Gearing
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:27 pm
I am planning a trip down to Costa Brava next year on my 7,000 mile 2006 Electra X.
I have had no mecanical problems with the bike apart with catch can filling with mayonnesse which this has been cured by using diesel type 15/40 oil and regular oil changes. I also changed to a Iridium spark plug and our hosts rubber plug cap which has been in the bike for over 5,000 miles now. I am at the moment using a 19 tooth gearbox sprocket and feel the bike would benefit from a 20 tooth one. Last year I toured the inner and outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland islands solo but fully loaded with tent ect and found no problems with the higher gearing using the 19 tooth sprocket. This year I was up on the West coast of Scotland and rode over to Applecross via the Pass of Cattle with no problems and averaged 90mpg over the 920 miles the bike covered. I have read on this site that the 20 tooth sprocket effects the life of the gearbox bearing but I do use the 5 speed gearbox so do not allow the bike to labour in any gear. What I find is that at 60mph the bike still appears to be under geared and in the vibration rev range.What I hope to achieve is a relaxed cruising speed at 60mph when conditions allow.
Any advice on this will be welcome.
I have had no mecanical problems with the bike apart with catch can filling with mayonnesse which this has been cured by using diesel type 15/40 oil and regular oil changes. I also changed to a Iridium spark plug and our hosts rubber plug cap which has been in the bike for over 5,000 miles now. I am at the moment using a 19 tooth gearbox sprocket and feel the bike would benefit from a 20 tooth one. Last year I toured the inner and outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland islands solo but fully loaded with tent ect and found no problems with the higher gearing using the 19 tooth sprocket. This year I was up on the West coast of Scotland and rode over to Applecross via the Pass of Cattle with no problems and averaged 90mpg over the 920 miles the bike covered. I have read on this site that the 20 tooth sprocket effects the life of the gearbox bearing but I do use the 5 speed gearbox so do not allow the bike to labour in any gear. What I find is that at 60mph the bike still appears to be under geared and in the vibration rev range.What I hope to achieve is a relaxed cruising speed at 60mph when conditions allow.
Any advice on this will be welcome.