Almost 6th Gear for C50

[foambuilder]

It seems a lot of people think the C50 needs a 6th gear - or something higher than the current #5. How about adapting a C90 rearend drive to a C50? Maybe this would answer the question.

Volusiariders dot com has a bunch more folks that "tinker" with things and make stuff. Interesting group over there. There is a lot more technical stuff. Like complete pics on engine oil change, rear end oil changes, etc. They do stuff on light bars, make their own, give part numbers if they can figure it out, and so on. I registered, but have yet to receive "authentication" so I can post there.

There is a fellow over at Volusiariders that has developed a driveshaft kit to lower the RPM at cruising speeds (and all over the band) to get in the torque curve on a C50. He uses a C90 driveshaft and makes the final drive 3.01 instead of 3.5. It still has guts and gets better mpg. In addition, this reduces the "buzzy" vibration at highway speeds. Cost $325+Shipping - and he is in Ohio. It seems folks look for a 6th gear, there isn't one, so this is a solution.

If you cannot see the thread - it is about 17 pages last time I looked yesterday - search for "driveline" or "hillis231@bex.net" and you will find the article and discussions.

I put this here for C50 folks to think about. I do not know if the "kit" works on an M50. Ask him...

just my .02 rubles

[Powerslave]

Yeah, a 6th gear would be nice. I had a 80's Honda 360T a LONG time ago, that was a 6-speed bike. These bikes as a 6-speed would just be nice...

[C50dreamin]

Went over and searched but can't find it under those two searches...

[C50dreamin]

Found it...looks good so far...

[foambuilder]

The correct name of the thread is:
"Different rear drive ratio/highway cruising", and is about 17 pages.
Page 14 gets to the pricing, and there is an interesting discussion all the way. I think this modification will also increase your cruising range if you ride at a sensible speed.

Of course, there ALWAYS seems to be a negative group of "lurkers" who just want things to go bad. I think it is a great idea.

eta moi dva roubles

[C50dreamin]

Well last I looked it was up to 19 pages and it's working for him, I just wish it was super easy and already a kit...the lower cruising RPMs and the better mileage is awesome though...

[raysC50T06]

iam gona look in to that i ride on the hwy alot 70 75 mph and it sounds like its goin to blow haha maybe this and a airbox mod pipes and PClll is the key to long haulsi have had the bike for less then 3 months and loged in 4700 miles hopein for 12 to 14,000 by the end of sep happy moterin guys

[Powerslave]

Changing the final drive helps, but the problem is the shift points would change to a little higher RPMS than now, so you do not lug the engine. You really do not want to change first gear, but changing the final drive gear (if you could) would do a complete ratio change... If it were chain drive, all you would have to do is change the front sprocket to a larger one.

Too bad you just can't put a 6-speed trans in it... OR a Hi/Low final drive gear...

[C50dreamin]

Ok to ressurect an old thread, I got mine installed last night and it is almost like changing the sprocket on a chain drive as you are only changing the rear drive ratio. So to put it into perspective it's like going from 4.10 gears in a truck to maybe 3.42's...or 3.55's if you're a Ford guy...not like changing out the whole tranny. Only got about five miles on it so far as I just went for a test ride last night at midnight but all I can say is WOW!!! WHAT A DIFFERENCE in the hiway cruising RPM's!!! I was CRUISING 80 before I knew it coming back into town...You really have to pay attention to the speedo and not the sound of the bike or you'll be ticketed for sure...

[johbren]

Im on the list should get my invoice around the first of the year or there abouts. I think the cost is 425.00 plus shipping. An old friend who does alot of motorcycle work over the years is going to help me do mine as ive never took a wheel off a motorcycle before. We are going to install the Metzler whitewalls at the same time. I picked up two from Oneida suzuki so I might as well put them on while we are at it. I got 5000 miles on my stock IRC tires and they still have alot of tread left but I got to have them whitewalls for next riding season. Hey Foam where are you on the list I think you are ahead of me you should be getting your invoice soon.

[Powerslave]

If all you need it a C90's drive shaft, then what about Ebay? Are you sure the shaft is all that is needed, are the teeth in the shaft to rear hub gear, the same? Or do you need the shaft, and the hub gear?

[C50dreamin]

It's the whole drive but the shaft needs some machining to fit properly. In it's stock form the shaft will bind up...

[Boston]

I just bought and mounted one too. This is the bike for me now more than ever. Before I heard of the thread, I was considering moving up to a c90, but now I don't need to. I can go 45 mph in 3rd, or goose it up to 50 + and click into 4th. I haven't had it up fast enough to use 5th yet!

Boston

[C50dreamin]

Unless you just ride around town or not too far, you would've hated the C90's limited range of around 90-110 miles. That's what held me back from purchasing one in the first place...For me that will just barely get me to work and not even halfway back home...I have a bro-in-law that has an LC1500 and he was extstatic to get 107 miles out of his on a ride...

