yes, that's the rule of thumb. Honestly, i think the stock gearing is already a bit long, at least if you want to squeeze the power at higher rpm out of the engine. At 80mph wind resistance is so high that you need to be higher up in the power curve if you still want to accelerate. 4750rpm is fine if you want to putter along at 80 and then down shift if you go uphill or want to accelerate but trying to force it higher in 5th is asking too much. The engine has sufficient torque to be ridden below 5000rpm in 4th and 5th gear but only if you don't accelerate too hard. Below speed/shift graphs show quite well that you need to keep it above 5000rpm if you want to access the maximum power which it needs to overcome wind resistance at higher speeds.
there's no change if the gear ratio stays the same. Stock ratio is 47/16=2.94. You're currently at 47/17=2.77. 41/14 would be very close to stock so you'd not gain much for the cost, need a shorter chain etc. 56/14 would be way short. You kinda need to decide what you want from the bike. Lower revs at higher speed comes at the cost of poorer acceleration at higher speed unless you squeeze 4th gear out to red line. With 47/17 you probably get top speed (around 100mph) if you duck down easier in 4th than in 5th gear. The engine is quite a tractor in lower gears but 4th and 5th require higher revs to deliver the power you seem to be after. This is much easier to achieve with the 16t or even a 15t sprocket. The only advantage of changing the rear sprocket is that you have finer steps but you'll soon need a shorter chain if you go smaller on the rear.
I just want to be able to go 80mph and be at the most 5k rpms without pinging from WOT. If that’s not possible, that’s fine and I’ll just ease into her. Also, i just put a new DID 520VX2GB-114 and did not shorten the chain at all. Does seem a little long when I adjusted the tension. Would the PCV help?
I've fiddled a bit and found 16/49 to be a great setup. Great acceleration and take-off, good off-road and still punch through 100mph reasonably easy. No more fuel usage than 16/47 and better acceleration at speed. You should be able to use 114 links also.
15/47- 4600rpm at 70 mph,5000rpm at 75 mph. up about 400 rpm from stock. 80+ comes pretty quick. Also a lot better off road.
Brisk plugs not noticing any performance difference and getting worse mpg? Does that sound right? Was getting like 54mog andnow 49mpg
