Group: rec.motorcycles.tech

Motorcycle Technical Discussion.

Add group to favorites Add group to favorites
   indietro Back to post list     indietro Send new message to group
Search:
Pg.
1

Post Subject:

improving performance

Reply from: James Cohern
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 10:37
improving performance

What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
top speed, but would lose acceleration.


Reply from: Timo Geusch
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 11:39
Re: improving performance

jjbigz@msn . com (James Cohern) writes:

> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
> not sure why is so slow at the top end.

Because it's not a high-performance engine for starters.

> I have considered changing
> pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
> change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
> top speed, but would lose acceleration.

It's the old saying - "speed costs money, how fast do you want to
spend?"

Playing with the exhaust and air intake, plus tweaking the FI may make a
noticeable difference, but $deity only knows if it's worth the cash.

--
Morini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT
Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: * w w w .ukrm . net /faq/index.html
"Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar

Reply from: .
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 18:06
Re: improving performance

On Feb 29, 1:37=EF=BF=BDam, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle.

Adjusting the stock camshaft timing. This is called "degreeing the
cams".

You will lose a little "low end torque" and gain more top end
*horsepower*.

I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
> not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
> pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
> change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
> top speed, but would lose acceleration.

I recommend that you find a web-based site dedicated to Vulcans and
*carefully* read what the knowledgeable-sounding owners have to say.

I don't know the details of your machine, but it's possible that your
engine has a RPM limiter to stop it from revving any higher than it
does, or if the cam shafts are set up to have zero overlap to meet EPA
rules.

If you can find out what the cam timing specifications are, you might
be able to get a little more power out of the engine by retarding the
exhaust cams and advancing the intake cams a few degrees to raise the
power peak.

This is usually done by removing the camshafts, unbolting the
sprockets, and filing the bolt holes oval so you can move the
sprockets in relation to the camshafts.




Reply from: TOG@Toil
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 18:09
Re: improving performance



James Cohern wrote:

> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
> not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
> pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
> change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
> top speed, but would lose acceleration.

Sell it and buy a cheaper faster bike. Seriously.

Reply from: Mark Olson
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 18:20
Re: improving performance

TOG@Toil wrote:
> James Cohern wrote:

>>What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
>>motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
>>not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
>>pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
>>change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
>>top speed, but would lose acceleration.

> Sell it and buy a cheaper faster bike. Seriously.

Exactly. Why do people buy bikes that aren't designed to go fast
and spend lots of money to get them to do it, when there are bikes
made with _very similar designs_ that will go much faster, for about
the same money? And if performance was your object to begin with,
why not buy a bike that goes fast, is comfortable (assuming someone
who buys a Vulcan doesn't want a "crotch rocket") and handles
quite well, too?

Not that there is anything at all wrong with a Vulcan 900, a nice
bike if you like that sort of bike, and a 105 mph top speed is
certainly adequate for normal usage everywhere except the Autobahn
or Autostrada.

--
'01 SV650SK1 '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

Reply from: The Older Gentleman
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 20:43
Re: improving performance

Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:

> a 105 mph top speed is
> certainly adequate for normal usage everywhere except the Autobahn
> or Autostrada.

And the A21 on my way to work...

...oops. What a giveaway.


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F & SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

Reply from: Mark Olson
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 21:01
Re: improving performance

The Older Gentleman wrote:
> Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:

>>a 105 mph top speed is
>>certainly adequate for normal usage everywhere except the Autobahn
>>or Autostrada.

> And the A21 on my way to work...
>
> ...oops. What a giveaway.

UKRM anecdotal reports of lucky escapes/flagrant hoonery notwithstanding,
is it not true that if you are nicked at over 100 mph in the UK you are
facing a likely ban, just as you are in my home state?

* w w w .drivingban.co.uk/drivingban/speedingoffences/drivingbanspeedingoffences.htm#I_have_been_caught_speeding_at_more_than_100_mph_on_the_motorway._Is_a_ban_automatic

* w w w .house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/issinfo/ssspdlt.htm#Q4

Still grinning over the memory of darsy and adie's videotaped antics w/
plod commentary.

--
'01 SV650SK1 '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

Reply from: The Older Gentleman
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 22:17
Re: improving performance

Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:

> UKRM anecdotal reports of lucky escapes/flagrant hoonery notwithstanding,
> is it not true that if you are nicked at over 100 mph in the UK you are
> facing a likely ban, just as you are in my home state?

It's likely, yes. Not a certainty, but likely. That's assuming 100mph in
a 70mph zone, of course. If you're up for 100 in a 60, let alone lower,
a ban is a near-certainty.


