Can't wait to duplicate these runs ... with the 17T.
I rode up the steep twisting hill twice again today, once in 3rd and once in 4th. RPMs at the start point were 3500 and 3000 again.
Virtually no discernible difference from yesterday with the 16. In 3rd it accelerated smartly up the steep part. In 4th it held its own at the start and gained a bit.
Did the same 3 runs on 2nd hill with the straight very steep stretch.
1st run was from stopped on the gentle slope just below. Accelerated up through all five gears and was going 102 kph (vs-105 yesterday) and gaining at the crest. I can't say for sure that I shifted at exactly the same points as I did yesterday. I am still freaked by the 10,000 rpm red-line and my ear simply can't believe I can rev it that high without an explosion.
2nd run, again in 4th gear doing 90 kph at the beginning of the steep part - where I gunned it. It accelerated to 93 (vs- 95 kph) at the crest.
3rd run, again in 5th gear doing 90 at the beginning of the steep part. Gunned it at the same point and it couldn't hold its own and slowed to 80 kph (vs- 85) at the crest.
Cruising along at 80 kph (50 mph), the rpms are now 4,650 (vs- 5000). At 98 (60) it now runs at 5,500. I am delighted with this result and only wish it was a bigger difference.
I could not make it behave any differently from a dead stop (something I worried about) so I am very pleased. Maybe it is idling better today because it is hotter and much more humid - don't know - but I noticed
no difference.
It achieve my #1 goal and I do not believe I will notice any
overall performance loss. Occasionally I will now downshift to 4th instead of just leaving it in 5th, but conversely, some other times I will just leave it in 4th going through town instead of up-shifting to 5th. So, all kinds of riding considered, I will end up shifting gears the same number of times.
Not everyone is bothered by the high frequency note while cruising, but if you are, I would highly recommend the switch. B-W, try it before sinking a lot of money into a Seca parts bike. It only cost me $23 and doing the switch was so fast and easy it would be no hassle to go back if you change your mind.
If I were you Petei, I would definitely try the 17T. If you test it in the mountains and don't like it, I would still take both size sprockets on my trip home (& a few wrenches) with me and run the 16 until the downside of the Rockies and then 17T all the way from there.
Same goes for you Dan. When you go up to Flagstaff, switch to the 16 and run the 17 down below.
For what it's worth guys .......