Anyone changed to a 'taller' ring/pinion set?

[bjamesw]

I just emailed Max BMW with this but thought I'd run it by you all as well to see if anyone has experience with this.

My '82 R65 is geared a little low for my taste.  I'm 165lbs and most of my riding is one up.  I never pack more than a medium tank bag.   Sometimes I just start off in second gear.  It's easy to run all the way through fifth even in city traffic.   A little taller through the gears would be really nice.

The rear drive is stamped 32/9.   I just looked up a couple of sites for replacement sets and did not see any for R65 prior to '85.  

Has anyone else changed sets on an R65?   What did you go to and how did you like it?  

[Ed Miller]

5th gear at 35 - 45 mph is very likely lugging it, unless you're going downhill.  Still, the fact that I can get to redline in 5th makes me wonder if the bike could use a little higher gears.  Maybe you could just try swapping in the final drive from an R80 or so?

[Barry]

Some R65's came with the 31/9 final drive. Here are the calculated speeds in gears assuming a standard 4.00 x 18 tire.

[Semper Gumby]

My 1980 has the 31/9 rear end and it works fine.  But then I have the heavy flywheel.  If you switch you will have to change your speedo as well...


Just a thought...Try going with a taller 4.00-18 tire.