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Can you top this

Top Speed

Yep, the rev limiter will take care of you, but it is not a good idea to rely on it. Repeated and extended use of the rev limiter can still allow detonation that will damage an engine. Get used to the sound, and keep a corner of one eye on the tach. BTW, it is difficult to reach the limiter in high gear, anyway, but you will have more need to be aware of your rpm in the lower gears.
Scotty, check my math on this, if you will, thanks.
This is a calculation for the theoretical top speed of the Spyder in 5th gear at 9500rpm. Rear tire is 15". Final Ratio is 2.82:1.
Here goes...
15" x pi = 47.12 inches of travel per revolution.
47.12/12 = 3.927 feet per revolution of the tire.
3.927/5280 = 0.0007437 miles per revolution of the tire.
9500rpm x 60 = 570,000 engine revolutions per hour.
570,000/2.82 = 202,128 revs of the rear wheel per hour.
202,128 x 0.0007437 = 150.33 mph Max at 9500rpm.

So the theoretical maximum speed is 150.33mph:lecturef_smilie:. But as Scotty said, you probably can't get it up to 9500rpm in 5th gear unless you lift the rear wheel off of the ground:D
 
The fastest I've had mine was about 120 something. I really was paying more attention to the road then the speedo. Honestly after doing that and seeing a cop over the next rise (after slowing down) I realized I was being a dumb ass and will never attempt a stunt like that again.
 
Scotty, check my math on this, if you will, thanks.
This is a calculation for the theoretical top speed of the Spyder in 5th gear at 9500rpm. Rear tire is 15". Final Ratio is 2.82:1.
Here goes...
15" x pi = 47.12 inches of travel per revolution.
47.12/12 = 3.927 feet per revolution of the tire.
3.927/5280 = 0.0007437 miles per revolution of the tire.
9500rpm x 60 = 570,000 engine revolutions per hour.
570,000/2.82 = 202,128 revs of the rear wheel per hour.
202,128 x 0.0007437 = 150.33 mph Max at 9500rpm.

So the theoretical maximum speed is 150.33mph:lecturef_smilie:. But as Scotty said, you probably can't get it up to 9500rpm in 5th gear unless you lift the rear wheel off of the ground:D
There are a few wrinkles here. First, the wheel diameter is 15" (actually the rear whel is 14"), but the full tire diameter is 24". Unfortunately, in these calculations the rolling diameter must be used, accounting for the sidewall compression under load. I would assume a 22" rolling diameter without measuring, but more might be possible with high tire pressures and tire growth at speed.

Second, the rev limiter is set at 10,000 rpm, according to the shop manual.

Finally, 2.8:1 is just the final drive (sprocket) ratio. We also have to take into account the primary drive ratio (1.94:1) and the transmission gear ratio (5th gear = 0.96:1) into account. The overall final drive ratio thus becomes 5.25.

Given these factors, the theoretical top speed is 136 mph, but the practical maximum (depending on actual rolling tire diameter) is 125-130 mph. Add a typically optimistic speedometer, and you might see a bit more on the gauge.

24" x pi = 75.40 inches of travel per revolution.
75.40/12 = 6.28 feet per revolution of the tire.
6.28/5280 = 0.00119 miles per revolution of the tire.
10,000 rpm x 60 = 600,000 engine revolutions per hour.
600,000/5.25 = 114,286 revs of the rear wheel per hour.
114,286 x 0.00119 = 136 mph Max at 10,000 rpm.
 
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After 200 mph the analog gauge wraps all the way around itself and becomes accurate only +/- 7 mph and the digital gauge reads in octal.

Extreme care must be taken when decelerating from those speeds so as not to damage the speedometer mechanism.
It is advised the speedometer cable be lubricated with molyblenum grease and a heavy magnet placed near the digital display to hold back the numbers.

Because of this I've found it best just to let the Spyder coast to a stop from speeds above 200 mph.

I imagine a drag chute could be packed into rear cargo storage and instead of the "Rear Cargo Door Open" message the firmware could be changed to read "Chute Deployed".
:joke:

Isn't that when the flux capacitor is supposed kick in?
 
Scotty's calculations seem to be much closer to the highest reported speeds I have read about on here. :thumbup:

I do know my GPS showed a top speed of 168 mph, and Lamont posted a picture one time where his was showing over 400 mph. :D I think those who can duck down behind the stock windscreen might be able to push it closer to the 130 range, but there are a lot of other factors that come into play there as well.
 