To counterbalance this, many TrafPol (especially bike Plod) will
actually put on the ticket that you were doing (say) 98mph instead of (a
true) 100+, as long as you were riding fast in a safe manner and not
being a cunt.

This is because they know that speed in itself isn't dangerous and that
a ban would be unfair. I've escaped a ban once because of that, and a
certain speeding penalty on another two occasions[1].

Seriously, bike Plod tend to be very lenient - as long as you're not
being a....

[1] One of these involved a friend and myself doing 100+ speeds in a 60
limit, early one sunny Sunday morning.[2]
[2] And was the inspiration for my TOG tag. In the eyes of the bike cop
who eventually caught up with us, I was "an older gentleman who should
know better. Now off you go." :-)


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F & SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

Reply from: "Blattus Slafaly £ ¥ 0/00 :)"
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 18:37
Re: improving performance

James Cohern wrote:
> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
> not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
> pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
> change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
> top speed, but would lose acceleration.
>
I find it too windy at 105.

--
Blattus Slafaly ? 3 :) 7/8

Reply from: T.Alan Kraus
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 19:07
Re: improving performance

James Cohern wrote:

> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph. I am
> not sure why is so slow at the top end. I have considered changing
> pipes, changing the air intake system, getting a commander that will
> change the timing of the fuel injection, or changing pulleys in increase
> top speed, but would lose acceleration.
>
What do you want to do? Go way past 105 or be fast on your take off.
If it is going way past 105, gear up with sprocket changes and put an
egg shaped faring on the bike you can hide behind. Frontal area air
resistance is your enemy. If you want to take off fast also, than you
need a tranny with more gears and the right ratios. 900 cc should be
enough power to take you past 200mph with an aerodinamically correct bike.

Reply from: Rob Kleinschmidt
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 20:46
Re: improving performance

On Feb 29, 1:37 am, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph.

Lying flat down on the bike wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.

* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rollie Free%2C record run.jpg

Very inexpensive.

Reply from: T Shadow
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 21:28
Re: improving performance

"Rob Kleinschmidt" <Rkleinsch1216128@aol . com > wrote in message
news:6453a158-05a7-4240-b091-3fc38f9c83d7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups . com ...
> On Feb 29, 1:37 am, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> > What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> > motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph.
>
> Lying flat down on the bike wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.
>
> * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rollie Free%2C record run.jpg
>
> Very inexpensive.

The rubber hat looks expensive. :O)


Reply from: oldgeezer
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 22:08
Re: improving performance

On 29 feb, 21:28, "T Shadow" <blackh...@nowhere.void . com > wrote:
> "Rob Kleinschmidt" <Rkleinsch1216...@aol . com > wrote in message
>
> news:6453a158-05a7-4240-b091-3fc38f9c83d7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups . com ...
>
> > On Feb 29, 1:37 am, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> > > What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> > > motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph.
>
> > Lying flat down on the bike wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.
>
> > * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rollie Free%2C record run.jpg
>
> > Very inexpensive.
>
> The rubber hat looks expensive. :O)

And the rear fender looks mandatory.

Reply from: The Older Gentleman
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 22:18
Re: improving performance

oldgeezer <schreuderrob@yahoo . com > wrote:

> On 29 feb, 21:28, "T Shadow" <blackh...@nowhere.void . com > wrote:
> > "Rob Kleinschmidt" <Rkleinsch1216...@aol . com > wrote in message
> >
> > news:6453a158-05a7-4240-b091-3fc38f9c83d7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups . com ...
> >
> > > On Feb 29, 1:37 am, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> > > > What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> > > > motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph.
> >
> > > Lying flat down on the bike wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.
> >
> > > * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rollie_Free%2C_record_run.jpg
> >
> > > Very inexpensive.
> >
> > The rubber hat looks expensive. :O)
>
> And the rear fender looks mandatory.

LOL!


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F & SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

Reply from: The Older Gentleman
Date: 29 Feb 2008, 22:17
Re: improving performance

Rob Kleinschmidt <Rkleinsch1216128@aol . com > wrote:

> On Feb 29, 1:37 am, jjb...@msn . com (James Cohern) wrote:
> > What is the least expensive way to improve the performance of a v twin
> > motorcycle. I own a Vulcan 900, which has a top speed of 105 mph.
>
> Lying flat down on the bike wearing nothing but a pair of trunks.
>
> * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rollie_Free%2C_record_run.jpg
>
> Very inexpensive.

Have you seen that that very bike is up for auction?


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F & SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com


Pg.
1



Login:
  Username:    Password: 
 
   Lost Password? click here!
Thread: