R65 Cruising Speeds, MPH, RPM's

[John M]

My 3.36 rear end coupled with the 6% taller 5th gear gives me an effective 3.19 when in 5th gear without affecting the lower gears.
Very sweet on the highway, I was a little concerned that the taller fifth would be to much gear for the bike to pull but it is a great improvement
when travelling at speed for a longer run. I don't do any long haul rides with a passenger.

[EGRG]

Hi John M: Your Kaiser solution sounds great.  I may have to do a little transmission work soon. Where can you purchase the Kaiser 5th gear?

[bruce_launceston]

Many years ago when the bike and I were both much younger I wound it out a few times to 180 kmh, it needed a bit of downhill assistance from memory.
The tacho needle is definately into the red at that speed.

Last week I rode the 200 km from Hobart to Launceston on a cold, damp and dark night. It really seems to like those conditions sitting comfortably at 120 kmh with a couple of short sharp sprints up to 140 and even 150 kmh just to break the boredom.
Tassy has some of the best motorcycling roads in Australia but unfortunately the Midlands Highway is not one of them.

They will run all day at whatever speed you choose to ride and they love to rev (in their gentlemanly, pushrody sort of way).

[tvrla]

I've heard the 3.20 final drive is a good match for these bikes, but haven't tried it myself. My LS came with the 3.56 drive and I've changed to the 3.36 and like it much better.

With quieter mufflers highway speeds might be more enjoyable.  

Oh, and fill out your profile so we can see where you're coming from!

[JPSpen]

My R-65 will run 70-80 MPH all day long..

But it scares the crap out of me !

It takes a long time to stop that bike from 70 MPH...

Remember: They were made when 55 MPH was the speed limit everywhere...

John

[John M]

Hi doublezero
I had my transmission out to be checked and the circlip installed on the output shaft ( my bike was one of the circlip-less years )I decided that it was a good time to install the taller fifth, Sean Weaver of Black River Motor works opened up the transmission for me (I believe he ordered the gear directly from Germany )

[rwait]

My 1986 r65 with its original 3.36 rear end would be at 4000 rpm at 100km per hr (62mph)   I installed the Kaiser taller fifth gear this winter and now 100 km per hr is 3750 rpm . The bike pulls this gear easily and cruising at 130 kph feels more relaxed (4875 rpm )
   John Muir

For those of us that travel relatively long distances on our R65's, can you tell us more about the "Kaiser taller fifth gear" you had installed?  Haven't done a Google search yet...

[tvrla]

They're about $150 for the gear and drop RPM about 500. It's like having a sixth gear (but missing fifth).

[nhmaf]

The clincher with changing the transmission 5th gear is that one is usually looking at at least $400 to crack the gearbox, replace the gear and and re-shim, and reassemble.  IF anything else needs to, plus shipping, etc - it adds up pretty quick unless one is experienced in gearbox work and has the proper custom tools (which include a modified rear gearbox cover plate for the shimming bit..

[tvrla]

A 'new' final drive is way cheaper with a whole lot less downtime. But then there's the matching speedo...