Anyone else want a Higher Touring Gear?

[molive1960]

Has anyone heard if Can Am has considered adding a 7th gear to the RT series. I am on my second RT and my only real complaint is that it needs an additional higher gear for our U.S. highways. This would provide much better gas mileage and be easier on the engine when having to travel our 75mph plus highway system.

[USAF]

What RPM are you turning at 75 mph ? I just got mine and only been up to 67 mph with it so far.

[Jesster72]

I am seeing between 3,800 - 4,000 rpm at highway speeds - 75 mph-ish. I agree, we could either use a 7th, or a higher 6th. But all in all, I ususally have to stop before the bike needs fuel, so I am the limiting factor on gas milage, no worries from me.

[bigbadbrucie]

Nope, don’t need a higher touring gear....just fine the way it is!

[Steve W.]

It's not engine RPM that is cutting your mileage, it's road speed.

Aerodynamic drag goes up with the square in the increase in speed.
The power required to overcome the drag goes up with the cube in the increase.

I have tried this on many different vehicles over the years, gas mileage tends to be rather acceptable up to about 70 mph, then falls off DRASTICALLY. Also note that is not just 'road speed', it's actually apparent road speed. If you are going 70 into a 20 mph headwind, your vehicle thinks you are going 90.

My Goldwing averages upper-30s most of the time. Common advice is to "keep it under 3000 RPM" for good mileage (3000 RPM is right about 67 mph). Going through the mountains of West (by God) Virginia, it's hard to keep the revs under 3k if you want to keep moving, so I downshift a time or two and keep going. In spite of the elevated revs throughout the ride, mileage is surprisingly still in the upper 30s.

.

[FireEater]

This has been an issue with Goldwing for years until 2018 when they redesigned it.

That extra gear would be nice, but the Engineers that design both the Spyder and Goldwing know what they are doing apparently.

[vito1943]

I think 6th gear is adequate. Running at 4,000 RPM or even higher is not hurting the engine. As long as you keep it below redline you are fine. I ride at 80 or higher with my 2021 RT in 6th gear and find it just fine as it is.

[troop]

I have a 89t rear pulley on my F3S. I turn around 4500 at 80 mph. I've put many a miles on my bike at 80 mph on western interstates. No issues other than dismal mpg

[Saluda]

I'm content as is.

[pieman9155]

i look for a high gear all time

[Little Blue]

...I can't decide what is needed.
Remember all Toys are Expensive.
Just Live and Learn.

When you don't have the Money for the Toys, it is Time to Sell.
Been there and done it.

Happy Trails my friend.

Stay Healthy. ....

[EdMat]

I think the RT and F3 series have the aerodynamic qualities of a brick wall.

[PMK]

Unfortunately, as the speed increases over 60 mph, the fuel efficiency drops off dramatically. At 70 the mpg gets marginal, at 80 mph, the mpg is dismal.

Spyder RT series are about as aerodynamic as a vertical sheet of plywood. Bummer but true. We typically highway cruise at 70 to 80, and get about 150 miles until the low fuel light illuminates. Doubtful a taller gear would help. Simply takes so much power to go that speed and requires a certain amount of fuel to make the power.

My opinion, the 6 speed is adequate, the fuel efficiency could be improved.

[FrogmanDave]

Has anyone heard if Can Am has considered adding a 7th gear to the RT series. I am on my second RT and my only real complaint is that it needs an additional higher gear for our U.S. highways. This would provide much better gas mileage and be easier on the engine when having to travel our 75mph plus highway system.

I don't really care about gas mileage but I have thought many times I wish I could cruise at highway speeds at less RPM. And, I have wished for a 7th gear just as you have. Or at the least, more overdrive out of 6th gear.

Unfortunately, as the speed increases over 60 mph, the fuel efficiency drops off dramatically. At 70 the mpg gets marginal, at 80 mph, the mpg is dismal.

Spyder RT series are about as aerodynamic as a vertical sheet of plywood. Bummer but true. We typically highway cruise at 70 to 80, and get about 150 miles until the low fuel light illuminates. Doubtful a taller gear would help. Simply takes so much power to go that speed and requires a certain amount of fuel to make the power.

Absolutely correct! I do feel the bike could pull flat cruising at a lower RPM though.