Top Speed

There are a few wrinkles here. First, the wheel diameter is 15" (actually the rear whel is 14"), but the full tire diameter is 24". Unfortunately, in these calculations the rolling diameter must be used, accounting for the sidewall compression under load. I would assume a 22" rolling diameter without measuring, but more might be possible with high tire pressures and tire growth at speed.

Second, the rev limiter is set at 10,000 rpm, according to the shop manual.

Finally, 2.8:1 is just the final drive (sprocket) ratio. We also have to take into account the primary drive ratio (1.94:1) and the transmission gear ratio (5th gear = 0.96:1) into account. The overall final drive ratio thus becomes 5.25.

Given these factors, the theoretical top speed is 136 mph, but the practical maximum (depending on actual rolling tire diameter) is 125-130 mph. Add a typically optimistic speedometer, and you might see a bit more on the gauge.

24" x pi = 75.40 inches of travel per revolution.
75.40/12 = 6.28 feet per revolution of the tire.
6.28/5280 = 0.00119 miles per revolution of the tire.
10,000 rpm x 60 = 600,000 engine revolutions per hour.
600,000/5.25 = 114,286 revs of the rear wheel per hour.
114,286 x 0.00119 = 136 mph Max at 10,000 rpm.
I knew I could get you to chip-in:bowdown:
Thanks for the corrections:D
 
I was doing 120 on my way to work yesterday morning!

(Of course, I had accidentally switched over to metric and didn't have time to read the manual to figure out how to switch it back. :D )
 
:shocked: My nose just started bleeding from reading this thread... :yikes: It's good to know that when I'm allowed to trade mine in for my 2nd Spyder, I'll be able to tell the salesman that it's never been run hard... :thumbup:
 
Top Speed

There are a few wrinkles here. First, the wheel diameter is 15" (actually the rear whel is 14"), but the full tire diameter is 24". Unfortunately, in these calculations the rolling diameter must be used, accounting for the sidewall compression under load. I would assume a 22" rolling diameter without measuring, but more might be possible with high tire pressures and tire growth at speed.

Second, the rev limiter is set at 10,000 rpm, according to the shop manual.

Finally, 2.8:1 is just the final drive (sprocket) ratio. We also have to take into account the primary drive ratio (1.94:1) and the transmission gear ratio (5th gear = 0.96:1) into account. The overall final drive ratio thus becomes 5.25.

Given these factors, the theoretical top speed is 136 mph, but the practical maximum (depending on actual rolling tire diameter) is 125-130 mph. Add a typically optimistic speedometer, and you might see a bit more on the gauge.

24" x pi = 75.40 inches of travel per revolution.
75.40/12 = 6.28 feet per revolution of the tire.
6.28/5280 = 0.00119 miles per revolution of the tire.
10,000 rpm x 60 = 600,000 engine revolutions per hour.
600,000/5.25 = 114,286 revs of the rear wheel per hour.
114,286 x 0.00119 = 136 mph Max at 10,000 rpm.
You know it just occurred to me that the indicated speed is independent of tire size. This would be true only if the rear wheel is the source of speed indications. So alot depends on what BRP is using for a conversion from Wheel Revolutions per minute to Miles per hour.
 
You know it just occurred to me that the indicated speed is independent of tire size. This would be true only if the rear wheel is the source of speed indications. So alot depends on what BRP is using for a conversion from Wheel Revolutions per minute to Miles per hour.
That is why most speedos are optimistic. They calculate using the unloaded tire diameter, which will indicate a higher speed than the actual ground speed.
 
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Brp rates the spyder at 128 mph top speed in stock form.
That seems reasonable for an RS. It cooresponds to a tire rolling diameter of just under 23", or a full diameter tire at just under the rev limit, which would be typical. I have never seen that figure in print or advertising. Do you have a source we could refer to?
 
That seems reasonable for an RS. It cooresponds to a tire rolling diameter of just under 23", or a full diameter tire at just under the rev limit, which would be typical. I have never seen that figure in print or advertising. Do you have a source we could refer to?


Can't remember where I saw it. :dontknow:It was when I was researching them. I'll try to find it again.
 
Gee Whiz. You guys are ruining my day. I was going to take BR1 out and see if he would go 146.28 mph. If he will only do 125, back to the dealer he goes....I don't want no stinkin' slow Spyder....

:joke:

:spyder2:
 
That is why most speedos are optimistic. They calculate using the unloaded tire diameter, which will indicate a higher speed than the actual ground speed.

My GPS consistently runs 2 mph slower than the digital speedo on my Spyder, so this all makes sense to me now. :thumbup:
 
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