Qingqi (Qlink) QM200GY-BA 44-tooth sprocket road test.
The sun finally came out today and I was able to have a decent ride on the Qingqi, now fitted with a 44-tooth wheel sprocket rather than the 48-tooth that came as standard.
I was worried that pulling away from standstill would involve a lot of clutch slipping with the higher overall gearing. This was not the case. The initial impression is that first gear is now useful. Before this, it was just a gear for pulling away and changing a microsecond later. Now it's a useful gear, even goes up to more than 30 kmh if you want to. Much better for slow city work where you were either screaming in first or bogging down in second.
Overall the bike feels more "long legged" and far more relaxed without noticeably losing any of the instant pulling power that a low geared box gives you. The torque spread of the engine means that you can still potter along country lanes in 5th at 2500 rpm if you want, without any transmission snatch, and now reach a top speed of around 125 kmh (Indicated). You can cruise at max torque at 7000 rpm with the speedo showing 115 mph leaving another 1000 rpm before the power peak at 8000rpm.
The rpm readings are at best approximate as the rev-counter has tiny, not very precise calibrations, and I can hardly read it without my bi-focals...it's the age you know! (mutter, grumble...).
I did a highway run against a rather strong head wind and in a slight up gradient the revs fell off to such an extent that I had to drop a gear to get back up to a reasonable speed. I don't think it would have been much different with the original gearing.
The vibration that sent my hands to sleep after a few miles is not there anymore. There's vibration, but not so noticeable now. This could be due to the gearing shifting the vibration period further up the speed scale as well as the silentblock vibration damper now fitted between the new P&P exhaust can and the chassis. I have found this to be efective on other vehicles too.
As an aside, I can't recommend the P&P exhaust can enough. Apart from the gorgeous sound it produces, it has perked up the mid range power no end. The removal of the catalyser built into the factory silencer is responsible for the extra power. The efficiency improvement of the new can was evident from the first start up: The idling speed increased and needed to be reduced straight away, proof of combustion efficiency. You often get this effect, without touching the carb settings, with the engine running, as you carry out such adjustments as the timing advance (on systems where you can do this), carburettor synchonisation on multi-cylinder machines, etc. The revs rise as the combustion improves using the same carb settings.
Link to can seller: http://xian.west-wire.co.uk/index.ph...d&productId=13
Details can be found on this thread: http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=499
My PGO (Quadzilla in the US) mini-buggy rattled away merrily until I fitted a new can with a similar anti-vibration mounting. The difference was astonishing.
Have I mentioned the beautiful handling, suspension action and slick gearbox of this bike before?...it takes me 10 minutes to stop smiling after a ride on our mountain roads.