Just took delivery of my new Venom X22R...

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

My sprocket supposedly shipped today with a 3 day shipping estimate so it might be here by Friday. Jerry, you said to grind off the old pins on the links you want to remove in the chain and that there is a master link to reconnect the chain. Is there anything at all I need to buy to do this? Any tool or new pins or links? I have plenty of grinding options. Thanks!

I used my rotary tool and ground the pins down.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

The cheap original battery doesn’t seem to hold a charge very well and I plan to change it out, but I get tired of having to remove the side panel to charge it. I mounted this remote charge location under the seat which makes things much easier.

I fused it with a 10 amp fuse although I may step it down to a 7.5 if this is too much. Opinions?

I connect the positive to this and the ground to somewhere on the bike. The exhaust hanger and also the bolt for the fuel tank work well.

This isn’t a pretty job, but it’s all quality stuff. All connections are 3M heat shrink, the rubber insulated wire clamp is stainless, the fuse holder is waterproof, and the wire is marine grade tinned copper. Blue is 10ga and the yellow is 12ga. I also mounted the fuse holder so the fuse can be changed out if needed without disassembling anything. I have all saltwater rated wiring components on hand because I boat mostly in saltwater and saltwater is not forgiving on electrical components!

So far my battery has been pretty strong from day one. My Hawk battery was the same way. well over 2 years before replacing. We don' have extreme cold here so batteries usually last. The Harbor Freight generator SLA batteries are an exact fit. I have them on my ATV and daughters UTV which has a wench and is held up through the winter without any charging. I use the 20% discount on both. I think there's a 25% coupon for the Easter weekend. It be a good time to snatch one up.

[Chrisguga]

I’ll check out the HF batteries. I found several good options on Amazon, but they’re almost always slightly too long to fit.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

I’ll check out the HF batteries. I found several good options on Amazon, but they’re almost always slightly too long to fit.

They are a 10ah battery. 5-7/8" L x 3-5/8" W x 5-1/6" H

[Chrisguga]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

They are a 10ah battery. 5-7/8" L x 3-5/8" W x 5-1/6" H

Good deal on the fit. I don’t see the CCA listed which will be somewhat important if I increase the compression. It’s worth a try at that price point though.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Chrisguga

Good deal on the fit. I don’t see the CCA listed which will be somewhat important if I increase the compression. It’s worth a try at that price point though.

Not sure what the CCA are but caught my daughter cranking the hell out of her UTV this weekend because it was out of gas. It never phased the battery.

[Chrisguga]

�� women

[Chrisguga]

I just went for a good ride and set a new personal best gps number. I’m 6’3” and 230lbs so I have size working against me.

Stock with a 100 jet in the carb (stock jet is 98), I went 69 at 8000 rpm.
Pod air filter, catalytic converter removed, and the 105 jet, I hit 73 at 8600 rpm in 5th.

If I could pull redline with a ported head and increased compression, I could theoretically hit about 78mph.

I also made a little drag strip area for myself from a stoplight and up a hill to a driveway at the top. I hit 57 gps at the top of the drive. I’ll use this for a rough estimation of acceleration in the future.

I might try the 108 jet just to see if it improves, but it feels pretty dialed in right now.

[JerryHawk250]

Awesome! Now all you need is the sprocket and you're in the 80's.

[Chrisguga]

I made another run 50 miles to the girlfriend’s house. I last made this ride when the bike had 100 miles on it and dead stock. It struggled to maintain 55-60 mph, especially up hills, where I’d have to tuck in behind the windshield to maintain speed.

Now, with 400 miles on it and just a $22 K&N pod filter, an $11 or so jet kit for the 105 jet, and a basically free mod removing the cat, and I had to be careful not to run over 65. Maintaining 60-65mph while going up small hills and sitting bolt upright is now easy and I can even gain a mph or two going up them if I choose.

At one point I passed a Tahoe and a semi truck and trailer at the same time on a 2 lane highway tucking in and going WOT, hitting 72-73 pretty easily.

Next up, the 36 tooth sprocket and then likely a cam, head work, and 11:1 Weisco piston.

[Fabian]

Has anyone switched out the brake and clutch levers ? I got some from ebay but they didnt fit. Was going to see if anyone can share a link if you have replaced with levers that fit.

[Chrisguga]

Originally Posted by Fabian

Has anyone switched out the brake and clutch levers ? I got some from ebay but they didnt fit. Was going to see if anyone can share a link if you have replaced with levers that fit.

I’ve thought about it, but it’s pretty far down on my “to do” list. Please share if you do find some that work well.

[Chrisguga]

Tonight’s mod was installing the new handlebar risers. This gold color doesn’t match so I’ll run them for about a week like this to make sure I like them and order the black set. They’re definitely thinner than the originals, but they seem strong enough to do the job.

I took it for a late night spin around the block and so far so good. The brake fluid reservoir does hit the windshield a little so I may have to put some nylon washers between the windshield and the bike to create a little more room.

Also, I changed the oil and the oil looked far lighter in color after 420 miles with the oil cooler than it did the first 120 miles without. It seems to be doing the job.

Finally, I adjusted the rear shock to be slightly more firm. I don’t have a spanner wrench so I used a large screwdriver and a hammer, but this is a very inefficient way to adjust it and I was tearing up the adjustment collar. That little bit did help though as I think the bike’s suspension was designed for a 130lb rider and I’m about 230. I’ll need to firm this up some more in the future.

Credit to JerryHawk250 for finding these risers.

[JerryHawk250]

My risers should be here Monday or Tuesday. I installed rubber washers on my windshield when I installed it. I also installed rubber washers on all the fairing screws. The oil cooler make a big difference on oil life. You will need it for when you increase the CR. The head work will increase the temperature of the head.

[Chrisguga]

I also installed rubber washers on all of my plastics and that made a big difference in the rattling. I’ll need to space out that windshield a bit though. I’m riding it 60 miles today and then back tomorrow as well as again Tuesday and Wednesday so I’ll get a good feel for the risers.

I’m debating trying to tackle that sprocket Monday night. I just need to make sure I can get it done in one night so it’s ready to ride by Tuesday.