Has anyone ever changed the final drive ratio

[BobbyLeBout]

I did not know there were optional rear ratios available for R1200R's and I always felt that first gear was higher than needed for stop and go traffic. The bike comes with 2.75 but 2.82, 2.91 and 3.0 ratios are available. The gears cost $532.00 and I don't know what the labor would be. Does the math look right on what the new speeds would be at the same RPM.

I live west of Philadelphia in a now congested area. Some of the riding is two up.
What are your thoughts.

http://www.webparts.com/diagram.php?btn ... g=33&fg=10

Primary Drive 1:1.882
1st Gear Ratio 2.28:1
2nd Gear Ratio 1.58:1
3rd Gear Ratio 1.26:1
4th Gear Ratio 1.03:1
5th Gear Ratio 0.90:1
6th Gear Ratio 0.81:1
Final Drive Ratio 2.75:1

Ratio Percent MPH
2.750 of change 60 becomes
2.820 -0.0255 58.47
2.910 -0.0582 56.51
3.000 -0.0909 54.55

[mickyt]

Hi Bobby
I didn't go the final drive route but instead changed out the cam sprockets with advance 9 degrees, the result is good. Seems to have added more torque to low and mid range. I have remus headers, laser hot cam pipe and FRK module. The module made it run nicer and now with the advanced cam timing there is no noticable flat spot 4-5000 rpm where a lot of time is spent. In 6th gear the bike pulls from 4000rpm, not that I make a habit of it. The best way to describe it is more linear power delivery with extra grunt all through. A dyno may show a minimal top end loss but I don't ride there anyway. It may also show other things but it is very smooth and fun to ride, roll ons....corner to corner etc. I got them off an Aussie guy and you can read a bit on Pelican Parts, "Lennies Sprockets". Only about $200 1.5hour install and easy to go back if your not satisfied.
Regards Mick.

[bobw]

Check Max BMW web site. They had several options posted (or did) not so long ago. I've read many good comments about their shops(s), but have never done business with them. Could give them a call or it would make a nice place to go for a ride and see what they can tell you.

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/

Good luck.

Bob

[mogu83]

Would it be easier (and more cost effective) to just buy a complete rear drive from one of the motorcycle breakers or E-Bay. I've seen complete drives going on E-Bay for around $500. I'm sure the GS bikes have a lower ratio than the Rs.

[BobbyLeBout]

After a couple more days of stop and go on the way to work I am going to go for the lower gear ratio. I purchased the bike at Max's through EBay. They offer pricing for switching the gears or a new final drive. I am bidding on one on EBay now and will let you know how it works out.
Thanks for the information.

[Preacher]

Unless you do a lot of 2-up riding and run the mountains frequently, I don't think the swap is worth it... and I'm into performance mods. I had no problems leaving the line hard with the R12R; mine had a full Remus and Dobeck TFI. Even the R12S runs the same ratio as the R (2.75)... but the RT runs a lower ratio (higher gearing) and it's pulling more weight, but I suspect BMW meant to slow the revs down for the long distance folks wanting the gas mileage and longevity, though I'd rather have the GS's gear if I had an RT because I like riding mountain roads.

[BobbyLeBout]

There is some 2 - up riding but most of what I deal with is stop and go. First gear seems to be faster than the traffic crawl speed plus I ride like a slug. To your point, I do not like the price for the lower gear ratio.

[celticus]

Let us know how it works Bobby. I for one would be very interested.

Mark

[BobbyLeBout]

Ok The EBay thing worked. Have a final drive for $182.00 delivered.
I am going to ship it somewhere to have the work done. Max's is one option, any other thoughts?
Southeast PA

[bobw]

Bob's and Mortons are near you with very good reputations. Another option ($$) would be a guy like this...

http://www.largiader.com/shop/

Have no interest in any of them, but it would be worth it to me to have the FD set up properly by top shelf mechanic as many folks feel proper assembly, or not, is more the reason for FD failure than changing oil every time you service the bike.


