94 transalp 600. 5,000 revs at 100kph?
 

Hi it's Bryn on Tom's profile.

Normal road riding i'm up about 5,000 revs just to get 100kph out of my bike. This surely isn't normal? I'm carrying panniers and bags on the back which I guess will have something to do with it but it still seems a little excessive. I'm wondering is someone played with the gearing before I bought the bike, or I'm running the wrong sprockets. But I have the recommended number of teeth on both. Am I completely missing something here? Still have power in reserve at 5,000 and can make 130 kph if needed but she gets a little vibraty!

I've ridden my XL 600V from the uk to Iran so probably should have asked this question earlier. Not a great depth of knowledge on motorbikes so any help greatly appreciated.

Happy riding,
Bryn

Bryn, carrying panniers and a bag will not affect the revs you are pulling. The rpm/road speed ratio is dependent only on internal gearing and sprocket sizes.

It is highly improbable - and highly expensive - for someone to change the internal gearing, therefore the only options you have to reduce revs at a given road speed for any gear, is to alter front and rear sprocket sizes.

A larger front sprocket (more teeth) and / or a smaller rear sprocket (less teeth) will achieve the desired effect. You will find. hiowever, that you are limited in how much larger you can go at the front as there may not be much additional space for a larger sprocket to fit before it jams against the engine case.

Having said all the above, 5,000rpm at 100km/h does not sound unreasonable. I believe the XL600V has a redline of 9,000 rpm and a top speed of around 175kmh. Extrapolating back, that gives you just under 20kmh per 1k rpm - or 100kmh for 5k rpm, which suggests you do have standard gearing.

When the rev counter on my 87 TA used to work, I recall it read 5500 in top gear at 70mph/120kph (the speed at which my oil consumption went up dramatically: knackered valve guide stems). So 5000 at 60mph/100kph sounds about right.

Don't worry, be happy.
Chris

Bryn - I don't know how much of a reference this is for you: but the rev counter on a (2005) XL650V always displays just a smidgen above 4,500 rpm at 100 km/h ..

.. and it all sounds and feels about right.

http://keithooper.smugmug.com/Travel...45_jTx9C-M.jpg



.

I can confirm with Keith above...rode my 02 Alp to work this mng and it read just under 5000rpm at 60mph (100kmh)...then 5500 at 70 mph...6000 at 80mph

I have just fitted new sprockets and chain on my 1996 Transalp 600, 16 front +1 tooth,47 rear standard,and at 5100 revs I was travelling at 70 MPH,112 KPH,with luggage,so yours sounds about right.beerchug

hi BigTomsRide, i also ride a transalp '94 - and it's the same, ca. 5000rpm at 100km/h. so i think your bike is ok.

Was the reason I outed my TA, it just wasnt great at motorway cruising with the standard gearing . I fitted a 16t front and it was better but still didnt feel great if it was pushed up to 75mph on the speedo (71gps). It wasnt what I had expected from a V twin. On a Pyreneean mountain road a 650 BMW dakar was even hard to keep up with, I guessed the single cylinder had more punch out of a bend.
But then I guess i just prefer the way a single rides, in fact my XT660R was a better bike on the motorways

Huge thanks
 

Cheers guys, everything is going well with the Trans. Ridden UK- Pak so far, looking to head India and beyond. She is going beautifully despite stoving her into the floor in Greece. Also I'm hugely loving my chain which has required one adjustment in 1500km. Buy a DID x-ring and look after it kids.

I just found this thread..

I recall 100kph gave about 4700-4800 rpm on my 94 Transalp, depending on tyres and how much worn they were. At the end of a tyres service life, rpm would have gone up a little, say 100 rpm. I always went with standard tyre size and standard sprockets. I changed to 49 teeth rear sprocket at one point and that gave 5000 rpm/100kph - good for gravel and offroad, less good on motorways. I also tried one tooth xtra on the front sprocket but did not like the higher gearing and the lost overtaking punch.

BTW... those were readouts from the speedometer, I guess a GPS reading would give around 5000rpm/100kph.

/Tom

I have currently a '94 XL600V and used to have a '97 XL600V, they both did 5000 revs at 100kph in fifth gear. :thumbup1:

I was wrong, checked today, and it's 4800 revs at 100kph

This is a very old post resurrected. If anyone really does not like high revs they might consider buying a Panther 120, If I remember correctly they fire about twice between each lamp posts. ( about 30 meters apart). So that would be about 2,000 rpm ( revs per mile) :)

or about 1600 revs per minute at 50 MPH

I am glad this post was resurected.

I just bought a TA 650 2004.

I knew that the TA need a 6th gear and that it was one of it's very few downfall. I am feeling it when ridding above 60mph. (still try to find a 6th gear that never comes).

As someone sujested here, is it possible (easy) to fit a bigger front sproket and/or small one at the back?

Is it advisable?

regards,

Quentin

Interesting comments about the respective BMW and Yam.
For the record, the F650GS single Cyl twin spark turns over at around 4000 RPM for 60 MPH on the flat.

As shown in the earlier posts it is certainly possible.

5 speed boxes always give the feeling that you describe but you can get used to it as you become attuned to the bike.