The opposite of downgearing.

[instigator]

Upgearing if you will....

Has anyone done it before? I'm about to replace my C&S on my k2 sv and since I'm off to france in a week and a half, I want to save as much mpg as possible. I am not expecting to hoon around, just do a sight seeing holiday really so I don't care about the power.

Just wondering if anyone has done it before and to what extent? -1, 02 on the back? Any noticeable mpg benefits?

[yorkie_chris]

Dizzyblonde has, she complains a lot about it, but I've ridden it and it's fine :-P

She was using far less fuel than me on the way to the AR, but I had a pillion, all the luggage in the world and the aerodynamics of a brick, pushed forth by a not particularly well carburettored engine. So it means fk all!

HTH :-P

[dizzyblonde]

My black SV is higher geared. Its superb for mile munching. Think its one up on the rear sprocket. As for petrol, it seems to run on fumes the further you get on a motorway! I bought it like that, and as i was going to France on it, it was perfect for the long mileage.
Anyone that travelled up to Scotland with me would back me up that it just cruises along at speed at ease. Just a little odd on corners, theres less rev for more speed if ya get me. I have a standard set up on the yellow SV and there is a significant difference



edit... YC I only complain about it as its not suited for corners like the standard set up is. I have to work the gear box significantly more on bends etc compared to the other.
But I get cheap miles per gallon!

[DarrenSV650S]

How does that affect the top speed dizzy

[breakz187]

I was just thinking about doing this mod this morning.
What kind of mpg do you get with -1 on the rear sprocket.

[dizzyblonde]

How does that affect the top speed dizzy

In 6th gear I can go and go and go and go. She pulls like a train. On a motorway that is. It feels very comfortable. I wouldn't know about top speed as I don't rag the pants off me bike. Erm, i got up to 110 at the weekend round the rideout, and she wanted more, I'd say about 6-7 thousand revs?. Its the highest I have ever got her, but If there was someone with more confidence riding, then I'm sure it would get a whole lot higher with ease

[instigator]

Thanks Dizzy - Sounds like it's a winner to me then.

I plan to do about 2500 miles or more so any money I can save the better. To be honest, any saving I make will probably be lost by the use of a topbox, panniers and a standard screen! But any saving I can make is a bonus.

Whats the standard gearing off the top of your head? :)

[dizzyblonde]

Thanks Dizzy - Sounds like it's a winner to me then.

I plan to do about 2500 miles or more so any money I can save the better. To be honest, any saving I make will probably be lost by the use of a topbox, panniers and a standard screen! But any saving I can make is a bonus.

Whats the standard gearing off the top of your head? :)

depends if its a nakid or faired on the gearing thing.
As for getting speed etc, if its owt to go by, at the weekend I was carrying full tankbag of spares and oil. tailpack packed to the rafters. on the rack I had sleeping bag and pillows.

edit: standard sprocket 15 teeth front.....45 on rear(nakid)....44 teeth(faired) HTH

[instigator]

Thank you very much!

I have a faired machine myself. I'll go for 43 on the back, purrfect! Would hope it wouldn't affect the length of the chain being purchased!

[breakz187]

Wait a second, doesnt it increase top speed, increase cruise speed by lowering rpm, and so reduce mpg if you reduce the tooth count on the rear, as apposed to increasing it?

The only way im working it out is by comparing it to riding a mounting bike - smaller cog, low rpm at speed - lower mpg.

Bear in mind, im a total noob so im probably wrong.

[dizzyblonde]

Wait a second, doesnt it increase top speed, increase cruise speed by lowering rpm, and so reduce mpg if you reduce the tooth count on the rear, as apposed to increasing it?

The only way im working it out is by comparing it to riding a mounting bike - smaller cog, low rpm at speed - lower mpg.

Bear in mind, im a total noob so im probably wrong.

yep sounds right. I just know mine was bought higher geared, as the previous owner did a lot of mway miles. don't ask me how many teeth are on it...I dunno never counted. either plus or minus one, can never remember

[embee]

I have a 16T on the g/box on my SK1 SVS, 15T is standard. This fitted with the original 108 link chain, just. There isn't a lot of spare movement of the wheel spindle, but it's comfortable.

I did it to make it feel a bit more relaxed, which it does. It puts the ratios almost exactly half way between the original ones in the upper gears, so the new 5th is half way between the original 5th and 6th, and the new 6th is half a gear of overdrive if you like. It stopped me trying to find 7th gear.

