Gear ratios

[Charles S Otwell]

Ok guys, in one of the post or one of the emails someone mentiomed that they were hitting around 4000 rpms at 70 is this normal and do the 87 models come with different gear ratios in the final drive? my 87 is hitting 4000 rpms at 55. It doesn't feel as much like overdrive as th 82 I had. Anyone have any idea??

[bgayler]

Hi Charles,
I checked my 88 this morning on the way to work. In 5th gear @ 4000 rpm my speedo says 55mph. In 6th gear @4000 rpm my speedo says 64 mph. I ran it up and down several times and checked it at a steady pace with no traffic (not much traffic at 2:30 am.) and the results were the same each time. I don't know if this answers your question or even helps, but that's my results.

[Greg Cothern]

Charles the #'s Bill quoted are pretty spot on from my Super as well.  I am not sure on a 1st gen Magna what #'s they are running at these speeds.  
I can tell you that a 3rd gen Magna will run higher RPM's by a good margin over the Super.

[bgayler]

Greg,
Are Gen III's 6 speeds? I looked at Joe Nichol"s 98 to purchase for my wife, and he told me it was only a 5 speed.

[Greg Cothern]

No they are 5 speeds, but kick your Super into 5th and they are pretty close.  5th gear is 1:1 on both.

[bgayler]

That's kinda what I thought, that's why I included 5th gear rpm and mph to compare.

[Charles S Otwell]

Thanks guys, thats what I needed to know. I think maybe it' the louder exhaust that just makes it sound like the rpms are higher than they were. I had removed the small resonator from the exhaust right before I came to the last wrench session. I don't like the way it sounded so I removed one baffle and replaced the resonator, maybe it will tone it down a little. Again thanks for the info.

[ThomasMagna]

If my memory serves me right, it seems that in the 1st gen V45, in 6th gear at 4500 rpm I am doing 65. In 5th @4500 I am doing 55. I also think that in 4th @4500 the speedo reads  45. I'll check it out later today.

I sort of envy you guys getting to ride to work. I just walk down the stairs and there I am at work. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want a rush hour type ride, with stop and go. Don't envy anyone that, unless they can lane split. I may just have to pick a route and take a morning ride every day. I'll think on it.

[bgayler]

Hey Thomas,
In the morning at 2:30 am when I'm riding the 45 miles to work, dodging 2 or 3 deer and tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 pm when I45 is backed up from Conroe to Houston (30 or so miles) and 1/2 of them are trying to drive in the same spot I'm driving in (all the while talking on their cell phone), I'm going to remember somewhere I'm being "ENVIED".hehehe
Seriously, the ride in the morning is now pleasant with the warm weather, and the ride home keeps your driving skills keen. (like riding with one hand while shaking a fist at some idiot driver with the other). All in all, I'm glad to have the opportunity. I wish I'd had it 40 years ago.

[ThomasMagna]

Bill,

I guess I should modify my envy when you make me think about it like that. A 45 mile ride for me would take me to a town of about 15,000 then to a smaller one and then back to the farm. Deer and dog dogging at times in early morning but few cars no matter the time of day the route I would take.

I am going to have to do that. It sounds good. I would have to feed the animals first. They kind of go crazy when they hear my door shut in the morning because they'll think I'm out to feed. The horses line up at the fence, the cats come running out of the barn, the sheep and pigs start bawling and squeeling and the dogs, if they haven't been up all night barking at the coyotes, will sometimes grace me with their presence.

[Charles S Otwell]

Thomas are you sure you live in Michigan, sounds more like Heaven or Texas . We could stand to swap about 10 or 15 degrees with you but all in all I'd say you got the good life..

[ThomasMagna]

Charles,

I must admit that I do live and have a good life. I'm like Lou Gherig (sp?) except for the disease, I am the luckiest man on earth. I would love to swap some of your summer heat for our winter cold. It would make for more pleasant riding for us all, and a longer season for us yanks.

Things are getting bad though. A lot of the old farmers are dying off and the kids sell off the land for housing. The only good thing about that is the road will get paved. I could take a worse route, but since I am coming back here I can take the nicest way.

If you think you might get in the area, let me know ahead of time.

[bgayler]

Charles,
It's disgraceful how some people use this forum to Brag isn't it.hehehe

[Charles S Otwell]

Absolutly shameful!

[Charles S Otwell]

Although in his defense he has a motorcycle and a horse that would give ya the big head