[Boston]

I did not know that about the c90. I have seen a few around, and they don't look too different from the 50. Do you know why the mileage is so low?

Boston

[C50dreamin]

Bigger engine and smaller tank than the C50...I want to say it's a little over three gallons...Yep just checked 3.7 on the 90 vs. 4.1 on the 50.

The tank is actually under the seat and not the tank up top that looks like it. If I remember correctly it just hides the air filter...

[nascarnutt]

Originally Posted by Powerslave

Yeah, a 6th gear would be nice. I had a 80's Honda 360T a LONG time ago, that was a 6-speed bike. These bikes as a 6-speed would just be nice...

How about taller tires? Wouldn't that be cheaper and better.

[diamond_jim]

I guess I don't get the 6th gear issue. When I'm doing 65mph in 5th gear and I roll on the throttle, the engine lugs until I start to get into the powerband. So it's a very good ratio. It seems most people want a different exhaust note when cruising on the highway. I don't buy the lower rpm=longer engine life yada yada. It's running the way it was designed.

The C50 engine was built for the most cruiser performance bang for the buck, not sound.

From Suzuki Boulevard C50T & M50 Motorcycles - Road Test & Review - Motorcycle Cruiser
"The engine (M50/C50) is also respectably smooth. Suzuki offsets its 800s' crankpins by 45 degrees, which in conjunction with the 45-degree V-angle gives it vibration characteristics similar to a 90-degree V-twin, the smoothest V-twin configuration. This doesn't provide the classic cadence of a 45-degree V-twin, but it makes for a vibe-free engine without the use of power-sucking counterbalancers."

You can either have power sucking counterbalancers or classic v-twin sound. I guess some people want sound over performance. Example, consider the VTX 1800. It has a similar offset crankpin design as the C50. The VTX 1300 does not. I've been looking at vtxs this week. And in this very week I've heard two vtx 1300 owners say they don't want to upgrade to a 1800 because they don't like the sound. One even had a 1300, then bought a 1800 and then went back to another 1300. Yet they bought a vtx because, in their minds, it was a power cruiser and they wanted performance in a cruiser.

[johbren]

The dj mod lowers the rpm at any given speed I have one and love it. If you engine is lugging at 65 mph full throttle something doesnt sound right. Mine even with the dj doesnt lug at 65 mph and full throttle take off. It just pulls like a mule from that speed. Ive got a little over 6000 miles on my DJ drive now and imho I much prefer it over the stock rear gears.

[old new biker]

To continue with this old thread, I will update you on what has happened with this drive issue.

I was on schedule to receive my drive around the first week of July, but DJ said that he was having trouble getting the drives, so when that time came and went, I contacte him and he filled me in on what had happened.
__________

DJ had always had trouble getting enough of the C90 drives from the trike shop that he was buying from, even though they were triking them C90's by the hundreds. He could have done 60 a month if he could have gotten the drives, but was only getting approx 15 drives a month. He even started up his own machine shop with an LLC business license to do this work.

Then out of the blue the individual that he was dealing with at the trike shop stopped supplying drives altogether, and guess what, he started selling the mod himself, although he was having another guy do the actual machining. He also did it a little different, in that he maintained the C50 drive shaft, and had to lengthen the splines, whereas DJ used the C90 drive shaft but shortened the shaft. He cuts it welds it then puts a collar over the joint and welds both ends of the collar.

After 10's of thousands of miles there have been no issues with the DJ drive. Also, the thread over at VolusiaRiders.com gives the detailed story from the enception of the idea through the actual design, personal testing, and finaly beta testing with volunteers bikes. When DJ put the first one on his own bike he took it off every night when he came home from work to inspect for abnormal ware, metal shavings etc... Here is the link to the thread over at VolusiaRiders.com http://www.volusiariders.com/viewtop...019&highlight=

I have no idea what kind of testing was done with the other version, and can not say that I would completely trust it without more info.
____________

Now I was tempted to go for the other drive, as I really wanted to get the benefits of the higher RPM's and better fuel milage, but just was not comfortable with so little info on it. Then just as I was wrestling with the idea someone over at VolusiaRiders.com mentioned that a guy had a DJ drive for sale on eBay. It turned out that he and his wife do a lot of two up riding on long trips so he just needed a bigger, more powerfull bike and moved up to a Vulcan 1600. His drive has only 4000 miles on it and is supposedly in perfict condition.

I did not think that I had a prayer of getting this drive, eventhough I was fully prepaired to go up to over $500 to get it. I watched the auction and with 5 minuts left it was at $465, so I put in a maximum bid of $505. bit then decided to go to $511, but at the last minute put it at $526. At that point the current bid went up to 470. In the end the other gentlemen bid up to $525 and stopped, so I am really glad that I did not hesitate to go to $526.

I am extremly excited to finally have one of these drives. I should have the drive in about a week, and I can not wait to get in on my bike and hit the road.