30 Tooth Sprocket-new Spyder owner

[r1100rider]

Gear it lower in first higher in sixth give us a shaft and no one would want to change the gearing surely you can't argue that with all the tension belt wear rear bearing issues sprocket splines belt whine that we would nt be better off with a shaft. Remember that if you have an se that the nanny won't allow any gear changes

 

[Lamonster]

Gear it lower in first higher in sixth give us a shaft and no one would want to change the gearing surely you can't argue that with all the tension belt wear rear bearing issues sprocket splines belt whine that we would nt be better off with a shaft. Remember that if you have an se that the nanny won't allow any gear changes

I wouldn't say no one would want to change it but for this group of riders I'm sure it would work just fine. Wheel bearings last about the same on my shaft bikes so I don't think you're gaining much there. My 109 has a pretty good vibration at 4K so you wouldn't be getting rid of that either for sure. For sure you will give up some hp with a shaft drive and I rather deal with a belt than give up hp for a shaft drive.


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[Firefly]

Most of the wear issues have been on the splines - not the teeth - and the aluminum sprocket splines will wear quicker. Then you have the belt wearing the aluminum teeth--- just look at the photo posted recently- the aluminum teeth are wearing to a sharp point which will ruin the belt.

No way would I try this just to try and 'save' 400 rpms.

I don't even think of using 5th gear until I hit 70 mph.

Shaft drive would give even lower mpg.

 

[r1100rider]

Firefly I sure never implyed the alum was the way to go we should have a steel sprocket option you want to redline shift at 70 out of 4 th that fine but the v twin does have good low end and will pull strong well below that I sure never said that engine vibs at any rpm would be eleminated by a shaft the wheel bearings on a BMW are inside the hub and run in oil forever I'm not sure about a m109 but I never replace bearings on my BMW a few % power loss would be a small price to pay to Eliminate all the issues with tension adjustment,sprockets ,tire changes belts wearing thru cases when they fail rocks and a 325 belt the spyder is a cruiser not a hot rod so hassle free makes more sense the motor came from a bike built with sprockets so they didn't want to do a redesign I understand just add shaft and high overdrive 6 th to the future wishlist
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[NancysToy]

The Spyder is not anywhere near redline at 70 in fourth. Every machine has different characteristics. A BMW RT will never be happy cruising at two grand like a Harley, and a Spyder isn't on the power curve at 3-4K like a BMW RT. You ride them where they are happy, not where your last ride was happy. Most get the best mileage toward the bottom of the power band. The Spyder has far more drag than a motorcycle, and all the re-gearing in the world won't change that. The mileage is what it is.

 

[Firefly]

I've had her over 100 in 4th gear nowhere near redline.

 

[bikeguy]

the shaft on my 20yrs of bmw's has cost me nothing more than a qt of 90w oil put the bike on the center stand 2 bolts brake is off 4 lugs tire is off no belt alignment or tension adjustment way simpler and better

Then apparently you never lubed the splines on your BMW's as BMW recommends. Not that it costs a lot of money, if you do it yourself, but it's a bear of a job. Don't get me wrong, I love BMW's and I always liked their shaft drive but I like the belt even better. As far as changing a rear tire on my Spyder, 2 bolts remove the brake, 1 axle nut, remove the lower shock mount bolt and drop the swing arm down and slip the belt off, that's it. Put the belt back on and reverse everything to replace it. You do not have to re-adjust the belt because nothing changed. I think it was easier than the last one I changed on my R1100RT.

Again, I love BMW's. Been riding them since the mid '70's. I still have my R90/6 and I expect to keep it. And I still like the belt drive better - well, at least as well - as the shaft.

Cotton

 

[r1100rider]