It won't make much difference in fuel economy if you ride at similar speeds, maybe a mpg or so but not really significant. I just prefer the feel.

[oldie]

The SV650s is much better with a 16 tooth front sprocket! Most people won't notice a difference on top end and fuel mileage is better. I'm not very heavy so I use 6th all the time, not just as an overdrive. It might be a bit overgeared with a passenger, but you can use that as an excuse to ride on your own!

Oldie

[Blue_SV650S]

Thank you very much!

I have a faired machine myself. I'll go for 43 on the back, purrfect! Would hope it wouldn't affect the length of the chain being purchased!

By only going -1t on the rear (that is a pretty minimal difference), I can't see you will offset the cost of the new sprocket (£15?), let alone save any sort of money worth talking about!! ;)

Just worked it out ... at 80mph in 6th, a 43 over a 44 on the rear will save you a whopping 127rpm (given a rear tyre circumference of 2000mm)!! :D yes one-hundred and twenty-seven rpm!! ... bearing in mind you are already at ~6k rpm, that is not really going to do masses of difference for your mpg is it ;)

[Tim in Belgium]

I run an extra tooth on the rear (45t) and can still get good mpg when cruising. Just did 100 miles at 85-100 on motorways followed by 50 miles at 50-70 on NSL (all simulated on my private test track) and had 155 miles on the clock, the fuel light was flashing and Igot about 15 litres in, so I'd leave it so you can have fun inthe twisties when you find them. Just accelerate gently and you'll get good mpg.

[Blue_SV650S]

Just accelerate gently and you'll get good mpg.

Indeed, smooth with the right hand (try not to use the brakes for slowing, just back off the throttle a lot earlier and let it slow itself too) and a few MPH less is going to have way WAY more effect on MPG than 1t on a rear sprocket will ;)


If you are going on a biking holiday .. who gives a feck about MPG? ... you are spending what £300-500 on a holiday, who cares if in having a bit more fun/enjoying it more you burn an extra say £30 in fuel over the duration!! ;)

[instigator]

If you are going on a biking holiday .. who gives a feck about MPG? ... you are spending what £300-500 on a holiday, who cares if in having a bit more fun/enjoying it more you burn an extra say £30 in fuel over the duration!! ;)

A scot. :p

Thing is I don't need to go quickly, have my knee down, belt around corners, go fast at all to enjoy biking. Yes they are fun but I don't do them much (especially not the kneee down crap) hence why I've probably yet to come off in 6 years. (that and some luck) I'd like to keep it that way too!

So if I potter around at sane speeds, why not make a little saving, eh? Unfortunately, I usually sell bikes because of bad mpg, it's that important to me. I do quite a lot of miles and I want to do other stuff with my money other than fork out for petrol.

I like scenery when riding. I don't usually go for the A-B as quickly as possible approach.

P.S I'm replacing the C&S anyway so thought I may as well.

[Dappa D]

hi...sorry to jump in....

I bought my 2000 curvy sv with +2t on the rear...my understanding is this shaves a bit off the top end (had 115mph tho so far, although i expect the meter is slightly out) and increases fuel consumption slightly...

is this right? its the only "proper" bike ive had so nothing to compare it too...

cheers if anyone can answer

Dappa D

[zunkus]

My brother and I toured for 10 days on two sv's one naked with +1 rear the other SVS. I rode the naked which is supposedly dearer on fuel but on each fuel stop my bike took less fuel. One poster here wrote that to save fuel one should brake less and use engine braking. That's exactly my riding style, I try to use brakes less and try to keep things smooth whilst my brother uses his brakes a lot. I notice this when he's in font of me. Looking back that may well have been the reason why I consumed less.

[Stu]

I run a 16T front. (this would be equivalent to -3T on the rear)
I chose that when my C & S last needed replacing for the mpg saving and also just to lower the revs at the speed i like to commute at.
It was a bit of extra hassle to obtain a 16T sprocket in the first place (partly because they come marked as 520 as a part number, but that does not mean it is 520 pitch)
I have been told that my front sprocket is starting to show signs of wear (as a result of extra stress being put on it, which surprised me, but I can kind of understand).
Sometimes I wish 1st gear was lower geared, (for engine breaking, not wheelies) but otherwise I am happy, not that I notice a great difference. I agree MPG has more to do with style of riding, but given the same style I would like to think that I am getting better mpg than I otherwise would.