Is it just me, or do others wish there 1500 wing had a 6th hear? Cruising at 65 I feel like I need to shift again, I'm turning about 3K RPM's or more. Guess I was on a V Twin for too long and the exhaust note on the wing is very different. :xzqxz:
Is it just me.....
- Thread starter Trikindan
- Start date
I am always hunting for that next gear, if it wasn't for the light that comes on showing me I'm in overdrive I would probably break the shifter, but its the same with my VTX I always try and shift to sixth gear, don't know why Honda refuses to go to six speed transmissions.
Each bike I've ever owned seemed to like a different rpm on the highway. Guess they are designed and built that way. The Goldwing seems to do its best at 3000 rpm and 75 mph. The BMW ran best at 4000 rpm. Both are 5 gear trans.
Here's a thought....my old stick shift cars only had 3 gears, same for automatic transmission. So, why do most of our bikes have 5?
(Believe I know the answer, but what do others think?)
Here's a thought....my old stick shift cars only had 3 gears, same for automatic transmission. So, why do most of our bikes have 5?
(Believe I know the answer, but what do others think?)
Doug D.
"Tin Man"
Just me thinkin', but more gears means lower rpms at higher speeds resulting in less fuel used and less wear on the engine. I've often wondered why VW never made a five speed transaxle for the bugs and buses.
Cars do it for mileage, And for one upmanship, Your car has a 5 speed ' buy mine I have a 6 speed, And next year it will have a 7 speed. My Ram has a 8 speed, And maybe next year it will come with a 9 speed... Gotta start saving for a new one..
Some bike's need to be going 75 MPH to use 6 gear effectually ..
I had two bugs and a dune buggy they had low revving under stressed engines And if they had a 5 speed every time you put it in 5 Th you'll be going back wards .. My GTi had a 5 speed and it could handle it at high speeds.[65+]
I had a Kawasaki 1600 Vulcan classic with 6 speed and it was virtually worthless where I live. I never could use 6th unless I was riding on the Interstate as 65 mph indicated was the absolute minimum I could run without lugging the engine. Really needed 75 to be happy and I don't get there that often where I live and drive most of the time. And, if I was riding two-up and pulling a trailer with the Kawasaki I could never use 6th so to me it was worthless.
Trail Blazer
Official Mascot
6th gear
jut my 2 cents, my 1500 @ 3000 rpm is running 66 or 67 mph ( witch is my usual speed) if I had a 6th gear I and a lot of other riders would be lugging there engine to much which is bad for engine. mother Honda knows this and do not want to shorten the engine life. ( would get better gas mileage )
jut my 2 cents, my 1500 @ 3000 rpm is running 66 or 67 mph ( witch is my usual speed) if I had a 6th gear I and a lot of other riders would be lugging there engine to much which is bad for engine. mother Honda knows this and do not want to shorten the engine life. ( would get better gas mileage )
Yep I used to. At freeway speeds of 70 mph my old 1500 turns about 3500 rpms. The thing is it appears that it would do this forever. But its also true that I enjoy old fashioned 2-lane highway riding with speeds lower and the view MUCH better.
Like I am to my wife and she is to me, our 1500 is too old to have much value but we come to love her and have decided to keep her around as long as she wants to participate.
Like I am to my wife and she is to me, our 1500 is too old to have much value but we come to love her and have decided to keep her around as long as she wants to participate.
My 07 Harley Ultra is one that likes 75 before shifting to 6th. Actually if if drops below 2k rpm I shift down a gear. And that's just 2 wheels. That's also one of my concerns about converting it. Geared to high maybe? Or I'll never get out of 5th.
I have to agree with ya Doug! I don't know why VDubs didn't make a 5 speed. Would be nice for sure.
As it stands, I have the freeway flyer 4th gear yet I am still running close to 4k at a hundred. :laugh: Of course the engine I am putting in now is a 6k running engine.
Its all about total gearing not how many gears.5th is overdrive on the 1500.I have seen different overdrive gearing and some cars with 2 overdrives (so i'm told).I would like a bit more gear also.Different engines are also designed different.You have some designed to produce lots of torque at low rpms and not turn fast and some that produce torque at higher rpms.That dictates gearing as much as anything.Thats my opinion and worth what it cost.
- Thread starter
- #14
I agree with what you are saying about engines and torque. My Trike does a good job pulling off and through the gears, no strain, no lugging, even when going slow to make a sharp right turn I drop to 4th and twist the throttle and it comes back to speed quick. On the 2 wheelers I would have dropped 2 gears going that slow to keep from lugging the crap out of it. I do wish the OD was a little taller, but not going to complain. Also got to get the right mindset in the sound dept. My mind keeps screaming SHIFT SHIFT!!!!!! :xzqxz::wave4::Shrug::Shrug:
Honda engines LOVE to whirl. At the point where YOU think they are over-revving, they are just beginning to enjoy the ride. A 6th gear would be like putting hobbles on a thoroughbred race horse.
- Thread starter
- #16
You're right!!! I just have to make a mental adjustment.:xzqxz:
Weird experience recently. Was returning from a visit to relatives, about a 130 mile trip, and hit a rest stop for a few minutes to stretch the legs.
Coming back on to the interstate, accelerated to 70 or so to merge with the traffic and just kept cruising for another 10 minutes or so. Finally noticed that the engine was turning close to 4000 rpm and realized I was still in 4th gear.
If I hadn't looked at the tach I wouldn't have given a second thought to which gear I was in.
Got home and gassed up. Guess what? MPG was actually one mpg better on this tank than last. Go figure.
:GL1800:
Coming back on to the interstate, accelerated to 70 or so to merge with the traffic and just kept cruising for another 10 minutes or so. Finally noticed that the engine was turning close to 4000 rpm and realized I was still in 4th gear.
If I hadn't looked at the tach I wouldn't have given a second thought to which gear I was in.
Got home and gassed up. Guess what? MPG was actually one mpg better on this tank than last. Go figure.
:GL1800:
skuuter
One of the Origionals
I've "preached this" many times...every Gold Wing (and several other Bikes) I've owned, never need high gear until above 70 mph. I've watched Folks here pull the mountains and ride twisties in 4th and 5th gear. The Engine is being "lugged to death", and generally getting terrible gas mileage. I can spend a weekend here and the Smokies Area on the backroads, and never use anything but 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears...Gold Wing 1800s love the 3500 - 4500 RPM Range......ThumbUp
- Thread starter
- #19
I hear ya Preacherman!!!!!!!:clapping:
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