What mods would you for optimizing top end speed?

Hey everyone, I've had my 2006 wing for about a year now and really love it. I'm planning on taking it across the country in record time, literally. I set this record on my Honda Blackbird 1100 in 2022, in the fall of 2023 it was beaten by 17 minutes which I cannot allow for obvious reasons. I think it is doable on the silverwing, but I'm more familiar with motorcycles than I am scooters and want to know what would be the best setup mechanically, taking into account windshield, belt, clutch, variator, springs, power commander etc. What would make the biggest difference? Currently, mechanically I haven't done much to it, just went with a Malossi belt, 28g dr. pulley sliding rollers, and a Givi touring windshield. I do have the shorter stock windshield, I haven't tested it out yet but I'm wondering if that might be a better option for speed, although I'd sacrifice comfort. Not that there is anything particularly comfortable about riding a bike for 24+ hours straight. Open to all legitimate suggestions and advice, I have a 15-gallon fuel cell installed over the passenger seat with a separate fuel pump and fuel gauge for it that is tapped into the gas cap giving me 19.2 total gallons to minimize the fuel stops.

You are not going to like my answer. If you were going for a coast-to-coast ride for as fast as possible, the SilverWing is probably not the bike to do it on. This is a bike where are the peak speed is going to be around 110 mph no matter what you do to it in the top end. Clearly, I am not condoning riding that fast anywhere, but since you asked, that is typically the peak speed of the Silverwing. It appears that you have already done as much drivetrain work as is likely possible so I think you have reached the limits of what this bike can do.

The only thing you haven't done is fix a small rocket engine to the exhaust muffler.

Hi Bikeking19

You stated "28g dr. pulley sliding rollers," sort of a  contradiction.
If they are Dr.Pulley rollers (round in shape)change them for Dr.Pulley sliders to gain a small amount of top speed, as they are designed to do that, the rollers just roll with no extra gain.
It's all explained on Dr.Pulleys web site.

Hope this helps.

Be safe, be seen!

JohnyC wrote:

Hi Bikeking19

You stated "28g dr. pulley sliding rollers," sort of a  contradiction.
If they are Dr.Pulley rollers (round in shape)change them for Dr.Pulley sliders to gain a small amount of top speed, as they are designed to do that, the rollers just roll with no extra gain.
It's all explained on Dr.Pulleys web site.

Hope this helps.

Be safe, be seen!

Yep typo lol. Sliders obviously much better and installed , thanks!

Erdoc48 wrote:

You are not going to like my answer. If you were going for a coast-to-coast ride for as fast as possible, the SilverWing is probably not the bike to do it on. This is a bike where are the peak speed is going to be around 110 mph no matter what you do to it in the top end. Clearly, I am not condoning riding that fast anywhere, but since you asked, that is typically the peak speed of the Silverwing. It appears that you have already done as much drivetrain work as is likely possible so I think you have reached the limits of what this bike can do.

Oh yes I wasn't trying to get this thing to do 150 or anything, I'm well aware. Moreso in lowering the rpms, and whatever else I can do to improve performance at top end.

Loosemarbles wrote:

The only thing you haven't done is fix a small rocket engine to the exhaust muffler.

I used to have both of Ron Ayres books about competing in the Iron Butt Rally, and preparing for long distance rides and endurance rallies.

I remember a Gold wing rider he mentioned that had fitted an extra fuel cell and all the usual long distance junk. Then ingeniously rigged up a funnel and length of plastic hose contraption to the Wing so he didn't have to waste valuable time between checkpoints stopping to take a leak.

Just an opinion: Riding in an IBR sounds like no fun at all- it’s all about time, checkpoints, and just getting there- no time to see the scenery as you’re focused on how fast you’re getting to the next destination- the GW rider Meldrew specified sounds nuts-  not even time to get to a restroom- that sounds like a blood clot in the leg (and potentially lung) in the making if you rarely get off the bike. Best of luck to those who compete in these endeavors but I’ll never be one of them.

Get a new motorcycle with warranty, or try Germany where you still can go really fast in some places.....or enjoy SilverWing as the scooter it is--fast/heavy/you suffer from buffeting as rider/no longer in production

You are a crazy man Bikeking19.

Regarding lowering rpm, I'm not sure there is much that you can do with the Silverwing. The CVT represents a fight between the roller weights (trying to push the front variator into a larger diameter) and the rear variator (where the spring is trying to oppose that and make the rear a larger diameter).

A weaker rear spring and higher weights to the front would maximise the ratio (minimum revs at any given speed) but (and I'm no expert) I would have thought at a highway cruising speed that the front variator would in any case be "maxxed out" so adding more weight would not change much.

I would consider looking to see if there was a higher profile rear tyre that could help, but I suspect the 150/70 stock size is all that you can get.

Regardless of what you do there is under 50bhp pushing a heavy bike, plus rider, plus the aerodynamics of a barn. To improve the top speed you'll need to increase the bhp which will need engine work.
Expensive and possibly pointless... but I would love to hear about it

Ditch the sliders. They are a gimmick that you won't find in the scooter performance scene, and when they go, they take a lot with them. Go with a Malossi variator and lighter rollers. To reach and maintain a high speed, you need to be able to work with the engine's powerband. The stock variator and Dr pulley sliders aren't designed to do that. With the Malossi variator, 22 or 24 gram rollers and contra spring, you should be able to add 5-7 mph to the top speed. I did.