Just took delivery of my new Venom X22R...

[Chrisguga]

Hah, that’s awesome. I’d love to ride one of those bikes. That model is actually what sparked my interest in Chinese bikes. I thought it was wild looking so I started researching other models. I like the bike I chose for its relative practicality for highway riding and fun around town, but that chopper definitely has the cool factor.

[TiggerOG]

Yeah I paid 300 for it with 4 miles on it. It was rusted and wouldn't run. It had been sitting uncovered outdoors, but I took it upon myself to make it live. Sold it for 2k when all was said and done so I got my money's worth lol.

[2LZ]

I can always appreciate someone's hard work and effort. That thing is badass. Before I retired, my commute took me past a 3/4 chopper that was the Spiderman version. It was cool but had a small horizontal motor in it.

[franque]

Haha, that's crazy! Did you ride it that long without an exhaust?

[TiggerOG]

Originally Posted by franque

Haha, that's crazy! Did you ride it that long without an exhaust?

Lol nah those pics were from just assembling the painted parts back on the bike. Had a straight pipe exhaust that ran all the way back to the rear wheel

[TiggerOG]

Found a link I posted on here under another account from ten years ago that had some progress pictures too lol
http://s835.photobucket.com/albums/zz277/djdonkey/bike/

[Chrisguga]

I just installed the 36 rear sprocket, changing from the 46 tooth rear, and still have the 17 tooth front and I love it so far. I went for a short shakedown ride and the bike runs square, as we call it in the boat world. 40 mph is 4K rpm. 50 is 5k. 60 is 6k. 70 is 7k. Cruising at 60mph, which was my goal all along for commuting, is much more comfortable at 6k rpms compared to the buzzy feeling at 7k with the old sprocket.

I can basically use my tach for a speedometer at this point in 5th gear which is awesome.

Oh, I also filled up the tank again so I can log the mpg with the new sprocket. I changed the main jet out during that last tank of gas and spilled the entire carb bowl worth of gas, but I still managed 64mpg hand calculated. I bet this next tank of gas will easily exceed 70mpg.

I’ll go snap some pics of my gold chain too. I picked the chain because it had the best reviews for the price on Amazon and I wasn’t so sure about the gold links, but I think it looks pretty good. I’m also going to leave that chain guard off for now to show off the chain a bit more.

[Chrisguga]

I think it looks pretty good. It looks tight here, but has about 22mm of play up and down which is just about perfect. It’ll loosen up some as I ride and I’ll continue to check it.

[Chrisguga]

And those are upside down, but you get the idea.

I just did some top speed runs and ironically, my top speed is the exact same as before, 74 mph gps. Now it’s at 7400 rpm instead of 8600, but it can’t pull past that. I’ll try the 108 jet soon in place of the 105, but I’m very happy how it’s running from mid throttle on up to full throttle. Throttle is crisp and it feels strong. I still haven’t messed with washers on the needle yet, but will play around with that sometime.

Overall, the bike is 100% improved with the new sprocket. It cruises effortlessly at 60-65 mph with far far less vibrations and oddly enough, feels stronger in the lower gears as the taller gearing keeps the bike in its powerband longer in each gear as I’m not having to shift through the gears so quickly.

[JerryHawk250]

See, I wasn't so crazy after all. Lol. Like the bling ( gold chain) it gets better as she breaks in too.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

the bike runs square, as we call it in the boat world. 40 mph is 4K rpm. 50 is 5k. 60 is 6k. 70 is 7k. Cruising at 60mph, which was my goal all along for commuting, is much more comfortable at 6k rpms compared to the buzzy feeling at 7k with the old sprocket.

What you have right there is the exact same final drive gearing a Hawk gets with a 17 front and 43 rear sprocket. 40=4000rpm, 50=5000, etc. I consider it the best compromise for a road bike between speed, acceleration, and cruising.

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

And those are upside down, but you get the idea.

I just did some top speed runs and ironically, my top speed is the exact same as before, 74 mph gps. Now it’s at 7400 rpm instead of 8600, but it can’t pull past that. I’ll try the 108 jet soon in place of the 105, but I’m very happy how it’s running from mid throttle on up to full throttle. Throttle is crisp and it feels strong. I still haven’t messed with washers on the needle yet, but will play around with that sometime.

Overall, the bike is 100% improved with the new sprocket. It cruises effortlessly at 60-65 mph with far far less vibrations and oddly enough, feels stronger in the lower gears as the taller gearing keeps the bike in its powerband longer in each gear as I’m not having to shift through the gears so quickly.

As Jerry said, give it time/miles and the bike will open up on the top end more. You would be amazed at how different the bike will get at 300, 500, and even at 1000 miles it will still wake up just a bit. I think once you have your carb jetting dialed in and the motor broken in, you should be able to top out right about 80mph. More importantly though is that you can cruise along at 60-65 without hammering the throttle and vibrating your teeth out of your skull.

Honestly, I am amazed that you are getting away with a 105 main with a decat and pod filter. You must live at elevation because a stock Hawk runs well on a 105 main.

[JerryHawk250]

Megadan, I was running a 105 for a little while and as it broke in I had to move up to a 108. Now with the pe30 I'm only running a 110. Strange thing is I'm running a 125 on my Hawk and 110 when it was stock.

[Chrisguga]

Dan, it continues to feel better and better as it breaks in. I’m at 560 miles right now.

You’re right, this gearing seems about perfect for what I want to do. I can hold my speed with extra throttle up small hills and can always briefly tuck in behind the windshield on a large hill which always equals 2-4 more mph.

I’m happy enough with my carb tuning right now, but it did stall on me once yesterday at a stoplight. The rpms would also hang at about 1800 for 4-5 seconds and then drop past my normal idle at 1500 down to about 1100-1200. Applying choke would remedy this and bring the rpms back to 1500 so clearly I’m too lean at idle.

The idle screw doesn’t currently make sense to me though as it’s on the fuel side, but turning it all the way in, and I mean all the way in, yielded the best idle. No idea why. I’ll play with it some more this afternoon.

[bogieboy]

Chrisguga, sound like you might have an air leak somewhere in the intake tract if the idle is hanging....

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

The idle screw doesn’t currently make sense to me though as it’s on the fuel side, but turning it all the way in, and I mean all the way in, yielded the best idle. No idea why. I’ll play with it some more this afternoon.

That doesn't seem right. Did you leave the stock pilot jet in? With the stock pilot i set mine at 1 1/2 turns out and idled perfect. Didn't bother adjusting it any further because it idles so well. with it all the way closed the idle mixture
should be real lean. That would explain the high idle hanging and having to hit the choke.
The PE30 is another story. I had to keep swapping pilot jets before i could get it to idle smooth. I still think i'm a tad rich on the idle mixture. I think once i port, deck and install the cam the PE30 will be a better match.