Tweet
Evenin', Mike!
I do like the '850 drive although there are times when it's not helpful. The fuel mileage doesn't change all that much, really, but the engine isn't as frenetic and 'buzzy' at freeway speeds.
When I went to the XS SE rally last year my trusty mobile phone navigator app. routed me to the Iron Horse Lodge via The Dragon... at night.
I had no idea at the time but it was fun with the '850 FD, saddle bags, backpack, duffel, faring, and 50 psi in tires for highway riding. I sort of smoked the clutch in the Smokies that weekend but, yeah, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. 
There are times when I try to shift down but it's already in 1st, like taking off from a stop riding two-up/heavily loaded or when it's a hot day. Some of the best roads around Simi need the stock '1100 FD but they're still good with the taller gearing.
Then there are times like the other day when I just flat romped on it and I had a total blast! I could feel the front wheel loft; drive train strain, bow and flex, and I could almost swear I could feel every drive line spline engaging and every roller in the u-joint load up, then the whole thing would unwind as the speed and torque leveled out and the front tire quit skimming across the ground. Riding the flex is fun but it's, uh, bad for the drive train and you have to be careful when you let it unwind, there's a lot of energy in there all bound up like a Chrysler torsion bar suspension rod.
That said, the '850 FD itself is a little stronger so it doesn't flex as much as the '750 FD I had before. The '750 drive would 'breathe' as the side cover flexed in and out under heavy load and that eventually scrubbed away the ring and pinion gears and the bearings. It was a hoot.
.
I do like the '850 drive although there are times when it's not helpful. The fuel mileage doesn't change all that much, really, but the engine isn't as frenetic and 'buzzy' at freeway speeds.
When I went to the XS SE rally last year my trusty mobile phone navigator app. routed me to the Iron Horse Lodge via The Dragon... at night.
I had no idea at the time but it was fun with the '850 FD, saddle bags, backpack, duffel, faring, and 50 psi in tires for highway riding. I sort of smoked the clutch in the Smokies that weekend but, yeah, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There are times when I try to shift down but it's already in 1st, like taking off from a stop riding two-up/heavily loaded or when it's a hot day. Some of the best roads around Simi need the stock '1100 FD but they're still good with the taller gearing.
Then there are times like the other day when I just flat romped on it and I had a total blast! I could feel the front wheel loft; drive train strain, bow and flex, and I could almost swear I could feel every drive line spline engaging and every roller in the u-joint load up, then the whole thing would unwind as the speed and torque leveled out and the front tire quit skimming across the ground. Riding the flex is fun but it's, uh, bad for the drive train and you have to be careful when you let it unwind, there's a lot of energy in there all bound up like a Chrysler torsion bar suspension rod.
That said, the '850 FD itself is a little stronger so it doesn't flex as much as the '750 FD I had before. The '750 drive would 'breathe' as the side cover flexed in and out under heavy load and that eventually scrubbed away the ring and pinion gears and the bearings. It was a hoot.
.
more work to do this Spring!
.
Comment