A Bike Swap

Rider2016 · 05-05-2022, 06:50 PM

So in 2018 I ordered my RX3, yellow with every option available.

Loved the bike BUT.. anyone who has ridden an RX3 on the freeway is full aware it's anemic at best in the power department.

I decided to sell her and go for an RX4.... BUT again..

I was scanning craigs list, and whatya know, a new RX4 listed for sale. The bike was to heavy for the PO, so we met up, she got a new RX3 (well it had 700 miles on it) and I got a new RX4 with similar miles....

Not bad...

SGCSCRX3 · 05-06-2022, 06:33 AM

Very nice! I think the RX4 is a nice bike. I ride my RX3 daily and would like to try a RX4 someday.

Bob Kelly · 05-06-2022, 05:15 PM

Well that worked out fantastically for both of you !
I think you got the better of the deal there but neither one of you wanted their bike much so the value really doesn't enter into the equation....
Yes the RX4 is quite heavy... that is why I call mine "Miss Piggy"
but it will cruse at 70mph all day long..... it's a bit buzzy at that speed so I am thinking that I need to change the final drive sprocket sizes, larger for the front sprocket and smaller for the rear sprocket
back in my youth I changes alot of sprockets and it's fairly easy to estimate or guess at what the change will do in MPH.... one tooth on the front sprocket is close to 10 mph change ...8~10 teeth on the rear is equil to 10 mph given the same engine speed..... Understand that this is guess work and nothing is written in stone but it will give you an idea of how it will change the bike.
so my plan is to go as large as I can in the front .... right now I don't know of any sprockets that will fit the RX4.... so that is on hold and REASONABLE in the rear.... (drop it 10 teeth and it should be fine.)
....
but I just did the same routine on my 2012 Kawasaki 250R ninja because the gears are so closely spaced (made to race, not to cruse) I put a 16 tooth on the front and a 43 on the rear..... both as big and as small as I could go
and the results are most satisfying, that little 250 cruses at 70mph with out winding real tight now.... and it is a pleasure to ride.
the RX4 does need more top end speed and sprockets will cure that.
but finding them is a whole 'nuther can of worms !

.... Bob......

outboardr · 05-07-2022, 09:54 PM

What a great solution for both of you! I'll be interested to read your opinion is of the road performance and mpg of RX4 vs RX3.
My 21 RX4 is fun

Rider2016 · 05-09-2022, 05:19 PM

Thanks Bob, I see you're in weed, not far to the south of US. Time for summer riding =)

05-06-2022, 05:15 PM	#3
Bob Kelly Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Weed, California. Posts: 271	Well that worked out fantastically for both of you ! I think you got the better of the deal there but neither one of you wanted their bike much so the value really doesn't enter into the equation.... Yes the RX4 is quite heavy... that is why I call mine "Miss Piggy" but it will cruse at 70mph all day long..... it's a bit buzzy at that speed so I am thinking that I need to change the final drive sprocket sizes, larger for the front sprocket and smaller for the rear sprocket back in my youth I changes alot of sprockets and it's fairly easy to estimate or guess at what the change will do in MPH.... one tooth on the front sprocket is close to 10 mph change ...8~10 teeth on the rear is equil to 10 mph given the same engine speed..... Understand that this is guess work and nothing is written in stone but it will give you an idea of how it will change the bike. so my plan is to go as large as I can in the front .... right now I don't know of any sprockets that will fit the RX4.... so that is on hold and REASONABLE in the rear.... (drop it 10 teeth and it should be fine.) .... but I just did the same routine on my 2012 Kawasaki 250R ninja because the gears are so closely spaced (made to race, not to cruse) I put a 16 tooth on the front and a 43 on the rear..... both as big and as small as I could go and the results are most satisfying, that little 250 cruses at 70mph with out winding real tight now.... and it is a pleasure to ride. the RX4 does need more top end speed and sprockets will cure that. but finding them is a whole 'nuther can of worms ! .... Bob...... __________________ It's too late when you've gone too far !
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05-06-2022, 06:33 AM	#2
SGCSCRX3 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 47	Very nice! I think the RX4 is a nice bike. I ride my RX3 daily and would like to try a RX4 someday.
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05-07-2022, 09:54 PM	#4
outboardr Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 42	What a great solution for both of you! I'll be interested to read your opinion is of the road performance and mpg of RX4 vs RX3. My 21 RX4 is fun
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05-09-2022, 05:19 PM	#5
Rider2016 Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 41	Thanks Bob, I see you're in weed, not far to the south of US. Time for summer riding =)
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