Changing the gearing ratios.

[hush]

Okay, don't know whether I'm just setting myself up for a job that isn't worth doing, but here goes...

The bike (Kawasaki KH125), is running nicely. Following a good clean up, and a little bit of aggressive acceleration in first and second for a few runs to clear out the system it has managed to go from the top speed of 60MPH (indicated) when I got it, to comfortably now reaching 65MPH (indicated) with a gear to go. Now if I let it crawl up to the 9K mark it will get to an indicated 69/70MPH with a gear to go. A quick up change sees it do one of two things:

Clutchless change: hovers at the 70MPH mark for a short time before slowly falling back to 65MPH

Clutch change: drops to 64/65MPH pretty instantly, and then usually down to about 60 by the time the engine has caught up.

Either way, if left running at full throttle in top gear, I end up at 65MPH again.

Now I'm not a speed freak (whilst on the road), and don't plan on being one - well at least until I can get my hands on a powerful machine - However, it would be nice if the bike could comfortably run at 70-75MPH (75 being the quoted top speed).

What I'm wondering, is if I can change the upper gearing on the bike (bearing in mind that it's being run on a CBT - and I'd like to remain legal), to give it a helping hand.

Also, any tuning tips would be greatly appreciated, I've scoured the Web, but I can't find anything on this bike that is written in English.

Finally (for those of you who haven't yet fallen asleep ), I noticed today that the rear brake (drum) is squeaking when the break is applied. Wasn't sure if it was just because of the torrent of rain last night (must buy her a cover), or perhaps something worse like wear.

Thanks peeps.

[Jammy-G]

Brakes do squeak. One of those things, I have new pads anf front squeeks a little. Used to do it all the time on my push bike they sort themselves out after you use them a bit.

Cheers.

[G]

[hush]

LOL, now bicycles I can deal with - dab hand with them, never had squeaky brakes (cause by a wobble on the pads with the rim moving round, so you have to angle the front of the pad in slightly, and movement of the rim then causes the back to pull in and they bite. If the front and back arrive on the rim together, the front chatters on the rim and causes the squeek).

Now regarding my back brake, it never squeaked until this morning. And the brakes on my SR125 never squeaked either. In fact the only brakes I have know to squeak and be meant to are high performance discs where its more of a scream... Mate put a set on his Escort Cossie, I could never get used to hearing them...

[hush]

Sorry for the double post... Thanks G. Have been thinking about popping some Redex in, will definately give it a try. Used 10KBoost (decarbonising treatment) on my car and van and got an incredible change in engine running, fuel use and performance, but not seen anything like that for a bike engine. Don't much fancy an engine clean out just now, but will do what I can. The rear brake is a drum rather than a disc, but will check into it.

Thanks again.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds like your top gear is too high a geared. Running lower gearing (as G suggested) might well make top gear more useable. However realistically I doubt you are going to get much over 70 as a top speed from the KH125, let alone have it capable of cruising at over 70.

The squealing from the drum is probably a build up of brake dust inside the drum.

All the best

Keith
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[hush]

My old SR would cruise at 70 (for about 30 mins before overheating), so I'll be really disappointed if a bike with a quoted top of 75 won't hold at 70 when it's all done up. It gets there, just needs to stay. Will definately look at the gearing for it, and maybe have to look for a decoking treatment or something...