my 87 rebel, questions!???

[lakhannv]

Hello to all of the riders out there!

i recently purchased an 87 rebel. I love it but just wanted to ask questions to other owners out there.

right now it looks like tops spped for the first 3 gears is as follows

1st - 5mph

2nd - 15mph

3rd - 25 mph

4th - 35 mph gets loud, but i'm not sure if this is the max.

my question is is this gear/speed ratio common?

also when i get into 4th, the speedometer needle bounces around and doesn't display the speed as well as in the previous gears. Also the motor cycle seems to vibrate.

I have read rebels are highway worthy at around 70 up to 75mph. but if i'im having these kinds of signs at around 35 mph i am worried about taking it any faster. Any opinions?

thanks

[GearJammer]

Welcome lakhannv......

Someone else will hopefully offer some info on the gear/speed ratio question. As far as excessive vibration, are all of your motor mounts tight ? Any unusual tread pattern wear on the front tire ?

When I owned the 250, top speed was about 75 mph & the speedo would flicker right around that speed as well. Being an '87, it might be that the speedo drive on the front wheel, the speedo cable or the speedo itself may need attention or replacement. Is the speedo cable securely tightened at both ends ?

[GearJammer]

More thoughts on that flickering speedo needle.......If you remove the speedo drive, you should be able to re-grease the drive gears as well as the speedo cable itself. This sometimes works just fine or the speedo itself might be just plain worn out. Definitely worth a shot tho'........

[b4v4]

Wise advise, Gearjammer! I had a bike back in the '70s that had a bouncy speedo needle. It tuned out to just be a speedo cable needing lube. Those cables are little more than a long, skinny spring, and if it starts to hang up at all, it basically winds up and unwinds rapidly going down the road. Eventually, it'll break if not tended to. But I like the idea of greasing up the drive whilst you're down there. :wink:

[GearJammer]

hehehe.......I can't take credit for it, Brother....read it elsewhere.

I run the speedo on the Reb, none on the other 2 rides, but I DO use stock speedo drives as spacers on hardtailed Triumph chops, LMAO!