I liked my stock 16t alot, and was real hesitant to change it but do make frequent long runs of 160 miles or so one-way. I never had a problem with the higher revs of the 16t - no buzziness or vibration, either. Just thought the 18t made better sense from a fuel economy standpoint, and maybe it does.
What I DO appreciate about the 18t the most is, though, is the longer legs it has in each of the lower gears. I can cruise for miles in a 40 mph zone in second gear at 4000 rpm. Comfortably. And at 50 mph, as the chart above indicates, 4000 rpm in 3rd - right in the power band.
I don't miss the punch off the line at all, and can easily hit about 50 mph in 1st before the rev limiter kicks in - leaving most of my riding friends in the dust as they short-shift their way there. Leaves them quite startled, actually - when they've shifted 2-3 times already. These bikes love the revs - after reading a suggestion here long ago about not shifting before 5000 rpm, I rarely do now. It's a great feeling, too. (I think those with louder pipes might be a little more noise-conscious, and probably short-shift a little more than they would otherwise.) The stock pipes rock after they've seasoned in. Stealth mode at idle only.
