Carpenter Rocket Comparison

[SlimReaper]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum and fairly new to rockets. I've had a relatively stock 06 classic for about 6 months. It has exhaust, k&n drop in filter and reflash.

I just purchased a 09 touring with the Carpenter 140 kit. The initial impression is a bit lack luster.

I did a side by side test (my buddy riding my classic outweighs me by 75lbs so there's not a big weight difference.

We did a 5th gear roll on from 50 and he slowly walked me. On a 2nd gear pull from about 3k rpm I really pulled on him from about the 4500 rpm range on. It just really feels like it's struggling from the bottom end. Although I knew a lot of the power was on the top end, I find it hard to believe there's be none on the bottom.

Any insight? Thanks y'all!

 

[Kevin frazier]

A timing tune on all 3 cylinders should improve that. a dyno will show you where and what its doing, without a dyno you wont really know where its at ( this is assumimg rings are ok and youre not loosing hp) without ring seal you will loose hp

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

The carpenter engine is a race engine, and works by freeing up the intake and exhaust (including the head ports) to allow more air through (more air = more horses), and also shifting the power delivery characteristics up in the rev range with cams and other stuff to facilitate higher rev limit... because torque and hp are always equal at 5252rpm, the more torque you make higher up in the revs the more horsepower you will make.
And the more revs you have the more power you will make, because more revs means more air means more horses... provided it is cammed to suit and the engine can breathe i.e.. intake and exhaust suitable.

The peak torque of the stock bike and the Carpenter bike will be similar enough but the real difference is their cams shift that torque band way up the revs so the engine makes way more power.

Basically you have to wind the Carpenter engine up in the revs to hit its 'powerband', whereas with the stock bike its powerband is pretty much from idle.

The Carpenter bike is a lot faster than stock bike but you need to rev them out. Like if I do a roll on in top gear on my Rocket from 50mph vs my hayabusa in top at 50, the rocket embarrasses the busa.... but drop a few gears so the busa is in its powerband I.e. up in the revs, it will destroy the Rocket after 70 or 80mph.

 

[SlimReaper]

Thanks for the help guys! This puts me at ease a bit. I guess I was expecting a decent increase on the low end too but it makes sense with the cams and all that it would need to be rev'd up.

Side note: anyone have an aftermarket tach that they I stalled and liked? It feels weird not having one on the touring (especially given that I'm more rpm cautious now on the Carpenter setup.

 

[Kevin frazier]

Tach install, shift light and volt meter, programable, nice unit

 

[Tripps]

Power commander also offers a readout that gives you rpm, air fuel ratio, and about 15 other choices you can display

 

[Tripps]

And yes, I was also initially disappointed that low end torque was less than stock. Now I understand why Carpenter only shows dyno results from 3000 rpm up. But I learned to use the gears.

 

[SlimReaper]

And yes, I was also initially disappointed that low end torque was less than stock. Now I understand why Carpenter only shows dyno results from 3000 rpm up. But I learned to use the gears.

Glad I'm not crazy!

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Glad I'm not crazy!

Then you may be in the wrong place.

 

[SlimReaper]

Then you may be in the wrong place.

I can definitely see that I lied in that last comment now that you say that because most would say I'm definitely crazy for having a 240hp cruiser lol