I would like to talk with someone who has tried the 2.9 ratio. Surely the vmax has enough torqe to still run pretty quick with that gearing. I would hate to spend money on somethig that would turn it into a pig. I guess I could swap back to the vmax housing. Then try a venture pumpkin I guess just wanting more than a 500 rpm drop.
I know it's not the same, but here's a similiar experience...
My Honda XR650L Dual sport only makes about 37hp and 37 torque or thereabouts
The stock gearing was 15/45 front/back sprockets, which is a 3:1 final drive ratio,
That was good for 2nd gear throttle only wheelies, and 3rd gear you could "clutch" it up, you could also let it "tractor" along in 1st at 3-4 miles per hour, great for trails....
But it was only good for 65 "comfortably", more than that and it felt like you were killing the poor engine, kinda like a Max sounds when your not used to a Max, although it would go all the way to 95-97 if you didn't mind the high RPM's.
I've gone all the way up to 15/40 now, which is a 2.6666 ratio, which gives about a 12% reduction in RPMs at speed, and now it's comfortable at 85mph, it will still run 95mph, and still pulls easy no clutch wheelies in 1st gear but not in 2nd without using the clutch.......
I don't get off-road with it except for haulin ass on dirt and gravel roads so the loss of the ability to creep along at 3-4mph without being all over the clutch isn't a big deal. that's something that's needed for tight trails and technical stuff..
It also seems faster to highway speed since it's not winding to the moon so quickly between gears and making me shift so fast to keep up...... Although I know it's slower.
If I wasn't drag racing I'd do a venture rear end on my Max in second........
Rusty