the begining of this thread was a new owner wanting another gear or a higher one which almost new to the spyder has said i responded that the spyder could from my experiance because i have a 30t sprocket will in fact very easily pull more gearing it should be a BRP option since we have a belt and not a shaft it is possible to change, the use of alum for the sprockets has proven to be to soft everyone jumped all over me thinking i was criticizing the spyder ,the purpose is for the shortcomings to be seen and addressed in the wants of the owners so maybe future designs can improve any design isnt perfect my BMW has a 500 dollar front fender that if a 1/4 rock sticks to the tire and rolls around with the tire cracks the fender ,the stupid battery is under the body work and the gas tank so of course its not going to get checked ,but on the other hand an oil window is nice , being able to check the valve clearance or pull the cylinder roadside is great ,the first thing i said when i rode the spyder was that motors sure have come a long way it runs smother starts better and vibrates less than my BMW ,but we all know there are things on anything that was over looked should the spyder have had the inside of the belt ungaurded , should the trunk have had a spring , should it have a higher gear or 6th would i buy another spyder is it safer to ride ,yes to all the above i can see why everyone is quick to defend BRP that fine ,i just think if no one points out the glaring flaws they wont change SO WHILE SOME ARE ROLLING ALONG AT 70 IN 4TH GEAR STARTING TO THINK ABOUT SHIFTING IN TO 5TH ILL BE IN 5TH WITH MY 30T[AS LONG AS MY ALUM ONE LASTS] AT 400 RPMS LESS ENJOYING A MORE RELAXED RIDE some one will make a steel sprocket someday maybe they will make a 26t so people can get into 5th before 75 and for those that pull heavy trailers

 

[Firefly]

Played with a couple crotch-rockets yesterday--- passed them doing 108 and was still in 4th gear..... :2thumbs:

I don't consider the lack of 6th gear a 'flaw' --- it was a 'choice' by the engineering team to give us a reverse gear instead. Even if they had done a 6th gear - it's not like it would have been much different than the current 5th -- you just would go through more gears to get there...

Going 70 or below in 5th gear the Spyder doesn't have a lot of kick for passing--- so you need to drop to 4th or 3rd to really pass well. I like having that power readily available... so 5th just doesn't get used much --- usually 75+. Mine cruises best in 5th at 92-93 mph.

I've never heard of anyone out here switching the gearbox to a 6 speed - only mention of Evoluzione selling a kit--- something I never saw on their website-- only heard rumors of such a thing.

You could also get lower mpg if the RPMs get too low and lug the rotax...... They meant for it to run in the higher RPM range.

The original poster made some claims that are his opinions-- not necessarily facts..

"this engine revs WAY too much at highway speeds not to mention the poor fuel mileage" and "with these 'higher' RPMs the engine won't last long".

Way to high compared to what? BRP designed it this way. The main MPG killer is the giant front end pushing through the wind. Many of us have pretty high mileage without engine damage....

 

[r1100rider]

not everyones mission is to pass everything in site if they did want that they would be on a GXR or similar which the spyder won't even begin to keep up with no matter how high you rev it be honest those crotch rockets you passed didn' t have to let you if they didn't want those bike can lift the front wheel off the ground at 100 plus and can triple the posted speed on most corners

 

[boborgera]

not everyones mission is to pass everything in site if they did want that they would be on a GXR or similar which the spyder won't even begin to keep up with no matter how high you rev it be honest those crotch rockets you passed didn' t have to let you if they didn't want those bike can lift the front wheel off the ground at 100 plus and can triple the posted speed on most corners

:agree: You can win every race [pass] if you don't tell the other guy your racing [passing] him.

 

[Firefly]

not everyones mission is to pass everything in site if they did want that they would be on a GXR or similar which the spyder won't even begin to keep up with no matter how high you rev it be honest those crotch rockets you passed didn' t have to let you if they didn't want those bike can lift the front wheel off the ground at 100 plus and can triple the posted speed on most corners

We were playing back and forth-- we passed each other a few times-- was just showing them the Spyder was no moped-- certainly they *could* have smoked me had they chosen too.....

 

[SpyderriderCAN]

my 2008 GS Spyder

Hi all:

I am new here with a 2008 GS Spyder that has had now 4 front pulleys on my bike and now the spline is toast! Can anyone and everyone that has ever had a problem with the front spline and or pulley respond here and or email me at [email protected]

TY

You're just asking for trouble IMO

1. The 'gains' you might get from a 30 tooth are minor. Your MPG isn't going to change much at all. The Spyder is a beast of un-aerodynamic brick you are pushing down the highway. The Rotax runs most efficient in a higher RPM range - that is how it was designed.

2. Some of us have had problems with front sprockets and main shafts going bad - bad splines wear. BRP has been covering these under warranty - due to an initial belt tension that was WAY too tight. The current tension spec is now around 25-30% of what the original spec was. If you have such problems while using a 3rd party sprocket - you very well may not be covered for such a failure.

3. Many that had those 30 tooth sprockets wore them out pretty quick.

You're going to get around 30 mpg if you're lucky -- just a fact of Spyder ownership. There are many out here with 50,000 or even 100,000 miles. I'm at 43,000 and other than worn shaft splines - no engine problems-- so my rebuild will have to happen soon --- but it had nothing to do with high revs....