What kind of chain and how many links? I just got my tw200 with 1350 miles on it, have put about 100 miles on it in 2 days. Mine only topped out at ~68 indicated and I only weigh 150lbs. I figured I would get it to ~70-73 mph topped out. I am thinking of putting a 42 on it since I mostly drive roads. I am also considering opening up the airbox a bit and rejecting.
Road Gearing
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OH, YES WELCOME TO THE FORUM, YOU ARE SO WELCOME SIR!
I've been using the 15/42 set up for a year and a half now and some of the guys on the forum are a bit sceptical about this and now there is someone that can confirm my statements.
Cruising at 70 mph on the open road while the engine is purring like a kitten, there's nothing like it!
Hello and welcome to the forum!
There is only one chain for this set up and it is the superior DID 428 VX x-ring chain, with 122 links in the chain, believe me this chain is bullet proof.
and yes you can cruise at 70 mph for hours without any problems at all, I just recommend that you put the excellent Bridgestone 203/204 dual-sport tires on your bike which will make your bike quiet and smooth out the ride.
You can also put a 15 tooth on the front which means that your 5th gear will become a proper cruising gear, all that you compromise is down shifting to 4th on the steeper up-hills which is something that I don't mind doing.
My opinion is that you don't need really need to re-jet your carb, its fine like it is but if you want to open up the air box by drilling a few holes in it, go ahead, I did it and it worked for me
Alright friends, I concur with Cornelis on this one: 15/42 is GREAT on road. I think most people buy this bike not wanted to drive on road primarily, or keep up to higher speed traffic. I swapped to 15/42, added new TW203 front and got a new stock rear (for the times I go to hard packed offroad gravel), and wow. First the tires are crazy sticky, I find myself leaning extra deep in corners since its so fun.
The gearing: Impressive. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are WAYY longer!! It "feels" more like a regular bike with this gearing on road in that you can cruise in almost any gear if you are under 45 mph. 4th gear itself is the "powerful" one in my opinion. It pulls from 45 all the way to about 68 mph! For example, I shifted to 5th at 65mph and it was just barely pulling me up to the 70 mph mark, I downshifted for a second up to 68 mph and then 5th gear up to about 78-80 (indicated, will GPS verify soon) At or around 60 mph, the bike seems to want to be in 4th gear and not 5th. 5th is now that "over drive 6th" gear you see on the Kawi Sherpas etc. I am going to continue to play around with the bike. I did take it on a 65 mph highway here in south Florida (I-595) and speed seems to be affected pretty seriously by wind, but I certainly was not thrown around like I thought I would be. If you plan to use the bike more for road, I would recommend 15/42 no problem. I can see however that drawback in using this for climbing steep, slow, offroad trails as 1st gear seems to have lost quite a bit of torque.
The gearing: Impressive. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are WAYY longer!! It "feels" more like a regular bike with this gearing on road in that you can cruise in almost any gear if you are under 45 mph. 4th gear itself is the "powerful" one in my opinion. It pulls from 45 all the way to about 68 mph! For example, I shifted to 5th at 65mph and it was just barely pulling me up to the 70 mph mark, I downshifted for a second up to 68 mph and then 5th gear up to about 78-80 (indicated, will GPS verify soon) At or around 60 mph, the bike seems to want to be in 4th gear and not 5th. 5th is now that "over drive 6th" gear you see on the Kawi Sherpas etc. I am going to continue to play around with the bike. I did take it on a 65 mph highway here in south Florida (I-595) and speed seems to be affected pretty seriously by wind, but I certainly was not thrown around like I thought I would be. If you plan to use the bike more for road, I would recommend 15/42 no problem. I can see however that drawback in using this for climbing steep, slow, offroad trails as 1st gear seems to have lost quite a bit of torque.
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I'll just echo what others have said. 15/42 works great and I'm a heavier rider and running ATV tires front and rear. However it really handicaps your ability to do much off-road. I ran the dual sprocket setup for a while with 55 and a 42 but now I'm just back to running g a 12 55 as the time I spend on road is almost non-existent.
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Instead of looking at it from gearing I can get from sprocket combos I have - I did some comparisons on Gearing Commander.
At 65 mph, a stock bike in 5th is running 8394 rpm. With front teeth of 13, 14, or 15; the 15-42 combo is the closest you can get in 4th gear to that 8394 rpm (8332). Next closest is 13-37 at 8469. Then 14-39 at 8289; and 14-40 at 8502; 105 to 108 off.
So 15-42 is the closest (62 rpm) to making 4th gear equal a stock 5th gear.
At 65 mph, a stock bike in 5th is running 8394 rpm. With front teeth of 13, 14, or 15; the 15-42 combo is the closest you can get in 4th gear to that 8394 rpm (8332). Next closest is 13-37 at 8469. Then 14-39 at 8289; and 14-40 at 8502; 105 to 108 off.
So 15-42 is the closest (62 rpm) to making 4th gear equal a stock 5th gear.
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Scientific thought process appreciated!
Is there an altitude after which stock gearing is preferred?
I could pull an indicated 77 MPH with my 2017, but for some mountain grades, would not have wanted it geared taller (not wanting to go over about 55 MPH, in stock 5th).
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I don't have that knowledge. They say lower gearing helps with a carb a higher elevations. I live at 2400' and have left my motor stock. Figure factory lean will be ok if I get to sea level; probable about right where I live and has been fine off-road at elevations (65 tooth rear when I go off-road). One time riding pavement 55 mph around 7000' I felt it had lost a lot of power. Either had 50 or 55 tooth on.
