cruising speed VH

[chris.shearwood]

Don't forget to verify the accuracy of your speedometer. I find it very difficult to estimate my speed and have noticed my various speedometers have substantial errors when checked against a GPS (SatNav) or a roadside radar. You might be going faster than you think!

[dave.owen]

A 24 t is OK for highly tuned(hs) or the like or for
riding without hills.

My speedo reads fast against the sat nav. +3-4 mph @60mph
Dave

[john.mitchell]

Fay and I have done thousands of miles on the continent with our s/a VH, with luggage, much of it over the mountains. 23 tooth and all standard gearing. Never a problem keeping to an indicated 60-65 mph most of the time. I am really surprised anyone would even consider using a smaller engine sprocket.

[pappleton]

I could be wrong, but you would get a subtler change in gearing on the clutch or rear wheel sprocket as you say. It would be a shame to loose its forgiving nature around the back roads, but we are allowed on motorways - eek! There is a 40t clutch spkt available, no idea about rear wheel.
BR, Paul

[robjameson]

I run a 22t engine sprocket, I can comfortably cruise at 60-65, gets a bit vibey at 70-75, but perfectly manageable. I generally don’t spend sustained time above 75.

I do basically have HS internals though so perhaps a slightly different animal.

I’m also told that I’m not terribly gentle with the old girl

[david.anderson]

I have several VH and most are fitted with a 23 tooth engine sprocket. I have no problem touring at a constant 70mph. the 23tooth sprocket is the ideal touring sprocket.
However a VH in standard tune is if anything overgeared with a 23 tooth engine sprocket. A standard tune VH will accelerate faster if fitted with a 22 tooth sprocket and runs 90mph with the 22 tooth sprocket, although it is revving higher. With the 23 tooth sprocket the VH runs out of puff before that.
I have tried a 24 tooth sprocket and found the loss in acceleration, and extra clutch slipping that is necessary off the mark to be unacceptable even at HS specifications.
I run a 21 tooth sprocket on my short stroke VH (HS + specs) with excellent results and have no problem exceeding 7000rpm in top gear. The bike is however probably too hot and needs the lower gearing for road use. The shorter stroke lifts safe revs by about 1000rpm
David

[Keith.owen]

Hi David,
What you say about gearing is interesting. I have a book on Norton Commando Tuning by Paul Dunstall, in which he states that factory geared machines are often overgeared to keep the revs down and that ideally one should gear for maximum engine power at the anticipated (but realistic) road speed. I shall certainly consider a 22 tooth sprocket.

As it is I'm still running-in my engine, having covered some 700 miles, but increasingly opening it up. It has a Drags HS cam and 7.5:1 piston. Interesting to note but at around 3000 rpm the engine personality changes. The exhaust takes on a different sound and it pulls - just have to resist the temptation although I did take her up to 75 mph the other day (well so the speed said).

So, it would seem that 6-65 is considered kind. That is good and I shouldn't be so pessimistic concerning my beloved Ariel!!

Keith

[ChrisNewton]

Gent's

Thanks for the valuable input, set up is 23t and 44 t on primary - i haven't found a supply of rear sprockets to choose from

any suggestions ?

[Leejm]

There isn't one that I know of. The standard 23/44/19/47 is the highest you want too go too. Anything else will be overgeared.

[roger.fellows]

Don't Drags sell 40 tooth clutch sprockets?