2014's Coming

[Bob Denman]

Sorry , but you are forgetting that if you add a 6th gear it would lower the gear ratio and the Spyders sweet spot would no longer be in the 5000 RPM range, it would be lower. With that said, it would in fact save fuel if a 6th gear was added because your motor would now spin at less RPM's in it's sweet spot. Class dismissed !!!!

Randy,
The "sweet spot" is that rpm rnage where the bike is making it's most useable power... YOu can't move the sweet spot down the rpm scale by adding another gear any more than I can be made smarter by parking over next to the Town's Library... (SORRY!)
In it's current engine configuration and state of tune; a sixth gear would be a waste of space and dollars... nothing more.

[cuznjohn]

Want to go that 200mph on the speedo?

no that is a lil too fast but at least 150

[Bob Denman]

Ask Doc what it would take to get to 150... He's the Bonneville Land Speed record holder...

[cuznjohn]

all my other bikes have been cruisers and i have never had a high rev bike b4 so i am used to shifting by ear and when i hear that engine hitting high rpm's i think i need to shift. i am sure i will get used to it and i watch the speedo now for shifting into 5 th gear, so that is my reason i say i would like a 6 th gear just a old dog trying to learn a new riding way

[Lamonster]

all my other bikes have been cruisers and i have never had a high rev bike b4 so i am used to shifting by ear and when i hear that engine hitting high rpm's i think i need to shift. i am sure i will get used to it and i watch the speedo now for shifting into 5 th gear, so that is my reason i say i would like a 6 th gear just a old dog trying to learn a new riding way

The current Rotax motor had a 6th gear but that was replaced by the reverse gear. If there was room in this motor for another gear I'm sure it would be there.

[Pennyrick]

Randy,
The "sweet spot" is that rpm rnage where the bike is making it's most useable power... YOu can't move the sweet spot down the rpm scale by adding another gear any more than I can be made smarter by parking over next to the Town's Library... (SORRY!)
In it's current engine configuration and state of tune; a sixth gear would be a waste of space and dollars... nothing more.

Thanks Bob. You de-tuned Randy much better than I did.

[arntufun]

Randy,
The "sweet spot" is that rpm rnage where the bike is making it's most useable power... YOu can't move the sweet spot down the rpm scale by adding another gear any more than I can be made smarter by parking over next to the Town's Library... (SORRY!)
In it's current engine configuration and state of tune; a sixth gear would be a waste of space and dollars... nothing more.

I might be wrong but the difference would be that the gears would be shorter. It's like carrying a long piece of wood. You can cut the wood up into 5 or 6 pieces. Either way you are still carrying the same amount of wood, it's just how much work it takes to carry it. A 6 speed is more work for the driver (for obvious reasons) but less work for the engine to get you up to speed by spinning at a lower RPM. Therfore, it would save you fuel.

I'm no expert, but this is how I understand it. So if I'm wrong I apoligize.

[Bob Denman]

Ahh... Now that you've explained the method to your madness; you're not quite as wrong about it!
IF you were to shorten up the spaces between the gears; you might find a use for a sixth gear...
But they're already pretty reasonably spaced right now; have you noticed any big gaps that need filling with gears?

[spydercatjohn]

We have a 2013RTS we now have 8200 trouble free miles on it.I was in 5th gear last night for the first time in a long time.We were on the free way running 75 mph.I never shift into 5th under 70mph.Why do I need a 6th gear?I love this bike,Its like driving a sports car.I often wonder if the folks that are knocking the 2013s own one or are just repeating what they read here.I can find nothing wrong with my 2013.Its a great bike.

[Lamonster]

I might be wrong but the difference would be that the gears would be shorter. It's like carrying a long piece of wood. You can cut the wood up into 5 or 6 pieces. Either way you are still carrying the same amount of wood, it's just how much work it takes to carry it. A 6 speed is more work for the driver (for obvious reasons) but less work for the engine to get you up to speed by spinning at a lower RPM. Therfore, it would save you fuel.

I'm no expert, but this is how I understand it. So if I'm wrong I apoligize.

