ADV150 Variator Tuning Results

[omniphil]

Hi Guys,

I'm probably the only ADV150 in here so far, but I figure this info will be helpful for folks down the road.

The PCX and ADV share many things, roller weights is not one of them.
Stock ADV roller weights are 20 grams and there is a stiffer clutch spring.

Having done roller weights on my other scooters this seemed like a no brainer for some cheap performance.
I order the NCY Variator, NCY Drive face and some NCY Rollers.

---Stock results---
Initial bog off the line pretty typical with stock scooters
Top speed 68mph (electronic cutout - slight downhill)

---NCY Variator/Drive face and 17 gram rollers---
Much improved initial acceleration however motor revs noticeably higher
Top speed 65mpg (Same road and conditions as stock testing - electronic cutout)

---NCY Variator/Drive face and 18 gram rollers---
Much improved initial acceleration and motor appears to rev the same as stock, maybe slightly higher
Top speed 65mpg (Same road and conditions as stock testing - electronic cutout)

It seems like 18 gram is the sweet spot, initial acceleration was smoother than with 17 gram.
I was honestly hoping to hit 70mph with NCY variator/Drive face, I was under the assumption that the ramps were shaped differently to help with "gearing"
The ramps looked the same as stock to me.

I think I'll need to swap out the clutch section if I want to effect top speed (At least I think that's how it works)
I'm not sure if I want to mess with the clutch as i hear it makes the revs go much higher, not sure really.

On the plus side, on the ADV you do not have to remove any body panels to get at the CVT cover. It comes right off pretty easily and was a 15 minute job to swap this stuff out.

Tools needed...

22mm Socket (preferably 6 point deep socket)
Torque wrench (40 ft lbs)
breaker bar
1/4 inch ratchet with 6 inch extension
8mm socket
phillips screwdriver (I used this to wedge between the vanes on the drive face to lock it in place while I used breaker bar/torque wrench to deal with the 22mm nut holding it all on.

[Old Scoot]

Sorry, but:

[Jge64]

There’s no need for pics on this thing, there are plenty of variator/weight pics all over the technical side of this forum, variator weights all look the same, no matter whether they’re 16 or 17g so I don’t see any pictures needed here. We all know what variator weights look like. One here on the site yesterday:

https://www.hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11327

[omniphil]

Sorry, but:

Picture added

[fish]

Is that a Zuma?
Looks like a Yamahammer.
Fish

[Conelite]

As shared on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11327&start=20

The gearing on the newer PCX and/or ADV, the gearing is different. I would recommend changing out your gears.

Order a gear set from a 2014-2018 and you should be good.

13_18.png (204.75 KiB) Viewed 17157 times

This is a newer model.

19.png (134.3 KiB) Viewed 17157 times

[big tommy]

Hi Guys,

I'm probably the only ADV150 in here so far, but I figure this info will be helpful for folks down the road.

n.

Never assume you are the first .....

I had mine 15/12/2019.....

And had TDR variator kit fitted Jan 2020 ....

TDR are the kings of auto scooter tuning, don't waste your money using anyone else...

https://www.hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10728

[omniphil]

As shared on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11327&start=20

The gearing on the newer PCX and/or ADV, the gearing is different. I would recommend changing out your gears.

Order a gear set from a 2014-2018 and you should be good.

This is a newer model.

19.png

2019 and up are 55 tooth it looks like
2014-2018 is 54 tooth
2013 is 53 tooth

So I just need that one part? How much difference is 1 tooth going to make?

[Conelite]

This is what you would need:

005
SHAFT, DRIVE (17T)
23411-KZR-601
$18.30

006
COUNTERSHAFT (13T)
23421-KZR-600
$10.60

007
GEAR, COUNTER (54T)
23422-K36-J00
$24.91

008
GEAR, FINAL (44T)
23430-KZR-600
$34.99

[Inoplanetyanin]

A sticker "powered by NOS" has been proven to add 0.5 of a horsepower and reduce drag. Gotta also tune the exhaust and the belt line, the slimmer the belly, the more like a rocket the PCX is. Time to go to the gym /sarcasm

[omniphil]

See if my logic makes sense here...

With the current setup (NCY variator/driveface and 18g rollers) I can hit about 61-62 mph on flat highway (drag limited)
If I put in the gear set that makes my gearing taller for more theoretical top end I would think that taller gears would require more power to hit the same speeds?
So while I would gain more top speed going down hills i'm guessing on flat ground i'm not go to gain top speed and maybe even loose some as the gears are taller?

This is what you would need:

005
SHAFT, DRIVE (17T)
23411-KZR-601
$18.30

006
COUNTERSHAFT (13T)
23421-KZR-600
$10.60

007
GEAR, COUNTER (54T)
23422-K36-J00
$24.91

008
GEAR, FINAL (44T)
23430-KZR-600
$34.99

[Conelite]

See if my logic makes sense here...

