Why is my 1981 KZ 550 underpowered?

[Ituen]

KahnSingh, I'm glad you got your bike running correctly. I can recommend a local shop to work on your bike if you need it. I have a KZ440 and a KZ750. Let's go for a ride soon.

[isarr]

all right fella's we installed a 16 tooth gear on the front and a 30 tooth on the back the results are !!.

16 tooth front
38 tooth rear - 50 mph-4500 rpm
60 mph-5500 rpm

16 tooth front
30 tooth rear - 50 mph-3500 rpm
60 mph-4000 rpm

The results were great, my riding bud is very happy with the bike now, no bogging down on takeoff, and doesn't sound like a stressed out sewing machine screaming at the top of it's lungs.The engine has more of a throaty sound now. I hope this has helped the ones thatwanted a lower RPM . REBEL GEARS are top notch in my book. I love to deal with someone who really is interested in working on the end results we both want.

thanks everyone isarr out.

[krazymikeygt]

Originally Posted by isarr

all right fella's we installed a 16 tooth gear on the front and a 30 tooth on the back the results are !!.

16 tooth front
38 tooth rear - 50 mph-4500 rpm
60 mph-5500 rpm

16 tooth front
30 tooth rear - 50 mph-3500 rpm
60 mph-4000 rpm

The results were great, my riding bud is very happy with the bike now, no bogging down on takeoff, and doesn't sound like a stressed out sewing machine screaming at the top of it's lungs.The engine has more of a throaty sound now. I hope this has helped the ones thatwanted a lower RPM . REBEL GEARS are top notch in my book. I love to deal with someone who really is interested in working on the end results we both want.

thanks everyone isarr out.

how is the acceleration now?

[solitary]

Originally Posted by StarGate

Sounds like he's running a 3 cylinder 550 to me. Or maybe he needs to cut the rope and stop towing his car while he's checking his performance number.

Yeah really.

Did anyone tell you to fire it up, let it run for a minute and use a water bottle to check if all the cylinders are firing? You spray the header with a water bottle, it should boil the water almost instantly.

Mine will bury the speedo needle before it hits 8k. I drive the **** out of it and the worst mileage I ever got when it was running on all four is 43 mpg. On a good day, I get 58 mpg.
Running on three? I think it was 21 mpg which is around where you're at.

Also check your plug wires, they should be firmly connected to the caps.

Could your plug wires be misrouted? IIRC, they should have one bank to 1+4 and one bank to 2+3.

Or maybe you can read the whole thread before posting? How about that?

[isarr]

Originally Posted by krazymikeygt

how is the acceleration now?

The bike is still very quick on takeoff or any other gear. It doesn't bogg on takeoff or any speed for that matter.Then we put a 200 lb person on the back, still no bogging the engine down. Now where can you get a custom sprocket machined for under $ 60.00 and delivered within a week to your door step. Now that's service. REBEL GEARS there the MAN!

isarr out