Bob Denman
New member
I may be old and slow, but the gears are always turning! 
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4th vs. 5th gear discussion
- Thread starter bone crusher
- Start date
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
The last year or so, I have been shifting in the 5000-5500 range and try to keep the tach spinning at 4500 all the time when cruising down the road. I usually only use the fifth gear when riding 65 mph or higher.
My fuel average is now 34 mpg compared to 31 before going to the higher revs. I am also riding solo, so am sure that ??? pounds less on the bike has some effect. The other spyder gets about 33 mpg on a consistent basis. Also, she does not shift as agressively as I do.
Opinions all over the place--so here is my .02.
My fuel average is now 34 mpg compared to 31 before going to the higher revs. I am also riding solo, so am sure that ??? pounds less on the bike has some effect. The other spyder gets about 33 mpg on a consistent basis. Also, she does not shift as agressively as I do.
Opinions all over the place--so here is my .02.
Bob Denman
New member
Peel 'til she squeals!
SequiMike
New member
Shifting Behavior
I'm still new with the Can-Am but, based upon others' opinions, I try to keep the RPM's between 4,000 and 5,000. If I'm at a constant speed, and on a level or slightly downhill road, I will drop into 5th just above 50 and be ready to downshift if the need arrives. After years of riding my old Goldwing, where I tried to keep the RPM's between 2,000 and 3,000, that little Rotax still sounds like it's coming unwound at 5K. As I've aged over the years, I seem to be more of a "low RPM" kind of a guy more than ever, but understand the consequences of placing too much of a load on an engine. Now I need to work on bringing my RPM's up, and my BP down..... :sour:
My old Honda 750A has the right idea - one gear from standstill to 115 MPH! They used to refer to me as "that shiftless bastard" (lovingly - - I think).
I'm still new with the Can-Am but, based upon others' opinions, I try to keep the RPM's between 4,000 and 5,000. If I'm at a constant speed, and on a level or slightly downhill road, I will drop into 5th just above 50 and be ready to downshift if the need arrives. After years of riding my old Goldwing, where I tried to keep the RPM's between 2,000 and 3,000, that little Rotax still sounds like it's coming unwound at 5K. As I've aged over the years, I seem to be more of a "low RPM" kind of a guy more than ever, but understand the consequences of placing too much of a load on an engine. Now I need to work on bringing my RPM's up, and my BP down..... :sour:
My old Honda 750A has the right idea - one gear from standstill to 115 MPH! They used to refer to me as "that shiftless bastard" (lovingly - - I think).
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
I also had a Honda 750A--way back when. It was fun to just put it into drive and go. No other shifting whatsoever. I got lots of questions way back in 1976. Wish I still had that one, it was quite a motorcycle for its day.
SequiMike
New member
I bought mine new in 1978 (it's a '77 model) and still have it. I put it into storage in late '79 and there it stayed until 2005. By then the battery was long-gone and the front brake was frozen. It only has 11K miles on it, but sitting around for 25 years took its toll, so now it's a restoration project. Yes, it was fun to clunk it into D and just GO. That one had no lever on the left, and now I have a Can-Am with no lever on the right.
Illinois Boy
New member
I added this info the the "Do's and Don'ts" for clarification.:thumbup:
Although, I might argue a bit that lugging an engine (thus stressing its drivetrain) does not require the engine to vibrate or knock before damage or excessive wear from stress can occur. Continued high stress on a vehicle's drivetrain (including the engine) can definitely cause premature damage over time. (Bearings come to mind first.)
If someone is riding at too low of RPM's and applies throttle, their Spyder might not vibrate... but there is still unnecessary stress being delivered to the vehicle. Just my two-cents... Just don't ask me how I know.:shocked:
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
High stress is no more caused by low rpm operation (within reason) than it is caused by idling for a long time, or by operating near the redline for extended periods. The old days of pounding out babbit bearings or even bronze/lead plain bearings are gone on motorcycles. Modern motorcycle engines have ball and roller bearings, and are designed to operate over a wide range of rpm for extended periods. The Nicasil cylinders resist piston slap and scuffing that may have happened more readily in days gone by. Just because someone operates at 3,000 rpm, doesn't mean he is lugging his engine. He may well be killing the clutch on his SE, but to actually lug the engine takes more than just low to medium rpm operation...and to actually do damage when lugging an engine is much more difficult these days.
I agree
Don't get into 5th till at least 75 mph and I am still ages away from redline. Always have maximum control, always inside power band, always get over 30 mpg, always have fun, always have huge small on my face.
The same people asking for a sixth gear never even go over 85 mph. I can comfortably cruise at 85-90 1 up or 2 up without feeling like I need a 6th gear.
Don't get into 5th till at least 75 mph and I am still ages away from redline. Always have maximum control, always inside power band, always get over 30 mpg, always have fun, always have huge small on my face.
The same people asking for a sixth gear never even go over 85 mph. I can comfortably cruise at 85-90 1 up or 2 up without feeling like I need a 6th gear.
pickelhead
New member
I've been shifting by ear and by feel for as long as I can remember. The first vehicles I drove either didn't have a tachometer or were very inaccurate. I drove big rigs for years with diesel engines. Some you could lug (CAT, Cummings), and some you couldn't (the old Detroit diesels). Diesels inherently develop torque at lower RPMs than do gasoline engines. I guess I'm to old to change, but I haven't blown an engine yet. I guess there's always a first time.
By ear
I think the majority of us all shift by ear, but we still know how many rpm's and mph's the sounds represent. My Spyder does not even begin to sound ready for an up shift till around 6000 RPM sometimes 7,000 RPM and that is still 2,000 Revs per minute away from the redline.
I think the majority of us all shift by ear, but we still know how many rpm's and mph's the sounds represent. My Spyder does not even begin to sound ready for an up shift till around 6000 RPM sometimes 7,000 RPM and that is still 2,000 Revs per minute away from the redline.
Bob Denman
New member
:agree: These are not British sports cars from sixty years ago... Nor are they Lincoln V-12s...
And I did find myself against the 9000 rpm rev limiter today; slow-moving truck that tried to block me just kind of ticked me off, so 2nd and 3rd gears got to breathe some rarified air...
Illinois Boy
New member
I am not disagreeing that low RPM's or high RPM's alone will cause undue stress... I meant to say applying throttle while in too high a gear at too low of RPM can cause stress.
Your point is well taken...
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
:agree: Asking the engine to do a lot more in a short time is best done in the optimal torque/rpm range. These engines are a lot more durable and forgiving than those of yesteryear, though. They'll take a lot without damage.
BajaRon
Well-known member
Off subject but every time I see your avatar I think....
It amazes me that they cancel programs like this and replace it with the junk they are putting out now. I guess too few of us appreciate even a small margin of quality these days.
Back on subject - You'll burn more oil running higher RPM when you don't need to.
Running in the mountain twisties crank up the RPM, cruising down the Interstate, let it lope in 5th as long as you don't need to twist the throttle. If you do, 4th is waiting. It's when we get lazy and twist the throttle in 5th that things don't go so well.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Well put! We're gonna have to start calling you ReadersDigestRon.
Bob Denman
New member
:agree:
:2thumbs:
BajaRon
Well-known member
Well, I haven't been to Baja for many years, maybe it's time for a change!
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