6-speed gearboxes.

**Big Dave** · 3rd January 2009, 18:25

Originally Posted by jrandom

My take on it would be, the design engineers probably knew what they were doing.

Pretty silly to put a close-ratio gearbox on a ditch pump motor. (No disrespect meant, some of my best friends are ditch pump motors, etc.)

If they want six gears on a Buell they can always buy an 1125R, eh?

indeeddeedy

**rat biker 08** · 3rd January 2009, 19:30

Hell i have two older bikes and thay both have 6 its good . Low mid for hills high for speed and i like it .

**Subike** · 3rd January 2009, 20:06

why update the gearbox when a simple rear ratio change can do the same thing.
On my shaft drive XS11, by changing the diff to an XS850 diff gave the same result as adding a 6th gear.
OK the initial take off from standstill is slower, but once you moving, well, the difference is unseen till you get into 5th and can cruze at a lower engine speed than the origional ratio.
Improved ecconomy without loosing top end performance. A win win for me.
Tyre size and final ratios are easier to change than gearboxes.

**tri boy** · 3rd January 2009, 20:20

BD's size 20 boot is just lazy :-)

**Hitcher** · 3rd January 2009, 20:35

After a reasonably prolonged burst of riding on a six-speed bike, I invariably find myself looking for another cog when I get back on Big Yam. I agree with Big Dave's thesis that a sixth cog is overkill on a big grunty bike.

The Shiver has a gear position indicator, which I think is a must on any bike with six gears.

**EJK** · 3rd January 2009, 20:46

How about double clutch system? Porshes got the new Doppelkupplung why not bikes?

...Yeah sorry I don't know how that works but hey Presto, humans got jet engine on a bike!

**James Deuce** · 3rd January 2009, 20:49

Originally Posted by EJK

How about double clutch system? Porshes got the new Doppelkupplung why not bikes?

...Yeah sorry I don't know how that works but hey Presto, humans got jet engine on a bike!

Different clutch for each alternate gear. Push or pull the lever and currently engaged clutch disengages and the next clutch engages bringing the required ratio into play.

**McJim** · 3rd January 2009, 20:55

My 53hp bike has but 5 gears. 4,500rpm is where it cruises comfortably - any lower and it tends to lug a bit. 4,000 in 5th is about 120kph. Basically if I am in 5th then I know to watch for coppers. Tall gears.

**warewolf** · 3rd January 2009, 21:08

Dunno that 6 gears is necessary for 65hp+ road bike. I would certainly trade one gear choice for a wider spread between 1st (usually too high) and 6th (usually too low).

The R1150GS with overdrive 6th was...err... "nice" to ride; very much an overdrive as a downchange was required for brisk acceleration close to 100-110km/h. The other 5 gears were useful, wouldn't want to lose one.

6 gears is probably a 'tick box' feature on big road bikes these days. Overdrive would make it worth it.

Originally Posted by Owl

I would happily go one less on the S3! Probably just easier to share a Daytona box than create a new one?

The original Speed Triple dropped the 6th gear from the Daytona. It was later returned due to popular demand. If they kept the original spread and redistributed the ratios, maybe 5 speeds would've worked.

**Big Dave** · 3rd January 2009, 21:42

Originally Posted by tri boy

BD's size 20 boot is just lazy :-)

There is some truth in it. Otherwise why am i on a perambulation device and why is it being over-complicated.

**yod** · 3rd January 2009, 21:52

Originally Posted by James Deuce

Like prune juice with stones in.

only a true geezer would know what this was like

**nudemetalz** · 3rd January 2009, 21:58

Even my "Ditch-Pump" Guzzi V11 Sport has 6 close ratios.
It has a lot of midrange so I also feel it's a little to keep with the "Sport" label marketing than anything else as it's entirely unnecessary.

**Timber020** · 3rd January 2009, 22:03

Sport bikes have 6 so your able to get maximum horse to the floor for max performance while still having a ridable bike at many different speeds.
Italian bike and Harleys have them so they have some spares when one of the 6 break.

My mates ducati had a 11 shift gearbox from 1st to 6th. you started in first then hit neutral between first and second, then between second and third another neutral, then between third and forth another neutral.......you get the idea.

**nudemetalz** · 3rd January 2009, 22:12

Originally Posted by Timber020

My mates ducati had a 11 shift gearbox from 1st to 6th. you started in first then hit neutral between first and second, then between second and third another neutral, then between third and forth another neutral.......you get the idea.

errr that makes mine an 8 speed gearbox then.......

**oldrider** · 3rd January 2009, 22:20

Originally Posted by Hitcher

After a reasonably prolonged burst of riding on a six-speed bike, I invariably find myself looking for another cog when I get back on Big Yam. I agree with Big Dave's thesis that a sixth cog is overkill on a big grunty bike.

The Shiver has a gear position indicator, which I think is a must on any bike with six gears.

Have to agree with you on that one Hitch.

....Sales divisions!....(Sigh) ....

John.