Just took delivery of my new Venom X22R...

[JerryHawk250]

Bags look great! Good fuel mileage too. It only gets better as it breaks in and of course staying out the full throttle helps too. lol

[Chrisguga]

Yeah, the bags are fantastic quality. I’m very happy with them considering the reasonable price point.

I should hit 1000 miles this weekend. That 72mpg number included 4 WOT top speed runs and multiple runs from 0-60 or so wide open. I also ran 70+ mph at nearly wide open throttle for an hour straight the other day. I could have gotten even better mileage.

[Chrisguga]

Let’s see if I can get these luggage pics to post properly instead of sideways. The first is my current luggage assortment including the book bag. The next is leaving my house, and then the rest are arriving at the girlfriend’s house an hour away.

I love these Harper Chase bags and think I’ll buy the matching saddlebags so I can retire the book bag.

Sigh... I see one made it right side up. Small victory I guess.

[JerryHawk250]

Even though the pics are upside down the bags still look great! It's an Iphone thing never had any post upside down on my LG G7 or any other Android phone. Pay attention to which way you were holding the phone for the picture that posted correctly. Was the top of the phone to the left or right?

[Chrisguga]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Even though the pics are upside down the bags still look great! It's an Iphone thing never had any post upside down on my LG G7 or any other Android phone. Pay attention to which way you were holding the phone for the picture that posted correctly. Was the top of the phone to the left or right?

Yeah, I’ll pay attention to the phone’s orientation next time.

I had to retighten my new chain tonight. I noticed it was sagging down and nearly resting on the top of the swing arm on my ride home from work. I hope it’s all stretched out now and won’t continue to require adjustment.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

Yeah, I’ll pay attention to the phone’s orientation next time.

I had to retighten my new chain tonight. I noticed it was sagging down and nearly resting on the top of the swing arm on my ride home from work. I hope it’s all stretched out now and won’t continue to require adjustment.

They all stretch a little the first few miles. I'm not sure if i mentioned it to you but on the rear sprocket I ended up milling out the sprocket to recess the stock steel ring. The snap ring sprocket retainer was starting to chew up the aluminum on the sprocket. I used milling bit in my drill press to mill it out.

[Chrisguga]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

They all stretch a little the first few miles. I'm not sure if i mentioned it to you but on the rear sprocket I ended up milling out the sprocket to recess the stock steel ring. The snap ring sprocket retainer was starting to chew up the aluminum on the sprocket. I used milling bit in my drill press to mill it out.

Hey Jerry, I was just looking at that on mine last night and it’s also chewing up my sprocket a bit. I don’t have a drill press so I’ll just have to think of a creative way to cut out a pocket for that ring. I’m glad I didn’t throw it away.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

Hey Jerry, I was just looking at that on mine last night and it’s also chewing up my sprocket a bit. I don’t have a drill press so I’ll just have to think of a creative way to cut out a pocket for that ring. I’m glad I didn’t throw it away.

Maybe a router with a carbide bit.

[Chrisguga]

The aftermarket sprocket is thicker than the stock one which is why the steel ring and the snap ring won’t fit so I might just sand both sides of the new sprocket down equally until it’s the same thickness as the original. I think that would be easiest for me with the tools I have and I’ll use my digital calipers to make sure it’s accurate.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

The aftermarket sprocket is thicker than the stock one which is why the steel ring and the snap ring won’t fit so I might just sand both sides of the new sprocket down equally until it’s the same thickness as the original. I think that would be easiest for me with the tools I have and I’ll use my digital calipers to make sure it’s accurate.

That sounds like a plan. It's not much that needs to be taken off. I'll know on my next one i order what needs to be done now.

[Chrisguga]

Tell me about it. I already want an Orion RXB250L and then that new cruiser Venom is putting out looks sweet as well. I need to get my Chinese bike buying desires under control.

I do love the idea of buying bikes with this CB engine though so I’m familiar with the mods and working on it.

I have my eye on those new offerings with EFI, 6 speed, and larger displacement next year too.

I think I basically just need to marry a rich woman so I can have about 10 bikes.

[Chrisguga]

Tonight’s project included removing the aftermarket sprocket and narrowing the area where the factory steel retainer ring goes in order to install the snap ring over top of it. The aftermarket sprocket is wider than factory so the snap ring doesn’t fit into the groove with the steel ring installed, but the snap ring digs into the aluminum sprocket without the steel ring and would have eventually worn through it.

I removed the sprocket with the intention of just sanding the whole face of it down but I got no where fast doing that. I ended up taking an angle grinder with a 60 grit flap disc on it and narrowing just the inner portion of the sprocket where that steel ring rides. I took off a little bit at a time and test fit it until I took off just enough.

The stock sprocket is .28” wide, the aftermarket one is .32” wide, and the steel ring is .08” wide, but the stock sprocket also has recessed portions where it bolts to the wheel so I had to take the sprocket all the way down to about .24” thick for the steel ring to fit.

I’m visiting two cities this weekend and running about 230 miles round trip so I also topped off the battery’s charge and added the EZ tire beads to each tire which balance them as you ride.

[JerryHawk250]

Looks like that did the trick. You know what the best part is? Your picture came out the right way. lol
I haven't used the tire beads on this bike yet. The tires seem to be well balanced. I don't know how your tires are holding up. I was looking at my rear tire last night and with only a little over 1400 miles the center groove is just about gone. The front still looks like new.
I think i'm going to order another rear tire and maybe go just a little wider. 150/60-17 instead of the 140/60-17.

[Chrisguga]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Looks like that did the trick. You know what the best part is? Your picture came out the right way. lol
I haven't used the tire beads on this bike yet. The tires seem to be well balanced. I don't know how your tires are holding up. I was looking at my rear tire last night and with only a little over 1400 miles the center groove is just about gone. The front still looks like new.
I think i'm going to order another rear tire and maybe go just a little wider. 150/60-17 instead of the 140/60-17.

Hah, yeah.. I took pictures in landscape with the phone in each direction to make sure at least one loaded straight.

My rear tire’s center groove is also almost worn out, but it has plenty of tread left on the sides so I may try to get another 500 or so miles out of it.

I tires didn’t seem out of balance, but if I try to start pushing the bike to greater speeds with the new mods, I figured ensuring they were balanced at speed for $11 or whatever the beads cost was cheap insurance.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

Hah, yeah.. I took pictures in landscape with the phone in each direction to make sure at least one loaded straight.

My rear tire’s center groove is also almost worn out, but it has plenty of tread left on the sides so I may try to get another 500 or so miles out of it.

I tires didn’t seem out of balance, but if I try to start pushing the bike to greater speeds with the new mods, I figured ensuring they were balanced at speed for $11 or whatever the beads cost was cheap insurance.

Threads on the side are fine. I'm just curious how much rubber or how thick that tire is in the center. I'll probably go ahead and order a rear tire anyway just to have on hand ready to go.