How can a guy go about changing gear ratio on a xj 650

Guys I’m lookin tongear my old bike up and I was wondering how a guy could go about doin that only thing I can think of is to try to run down someone who has or makes a new gear housing for a older bike

 

you could check and see if the 750 gears are different and swap the trans guts

what are you trying to get out of it?

there was someone here who was going to make a final gear i think but found it was too expensive.

could put a 750 motor in the 650 frame.

 

I'm assuming this is the elusive 6th gear/overdrive that Yamaha SHOULD have built into the XJ from the getgo!!!

 

I did change a 750 transmission into a 900 transmission by changing in the appropriate 900 gears.
Definitely gives you a higher speed and nice lower RPM at highway speeds, but also removes a bit of the zip on take off.
Not sure what you'd end up with doing this on a 650.

It required changing the middle gear drive and middle driven gear, basically the intermediate connection between the transmission and the driveshaft.

EDIT: Wait! I just remembered there was a glitch to my plan on the day and more to it than that because of the dimensions of the middle driven gear I had to also change the rest of the middle gear bits to 900.
All of this too...


Attached my parts comparison on the day.

 

Swap rear end to a 750 rear

 

All the XJ's have a 2.909 Final drive ratio (except for the XJ1100 = 3.3)

This is from the XS11.com forum:
_____________________________________________________

FINAL DRIVES.......YEAR/MODEL........................RING/PINION.....NOTES

4R0-46101-00-00....82 XJ1100.........................33/10, 3.3......1,A
26H-46101-01-00....83-85 XVZ1200 Venture (Royale)....33/10, 3.3......1,A
2H7-46101-00-00....78-80 XS1100......................33/10, 3.3......1,A
4R0-46101-00-00....81 XS1100.........................33/10, 3.3......1,A

Lower Gears
1FK-46101-01-00....85-95 VMX1200 V-Max...............33/9, 3.667.....2,B,D
1FK-46101-02-00....96-97 VMX1200 V-Max...............33/9, 3.667.....3,B,D
1FK-46101-10-00....98-up VMX1200 V-Max...............33/9, 3.667.....2,B,D

Stock Gears
1NL-46101-00-00....86-93 XVZ1300 Venture (Royale)....33/10, 3.3......2,B,D

Higher Gears
4H7-46101-00-00....80-81 XJ650.......................32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
5G2-46101-00-00....82-83 XJ650.......................32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
5G2-46101-01-00....85-86 XJ700 Maxim.................32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
5G2-46101-00-00....81-83 XJ750.......................32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
31A-46101-00-00....83 XJ900..........................32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
1J7-46101-N0-00....77-79 XS750.......................32/11, 2.909....4,A,D
3J2-46101-N0-00....80 XS850..........................32/11, 2.909....5,A,D
4R2-46101-N0-00....81 XS850..........................32/11, 2.909....5,A,D
5G2-46101-01-00....84-85 XV1000 Virago 1000..........32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
56W-46101-02-00....84-85 XV1000 Virago 1000..........32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
56W-46101-02-00....86-99 XV1100 Virago 1100..........32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
5G2-46101-01-00....84-85 XV700 Virago 700............32/11, 2.909....2,B,D
5G2-46101-01-00....88-97 XV750 Virago 750............32/11, 2.909....2,B,D

4NK-46101-00-00....96-97 XVZ1300 Royal Star..........33/10, 3.3......3,C,D
4YE-46101-00-00....98-00 XVZ1300 Royal Star..........33/10, 3.3......3,C,D
4XY-46101-00-00....01-up XVZ1300 Royal Star..........33/10, 3.3......3,C,D
5JW-W4612-00-00....03-05 FJR1300.....................33/9, 3.667.....3,C,D
3P6-W4612-01-00....06-up FJR1300.....................33/9, 3.667.....6,C,D
4X7-46101-01-00....82-83 XV920J/K Virago 920.........32/11, 2.909....2,C,D
5EL-46101-00-00....99-up XVS1100 V Star 1100.........32/11, 2.909....3,C,D
4X7-46101-01-00....81-83 XV750 Virago 750............32/11, 2.909....2,C,D

2NT-46101-00-00....87-88 XV535 Virago 535............32/11, 2.909....7
2NT-46101-00-00....90 XV535 Virago 535...............32/11, 2.909....7
2NT-46101-00-00....93-00 XV535 Virago 535............32/11, 2.909....7
5FB-Y4617-00-00....98-up XVS650 V Star 650...........32/11, 2.909....7

Notes:
1. Fully splined pinion coupler (2H7-46123-00-00) w/o oil passages
2. Recessed spline pinion coupler (4H7-46123-00-00) w/ oil passages
3. Recessed spline pinion coupler (4H7-46123-01-00) w/ oil passages
4. Recessed spline pinion coupler (1J7-46123-Y0-00) w/ oil passages
5. Recessed spline pinion coupler (3J2-46123-00-00) w/ oil passages
6. Recessed spline pinion coupler (3P6-46123-01-00) w/ oil passages
7. Final drive pinion coupler not compatible with XS1100 drive shaft
A. Final drive shock mount
B. Final drive shock mount relocation or R1 mono shock required
C. No final drive shock mount, R1 mono shock mod required
D. Drive shaft spacer, RTV and washer required
_______________________________________________________________
Want to give these guys credit and you can read up on the thread here:
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=13614&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

So a middle gear swap, or a rear tire with a larger overall height would be the solution.

Tony

 

be easier to get a honda

 

Or an FZX with the sprockets that you could swap..........

 

Hmmmm.... I thought the secas had a little bit different gearing in there. Let’s see if LEN has more insight

 

A serious look into custom Middle Gear Ratio

 

Now I'm wondering if a XJ1100 final drive would plug in... Mind you finding one would be pretty difficult I reckon.

 

Well the XJ1100 is set up like the xs1100. Has a disc brake rear, and larger axle. Also has a different style drive hub that fits into the differential. The other difference is where the shock stud is located in the diff housing.

Suppose it could be done, but would be best to get a full donor bike.

Tony

 

put an 18" wheel on it.

 

My mechanic found someone from the old Cycle Newspaper that had made some. He put one in my Seca 650. I was able to pull one of my rivals down the straightaway in 5th gear, it was our secret weapon in the production class. .

 

A bit drastic. Live and let live I say.

 

I love my bike but it’s just not fast enough

 

Twist the right handgrip more and kick it down a gear or two.

how slow are you riding?? What rpm range are you shifting at? You can easily wind out to 6-7k or more before even starting to think about shifting. You’ll be going plenty fast——These 650’s normally have plenty of snot.

Realize that these are a pretty high-winding bike.... redline is at 9500rpm, you can safely go there any time you want, and actually you won’t kill the bike if you occasionally cross it. Boy oh boy, she’s screaming like a banshee way before then and you’ll think she’s a-gonna blow, but that’s how these bikes are. Heck, you not even into the power band until well over 5500rpm. At 7k you’re in the middle of it with plenty of rpm to go........ and then you can shift to the next gear!!!!! Vroom!!!!

 

^^ That is a good point. What speeds are we talking about. Do you want to be able to twist the throttle and hand the front tire in the air...not going to happen. Have to give us a little better explanation of faster. If this is something you really want to do go for it, I would be looking for a different and bigger motorcycle if you want to go faster. These bikes (XJ) are great bikes and will go plenty fast for what you want to do. I guess if you want to track bike it not so much but I am sure that has been done too.

 

when i think i need a bike to go faster, i just find a road with tighter turns
problem solved

 

Or wait longer to hit the brakes