With the current setup (NCY variator/driveface and 18g rollers) I can hit about 61-62 mph on flat highway (drag limited)
If I put in the gear set that makes my gearing taller for more theoretical top end I would think that taller gears would require more power to hit the same speeds?
So while I would gain more top speed going down hills i'm guessing on flat ground i'm not go to gain top speed and maybe even loose some as the gears are taller?

My mistake, this entire time I assumed when you were reporting "TOP SPEED" it was bouncing the limiter. Learn to tuck. lol Yes if you cant push the bike to the RPM limter, then your issue is not the Variator, its you needing to tune the CVT.

Get a TTO Tach so you know what the engine is doing. Even with taller gearing, you run much lighter weights to allow the engine to get into the powerband. The principle of CVT tuning is to allow the engine to maintain Powerband RPM's throughout the acceleration process. Get a Tach. best way.

[omniphil]

You were correct. My stock top speed going down a slight hill was 68mph hitting the limiter. After the NCY variator change it become 65mph hitting the limiter still down hill.
On flat road however I am drag limited to around 62, not tucking. I was trying to keep everything the same while testing the variator changes.
I will have to try tucking and see if I can get up to the limiter on flat ground.

So don't worry about final gearing but get a NCY clutch setup in there?

My mistake, this entire time I assumed when you were reporting "TOP SPEED" it was bouncing the limiter. Learn to tuck. lol Yes if you cant push the bike to the RPM limter, then your issue is not the Variator, its you needing to tune the CVT.

Get a TTO Tach so you know what the engine is doing. Even with taller gearing, you run much lighter weights to allow the engine to get into the powerband. The principle of CVT tuning is to allow the engine to maintain Powerband RPM's throughout the acceleration process. Get a Tach. best way.

[Conelite]

You were correct. My stock top speed going down a slight hill was 68mph hitting the limiter. After the NCY variator change it become 65mph hitting the limiter still down hill.
On flat road however I am drag limited to around 62, not tucking. I was trying to keep everything the same while testing the variator changes.
I will have to try tucking and see if I can get up to the limiter on flat ground.

So don't worry about final gearing but get a NCY clutch setup in there?

A clutch setup would not change much besides more aggressive clutch engagement and some more tuning capability with the Contra/Pillow Spring which in my opinion is not needed.

What we know as fact is that the Newer PCX/ADV does have shorter gearing.

I would recommend changing the gears, run much lighter weights and get a tach.

I run 10.5g weights on my bike. I don't know anyone that runs lighter and I still manage to have amazing acceleration, and still tops out over 75MPH with just the mods listed.

[omniphil]

Ok, that sounds good, I really don't want to mess with the clutch section. I have a tach, I will get that installed this weekend.

Also what I am going to do is swap back to the stock variator and drive face but leave the 18g sliders in there. I am assuming this will get me back to 68mph stock top speed but with the added acceleration of the lighter rollers. That might be enough for now. I'd like to be able to maintain 65mph on the flat highway. I will try tucking and see where that gets me.

A clutch setup would not change much besides more aggressive clutch engagement and some more tuning capability with the Contra/Pillow Spring which in my opinion is not needed.

What we know as fact is that the Newer PCX/ADV does have shorter gearing.

I would recommend changing the gears, run much lighter weights and get a tach.

I run 10.5g weights on my bike. I don't know anyone that runs lighter and I still manage to have amazing acceleration, and still tops out over 75MPH with just the mods listed.

[omniphil]

I put the stock variator and drive face back in with 18g rollers.

I was able to maintain about 64-65mph on the highway now drag limited on flat road.
I hit the electronic cutout at 67mph down a slight hill.
It does feel like I lost some of that low end power off the line, but still feels better than stock.

I think that's about as good as I can hope for until I get the new gearing in the rear end, Then the NCY variator will be more useful.

[Conelite]

I put the stock variator and drive face back in with 18g rollers.

I was able to maintain about 64-65mph on the highway now drag limited on flat road.
I hit the electronic cutout at 67mph down a slight hill.
It does feel like I lost some of that low end power off the line, but still feels better than stock.

I think that's about as good as I can hope for until I get the new gearing in the rear end, Then the NCY variator will be more useful.

That would make sense with the shorter gears that bike has. The heavier weights keep the RPMs low enough to reach top speed without bouncing the limiter.

[bbowling]

This is what you would need:

005
SHAFT, DRIVE (17T)
23411-KZR-601
$18.30

006
COUNTERSHAFT (13T)
23421-KZR-600
$10.60

007
GEAR, COUNTER (54T)
23422-K36-J00
$24.91

008
GEAR, FINAL (44T)
23430-KZR-600
$34.99

Do you need to order and install all of these to make it work?

[WhiteNoise]

omniphil, hey! now there's an ADV150 Forum and I've moved your thread to it. Check it out

[EricV]

Interesting read. We got our ADVs on Aug 21st, 2020. I've never seen more than 65 mph at the rev limiter. Still stock, but I have some PCX 18 gram rollers to install. Hoping for the ability to run at 65 steady w/o hitting the rev limiter. At this point, I'm not really interested in more mods, but clutch spring isn't that big a deal.