sparta. What gearing are you running?

I changed out the front sprocket to 17 from 18 (32 rear) and did a 20 mile loop through the hills. A lot less shifting and still keeping the 'r's' around 4 grand @ 60 on the SR 129 straightaways. A little more fun factor it seems.....top end oil cooler a plus.
 
I am curious as to the gearing as well.

I havn't had much chance to take mine on the highway, but at 50mph it did not feel super happy, though I was at about 4rpm's in fifth. That is with stock gearing.

Though I have been planning on changing it over to 17/32
 
This bike has original sprockets 17/34. On 650's I've had before I usually dropped the rear to 33. They all pulled double duty, around town use, commuting (both freeway and local) and vacation tours. I've always used either 20w50 diesel oil or Shell 50/60 wt Aircraft oil (This oil was available back then at a local gas station, sadly no longer). I know this goes against what you will read on this board but I'm not a big fan of add-on oil coolers. They often create many more problems than they solve. I have issue with any add-on cooler that does not include a bypass for start up. I do like the oil sump extensions that are available in Europe (although I've not tried one) on these, the principals are correct.
 
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Remember the red line starts a 7500 rpm. 70 to 80 mph at 5000 to 5500 rpm is well within the design limits of this engine. Charlie, 50 mph with stock gearing is a "walk in the park" for these bikes. If it feels uncomfortable at 50 it's possible you have carb or ignition or other issues. Your oil fouling could also be a factor.
 
i was thinking that may be the issue. And for that matter, since putting new plugs in, I was doing 45-50 the other day, just not for a long, and it did feel better.

At the same time, it could just be my unfamiliarity with what the bikes can handle, as well as the vibrations. As I said, I was keeping it around 4rpm at 50

for that matter,

I think I'll take for a nice ride right now!
 
I recently put on 18/32 gearing with 520 chain, I run 70 at around 4g's whereas the stock gearing would run at 60 with 4g's.

I'm having a hard time taking off in first or going around a corner in second. have to rev it up to go.

thinking I need to put a 17 back on the front.
 
Schmeel, I thought it was bad ju ju to run even sprockets on the front and rear? As in one needs to be an odd number.
 
SCHMEEL said:
I recently put on 18/32 gearing with 520 chain, I run 70 at around 4g's whereas the stock gearing would run at 60 with 4g's.

I'm having a hard time taking off in first or going around a corner in second. have to rev it up to go.

thinking I need to put a 17 back on the front.
Click to expand...
Schmeel, stop and go driving becomes a real problem with gearing that is too tall. Usually the clutch takes the beating.
 
SCHMEEL said:
I recently put on 18/32 gearing with 520 chain, I run 70 at around 4g's whereas the stock gearing would run at 60 with 4g's.

I'm having a hard time taking off in first or going around a corner in second. have to rev it up to go.

thinking I need to put a 17 back on the front.
Click to expand...

really? I run a 18/30 with a 520 chain and once you get used to it, it is really easy to take off without having to slip the hell out of the clutch.
 
Purplezinger said:
OK 556 that's a new one for me. So tell us about it. I'd like to know the issues if there are any.
Click to expand...


I'll try to find some links and I could be way off base. I think it's one of those things where there's two beliefs and no real solid answer. One with people saying it's okay to run evens on front and rear and one belief that you should never do that.

ETA: Here ya go...it sorta goes into the even vs. odd thing

http://www.shovelhead.us/forum/showthread.php?t=79998


ETA2: Just google "chain sprockets odd even?"
 
Yeha i went out for about an hour, was doing 40 in third and forth and it felt pretty damn good! 50-60 in 4th and 5th felt fine. I think I was being conservative with where the rpms should be at.
 
CAUTION: You will want this everyday. There is no such thing as moderation!
You may find your drive home getting longer and longer.....
 
XSJohn (bless his memory) was pretty strong on retarding the timing when re-gearing our 650s to provide stronger, smoother take-off in 1st gear and posted pictures showing how to do it. I put 18T front & 31T rear sprockets on my '82 with stock 16 inch diameter rear wheel and followed his instructions - it worked out to about 5 degrees retard from factory spec. It takes off very smoothly (fairly level ground around here in SE Michigan).
 
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