Good luck, sounds like it will kick ass.

Safe travels

Bob

[deilenberger]

Ok The EBay thing worked. Have a final drive for $182.00 delivered.
I am going to ship it somewhere to have the work done. Max's is one option, any other thoughts?
Southeast PA

Damn. That was you who outbid me..

You might consider Tom Cutter - Yardley PA. Probably the best guy around for anything involving gears.. Rubber Chicken Racing Garage.. PM me for his email.

And what'cha gonna do with your "old" rear drive? I just want a shelf spare.. so it would be worth $182.50 to me (let you make a profit..)

[NeilS]

I had a poor experience at Max's and would hesitate to recommend them for service. It was only the for the brake line and antenna ring recalls, so maybe they put a low-level tech on the job, but the work was careless and sloppy and indicates a lack of quality-control. I'm not going back.

[enderw88]

Ok The EBay thing worked. Have a final drive for $182.00 delivered.
I am going to ship it somewhere to have the work done. Max's is one option, any other thoughts?
Southeast PA

Damn. That was you who outbid me..

You might consider Tom Cutter - Yardley PA. Probably the best guy around for anything involving gears.. Rubber Chicken Racing Garage.. PM me for his email.

And what'cha gonna do with your "old" rear drive? I just want a shelf spare.. so it would be worth $182.50 to me (let you make a profit..)

I had a related chat with Tom some time ago. I don't think he tooled up to do the new final drives, but I am pretty sure Anton Largiader is doing them..

[TinMan.KC]

Done it to 2 bikes. Best way, IMHO is to replace the entire final drive. You don't have to fret on assembly errors, and you can either sell the old one or keep it as a back-up.

On an R1150 RS I went from stock to the Lower (higher numerically) GS 3.0. Stock gearing on the 1150 had the sweet spot at 95mph, and you had to slip the clutch to much (IMO) when 2-up and loaded.

On my current R12RT, when the final drive needed to be replaced (74K, BMW covered, was making noise, no catastrophic failure) I went from the stock 2.61(?) to the lower 2.75 that is used in the R12R and the R12RTP. The R12GS has a 2.82 and I think a 3.0 (from euro R900?). Again, I did it for the ease of start out loaded and 2-up, along with a nicer pull out of the corners on the twisties..

Down side in both cases was a higher cruising rpm (~about 500rpm) and lower gas mileage (1-2mpg) Up side is easier take off, more grunt in the corners, and a quicker response to throttle at cruising speed.

TinMan.

[BobbyLeBout]

Hi TimMan,
It sounds like the easier start up loaded is what interests me the most. I wish that first gear was just a little slower. I seem to get caught in stop and go situations and lale splitting in PA isn't legal. It really gets people angry when I slip through at 6 mph. You get to hear all the obsenities. It is also hard to convince the policeman that you need to keep the bike moving so it doesn't overheat when he is riding a RT.

[celticus]

Hi Bobby
I didn't go the final drive route but instead changed out the cam sprockets with advance 9 degrees, the result is good. Seems to have added more torque to low and mid range. I have remus headers, laser hot cam pipe and FRK module. The module made it run nicer and now with the advanced cam timing there is no noticable flat spot 4-5000 rpm where a lot of time is spent. In 6th gear the bike pulls from 4000rpm, not that I make a habit of it. The best way to describe it is more linear power delivery with extra grunt all through. A dyno may show a minimal top end loss but I don't ride there anyway. It may also show other things but it is very smooth and fun to ride, roll ons....corner to corner etc. I got them off an Aussie guy and you can read a bit on Pelican Parts, "Lennies Sprockets". Only about $200 1.5hour install and easy to go back if your not satisfied.
Regards Mick.

I finally got myself a pair of Lennies Sprockets and put them on last weekend. It was 24° when I went for the test drive and the bike ran nice and strong. I will get back to yous guys and let you know when I put more mile on this week.
http://www.boxer-performance.com/products.htm