A 6 speed is more efficient in operation, it lets you choose and use the most efficient gear for the power ban of an engine when need.

[Bob Denman]

Do you think that it offers enough of a benefit for the Spyders to make it worth the cost and effort of a redesign?

[arntufun]

Do you think that it offers enough of a benefit for the Spyders to make it worth the cost and effort of a redesign?

IMO No........ Honestly it would be mostly for the consumer's benefit not the bottom line of the manufacture. It's nice to discuss though.


Come to think of it, wouldn't less RPM's decrease the engine heat to some "degree" (pun intended) ???????

[Bob Denman]

Good pun!
That's a good question though; it's not necessarily got much to do with the engine rpm levels; unless the water pump is spinning at a rate that is controlled by how fast the crank is doing it's dance... Are our pumps electrical or mechanical?
I think that the heat produced is kind of tied in to how hard the engine is working...
Heavy loads at lower rpm levels might be just as bad as screaming along at a Bazillion rpms...

[cuznjohn]

i can't stand heat and my BMW K 1600 in traffic was really bad but i don't find a heat problem on my 13 rt. i worry about my feet and legs being diabetic but i have no complaints with the heat and my bike

[Bob Denman]

You too?
(48 plus years as a Type I)

[spydaman60]

A 6 speed is more efficient in operation, it lets you choose and use the most efficient gear for the power ban of an engine when need.

ya but unless you were doing about 80 mph you'd never get into 6th gear---would you?

[bscrive]

I wonder if they will do away with the SE5 sometime and just go to a drivetrain similar to a snowmobile or the Nissan Altima's 'Pure Drive' system. No gears to change. That I believe would be beneficial to a lot of people, maybe not to others who are used to the gear change but like anything you would get used to it.

[Orange monster]

What they are saying is each gear would be a little shorter than it is now and you would add a 6th. So instead of shifting out of 1st at 25 to 30 mph you would shift at 18 to 23mph. Each gear would end sooner thus allowing you to shift into 6th at 65mph or so. With the present 5 speed there is a space between 3rd and 4th where I feel like I'm turning to many rpms to cruse in 3rd but when I shift to 4th I feel the motor is almost lugging. The 6 speed would allow these gears to be closer and could allow you to comfortably cruse in 4th gear without feeling the lugging or over reving in 3rd.

[bscrive]

ya but unless you were doing about 80 mph you'd never get into 6th gear---would you?

I believe what lamonster is saying is that the gearing would just be shorter in duration but the same in the end.

[Bob Denman]

As did Randy...
But do you think that folks would be happier stirring through more gears all day long?
It would require a redesign of the cases to make room; is that going to make the bike wider?

[ARCTIC]

I wonder if they will do away with the SE5 sometime and just go to a drivetrain similar to a snowmobile or the Nissan Altima's 'Pure Drive' system. No gears to change. That I believe would be beneficial to a lot of people, maybe not to others who are used to the gear change but like anything you would get used to it.

I want a CVT transmission, brakes on the handlebars, direct inject fuel injection, more horsepower and train horns

[thedonva]

This discussion quickly went south, can we bring it back on track for joes like me deciding between a 13 or 14???

[Bob Denman]

You'll probably hear nothing but the purest speculation until after at least September 14th...
That's why this is just a bit like...

[ARtraveler]

This discussion quickly went south, can we bring it back on track for joes like me deciding between a 13 or 14???

This close to introduction time, I would recommend holding off until you see what 2014 has to offer. If the 2014's are not what you want, there should be some good deals on 2013's, 2012's etc. I purchased a brand new 2011 RT A&C in July of 2012, saved a couple thousand, got a good trade in, and am very happy with the even though it was two years old (model year) when I purchased it.

Lots of choice if you are not in a big hurry. Good luck on your hunt.

[Bob Denman]

If this helps at all..
Supposedly, these photos were taken during a "commercial shoot".
They purport to show a 2014 RT...
2014 01.jpg2014 02.jpg2014 03.jpg
That's all that we've seen; is it for real??

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...r#post21684106