Final Gear Ratio Modifications to increase top end speed

rick71454 · Post by **rick71454** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:01 pm

Hello BuddyLand:

Anyone actually change final drive to increase top end speed?
They are different ratios between Buddy 125/150/170i.

Thanks
Rick71454

Throwback7R · Post by **Throwback7R** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:06 am

Welcome to my winter project.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:40 am

I'm not sure many have found it worth it to change the top end speed. Buddies can hit 70mph pretty easily in stock configuration if the rider isn't too... average(?) sized. The real fun of the Buddy is it's acceleration. You'll completely kill that if you re-gear it for top speed and you'll probably never achieve said top speed goals if you're ever on anything but a downward grade.

If you manage success, by all means please post it. Be sure to note if you're over 150 lbs and the road gradation.

Also, I'm not sure about where you live but going that fast on 10" wheels legally on roads that allow for those speeds or near them seems quite reckless. If you're talking track circumstances, that's a different animal altogether and I'm OK with that. The thought of doing that around here is insane. That's mainly because the roads around here are more akin to mortared battlefields than surface streets. Yeah, that's directed at you, VDOT. 'Sup?

easy · Post by **easy** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:49 pm

Please read eDan gear set thread before youall try this

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 2:02 pm

Don't forget to check the speed rating of your tires. I had to find high speed rated tubeless 10-inch tires.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:29 pm

easy wrote:Please read eDan gear set thread before youall try this

Yeah, that looked pretty intricate _and_ he had some trouble along the way- looked like a classic PGO vs. GY6 discrepancy.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:14 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:Don't forget to check the speed rating of your tires. I had to find high speed rated tubeless 10-inch tires.

Agreed. also don't forget that the brakes on a Buddy at that speed are less than stellar.

There's a 55mph highway that I have braved on my buddy 2x in a hurry. One very long sloping hill allowed me to hit an indicated 75. To say that made me nervous is an understatement.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:10 am

You want the gearing from the Psycho. EVERYONE should want the gearing from the Psycho. I have ridden a 150 with that gear kit. YOWZA.

AmJag · Post by **AmJag** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 5:29 pm

How about changing final gear to get more economy?
Any ideas on that?

I know...I'm a rebel.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:36 pm

ericalm wrote:You want the gearing from the Psycho. EVERYONE should want the gearing from the Psycho. I have ridden a 150 with that gear kit. YOWZA.

Oh?

Is there someplace one could find such info? Going to wait a year, but then I'm going to do the last of the aftermarket stuff, like shocks/forks/big brake. I figure the way I ride it the Buddy has earned some upgrades. might swap the gearing too if it's not too cost-prohibitive.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:58 am

AmJag wrote:How about changing final gear to get more economy?
Any ideas on that?

I know...I'm a rebel.

Possible, but probably not worth the expense of parts and installation. Also, there's not a gear kit available for this purpose, so you'd be rolling the dice on the reliability and quality of whatever you might find.

The Buddy gets such great MPGs now that even adding 20MPGs won't yield much in savings.

Assuming $4/gallon gas price, which is high at this time:
At 90MPG, your fuel cost per mile is $.04.
At 110MPG, not enough of a different to round the cost, still $.04/mile.
At 120MPG, $.03.

So even adding 30MPG at high gas prices, you'd only save $.01/mile. That's a lot of miles to recoup a few hundred bucks in parts and labor — if you could find the parts.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:04 am

ericalm wrote:
AmJag wrote:How about changing final gear to get more economy?
Any ideas on that?

I know...I'm a rebel.
Possible, but probably not worth the expense of parts and installation. Also, there's not a gear kit available for this purpose, so you'd be rolling the dice on the reliability and quality of whatever you might find.

The Buddy gets such great MPGs now that even adding 20MPGs won't yield much in savings.

Assuming $4/gallon gas price, which is high at this time:
At 90MPG, your fuel cost per mile is $.04.
At 110MPG, not enough of a different to round the cost, still $.04/mile.
At 120MPG, $.03.

So even adding 30MPG at high gas prices, you'd only save $.01/mile. That's a lot of miles to recoup a few hundred bucks in parts and labor — if you could find the parts.

What's interesting though, is that gearing for higher top speed should result in higher mpg, because the engine will be running at lower rpm at the most widely used cruising speeds.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:31 am

Syd wrote:What's interesting though, is that gearing for higher top speed should result in higher mpg, because the engine will be running at lower rpm at the most widely used cruising speeds.

Ha, true! Most people install them so they can ride like demons and burn more gas.

AmJag · Post by **AmJag** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:07 am

Ok, so what gear should be used, what other parts/stuff is necessary and where do I find said gear?

BTW, I don't know where you guys get your stats, but my buddy only gets 90+mpg stoplight to stoplight. Open throttle on the hwy, I'm looking at 60-65mpg.