[blacklightning]

I had a 2014 RT, and 2016 f3T, and now and 2016 F3 Limited. With the 7 gallon tank, I still get between 190 and 200 miles to a tank before the low fuel light comes on. Usually I have stopped at 90-110 miles into the tank, and am ready for another butt break long before the low fuel light comes on.

[larryd]

I would like just the opposite...I would like to have the 89T rear sprocket on my 2014 RTS...Way better acceleration and pulls like a mule on the mountain roads I normally ride 2 up on...And sometimes pull a trailer...I have the sprocket & belt but NO ONE has the computer knowledge to make it happen...Steve at Monster was working on it several years ago, but never got it working proficiently...larryd

[canamjhb]

You can get a small amount of relief by going to a taller tire (bigger aspect). On my 2014 RTL I changed to a 215/60R15 and it would cruise about 3MPH faster at the same RPM than the OEM tire did. It also brought my speedo in line with my GPS indicated speed

[Steve W.]

Larryd (post #16) is on the right track, but in the other direction.

What is the possibility that a smaller rear sprocket could be installed? Yeah, it would require a matching belt, but there's probably something out there with a slightly smaller belt.

He also hinted about computers? Evidently there is some programming that looks for engine speeds to match road speeds, based on the selected gear?

[larryd]

Larryd (post #16) is on the right track, but in the other direction.

What is the possibility that a smaller rear sprocket could be installed? Yeah, it would require a matching belt, but there's probably something out there with a slightly smaller belt.

He also hinted about computers? Evidently there is some programming that looks for engine speeds to match road speeds, based on the selected gear?

I "THINK" I remember back when there were only GS Spyders in 08/09, 5 speed trans., there was someone marketing larger front sprockets...Which was the way for a taller/higher gear ratio??? NO NEW BELT WAS NEEDED... larryd

[DoTheDOOO]

I'd be happy to have it but I don't think I would use it much. I'm not usually on the interstates.

[troop]

Larryd (post #16) is on the right track, but in the other direction.

What is the possibility that a smaller rear sprocket could be installed? Yeah, it would require a matching belt, but there's probably something out there with a slightly smaller belt.

He also hinted about computers? Evidently there is some programming that looks for engine speeds to match road speeds, based on the selected gear?

Sadly, this cannot be done. It has been attempted in the past by many, at expensive failure. I would have done it by now if so..

[larryd]

Sadly, this cannot be done. It has been attempted in the past by many, at expensive failure. I would have done it by now if so..

There have been several F3 owners that wanted to change their final drive ratio's...Some wanted to go from their 89T set up to the 79T set up...And others wanted to go from their 79T set up to the 89T set up...But as troop has said NO ONE HAS SUCCEEDED...Monster was working with a group in Japan and another person with a RT from the New England area...Monster had it working for a short period of time but all the bikes all developed shifting problems that were NEVER resolved...

I talked to the tuner from "Down Under" that Peter Aawen uses and is very knowledgeable...This tuner told me he had this final drive problem working on several machines...He said he'd need to look at his notes and get back to me after he was done moving to a new shop...I never heard anything back nor did he answer my several attempts to get mine flashed to work???

I personally think this is a DOABLE FIX with the right TUNER GURU...And I'd be willing to donate a 89T pulley & belt to make it happen...Or take my Spyder to them and allow someone like Steve at Monster to work at it for a while???

[larryd]

Here is articles on 28/29 & 30 Tooth Primary Sprockets...(Back in the day)

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ront+sprockets

[ollicat]

I would love a 7th gear. At 70, I am about 3800 RPMS on my 2021 RTL. Ideally, I would love to cruise at 70 MPH at 3200 RPM. It would lower the engine noise and vibration just a bit and likely yield higher mgp since the engine would not be working as hard. At least that is my understanding. I always thought all the 6 gears of the Spyder were spaced too closely. So maybe 6 would be find if they spaced them out a bit more.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

... and likely yield higher mgp since the engine would not be working as hard.

Not necessarily. Every engine has a torque vs rpm curve. If you load the engine down heavier at a specific speed than what it is designed for you make it work harder, cutting down its mpg. I'm sure the Rotax is designed for most efficient torque in the 4000 to 5000 RPM range, or thereabouts, hence the gears are set to provided the optimum torque vs vehicle speed for each gear. You can't just tack on an extra gear to lower the engine speed as you may drop it below its optimum torque range. Keep in mind the required torque to overcome road and wind resistance and maintain speed increases as vehicle speed increases.