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Keith, as I understand it, the SMs come stock with a 16T and the TAs come with a 17T due to differences in torque. I guess that my trying a 18T would be similar to your trying a 17T. I haven't changed yet.. still pondering. Went on a Toys4Tots run yesterday (2-up) and realized the bike does runs great like it is. I hardly ride above 75 or so and it is mostly in town riding. Just wish there was a sixth gear on the hwy. I worry about giving up the lower 1st starting up. Like you said, it's not a difficult change, I'll probably give it a try before long.. I can always go back. I only get 35-39 mpg and before the exhaust/carb mods I got about 5 mpg better, BUT, no comparison to performance/sound. The 18T would improve the mileage, maybe back to where it was.
When they originally came out with these sprockets, the SM and America had the same engine. The different sprockets were a tradeoff giving the S/M a bit better low - mid range acceleration and the America a better top end.
Your fuel economy seems to be a little on the low side. Have you checked the colour of the sparkplugs to see how your mixture is?
Of course it could just be that, because I put the Epcos on the weekend after I got the bike, I developed a habit of riding it conservatively because it didn't have near enough miles to fully enjoy the pipes. 
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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