Very early in this thread I posted 45 tooth sprocket road tests. I felt it was an excellent choice for pavement and light off-roading. I loaned it to Admiral and he felt the same. However I just updated them last week after I put the 45 back on and rode in heavy winds. I am not bothered by the winds or speed on the smaller bikes but; the 45 was having a hard time holding 55 on the flat in 4th gear and dropped to 45 on a slight rise. 5th gear was useless. Thought something was wrong with the bike; but turned with the wind and was close to 70 mph (55 zone). Put stock 50 back on and had no problem getting above 60 into the wind in 5th.
Once above 55 the lack of hp and multiplied effect of resistance becomes a problem. I had just tried 14-35 and was useless. Maybe after Moab I'll buy the 15-42 setup. Top end in 4th being = to stock 5th means you should not lose anything on pavement power wise to a stock setup - and even the 14-45 tooth made it a much nicer/smoother ride. When you can use 5th with 15-42, it should be smoooth.
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From my brief experience, with a 2017, I think stock gearing is best for 5,000' elevation plus.
Taller gearing seems to work good for lower elevations.
I think I posted going up Lee Canyon to about 7,000' and I think 55 MPH, uphill, was tops.
Taller gearing seems to work good for lower elevations.
I think I posted going up Lee Canyon to about 7,000' and I think 55 MPH, uphill, was tops.
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Yes; when you are close to stock, 1 front is close to 3 (closest) rear. Bur when you go large on the rear 1 front can = 4 or 5 rear.
Starting with 14-65.
Going to a 15 tooth front = 14-61 (closest); four teeth different.
Going to a 13 tooth front = 14-70 (closest); five teeth different.
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Update April 2017: Tested 15-42 which is equal to 14-39. My motor is totally stock - unlike some who have gone to this gearing set-up. I do not recommend these gear set-ups with a stock motor, as I felt there was too much lag (bogging taking off from a stop) for everyday use; and would not hold 60 even dropping to 4th on some of my freeway test sections. I switched to 15-45 and had no problem - and was holding 60+ on the freeway sections.
So: 15-45 / 14-42 is the highest gearing I can recommend for a stock motor - unless I get a 44 or 43 tooth to test with my 15 front (equal to 14-41 / 14-40 "within 15rpm").
Hhmmm; I think Kris may have a 44 lying around.
So: 15-45 / 14-42 is the highest gearing I can recommend for a stock motor - unless I get a 44 or 43 tooth to test with my 15 front (equal to 14-41 / 14-40 "within 15rpm").
Hhmmm; I think Kris may have a 44 lying around.
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Update April 2017: Tested 15-42 which is equal to 14-39. My motor is totally stock - unlike some who have gone to this gearing set-up. I do not recommend these gear set-ups with a stock motor, as I felt there was too much lag (bogging taking off from a stop) for everyday use. I switched to 15-45 and had no problem - and was holding 60+ on sections I had problems before.
So: 15-45 / 14-42 is the highest gearing I can recommend for a stock motor - unless I get a 44 or 43 tooth to test with my 15 front (equal to 14-41 / 14-40 "within 15rpm").
Hhmmm; I think Kris may have a 44 lying around.
I do have my 44T laying around and you can borrow it anytime. However, I don't have a dedicated chain to go along with it or maybe I do, I'm not sure. What length of chain would you need for your testing?
Let me know and we can meet at the secret sprocket testing hand-off spot.
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I was pretty sure you had run one before. The chain I have on now with my 45 should fit - and if not - I can modify other lengths I have. Any day this week is good. But no worry if not. I mainly want to do it for Forum info. If it is fine; then it would be nice to try a 43. If the 15-44 bogs too much from a stop; then my testing and answer to highest gearing is done. So just let me know if there is a good day, whenever, and A.M. or P.M. as on your way TO work would be fine too.
Except 12 A.M. or 12 P.M. - since they are both actually 12 midnight!
Except 12 A.M. or 12 P.M. - since they are both actually 12 midnight!
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Update June 2017. Admiral loaned me his 44 tooth and I tested it today 15-44 which is equal to a 14-41. It did not have the bogging problems taking off from a stop like the 15-42 did; and was able to hold 65 with a shift to 4th if necessary (where the 42 tooth wouldn't hold 60 in 5th or 4th).
So, knowing 15-44 or 14-41 is good - and 15-42 or 14-39 fails with my stock motor:
Anybody have a loose 43 tooth sitting around that I could borrow to complete this test. I would pay shipping both ways.
So, knowing 15-44 or 14-41 is good - and 15-42 or 14-39 fails with my stock motor:
Anybody have a loose 43 tooth sitting around that I could borrow to complete this test. I would pay shipping both ways.
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my streeter still runs a 16 front stock rear and the stock chain fits with no mods so it's easy to swap to 15 or 14 front
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Has any one ever tried a 15- 50 sprocket combo on their TW? If so, what is your feed back?
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Probably a full 30% of people on the forum are using either a 15-50 or 14-47 combo which are basically the exact same gear ratio. Myself included. In my opinion it is a perfect compromise between on and off road performance. Cruises comfortably at 60 mph but still plenty of grunt in first gear to tow a sled with 200 pounds of gear or dead deer in it....
Tom
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15-50 is probably how the TW should come from the factory
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