50 mph 5th gear roll on 08 SM vs 09 SE

[Dudley]

I don't have one, so I can't say with certainty, but it should not. It downshifts only when the rpm drops low enough. Nailing it in any gear will not reduce the rpm unless the Spyder bogs. There is no "kick-down" like with an automatic trans.

The SE5 does not downshift on it's own unless the RPMs get to 2500. Also, if I may input, 50 MPH in 5th gear is way to high-geared for the Rotax at that speed. If I had punched my SE5 (while I still had it) at that speed and RPM I can't say what would have happened because I never did it. My practice for 5th gear operation was 60+ MPH and intending to go faster. If we were sight seeing on country roads, I traveled in 4th gear, 4000 to 5000 RPM, 45 to 60 MPH.

 

[woodchuck]

5th gear

50 mph is way to slow for 5th gear on a SM5. My SM5 boggs bad when going too slow in that high of a gear.

A lot of you will probably call me a liar after you read this but i don't care.
I can take my :spyder2: down to 35 or 40 MPH in 5th gear with me and my wife on the:spyder2: and it will pull both of us no problem up to speed of 65 or higher if I :dontknow:want it to and no hesatition or vibrations. The only thing I did was put on one of those 30 tooth sprockets from Mel's garage. A happy :spyder2: lover.

 

[wyliec]

A lot of you will probably call me a liar after you read this but i don't care.
I can take my :spyder2: down to 35 or 40 MPH in 5th gear with me and my wife on the:spyder2: and it will pull both of us no problem up to speed of 65 or higher if I :dontknow:want it to and no hesatition or vibrations. The only thing I did was put on one of those 30 tooth sprockets from Mel's garage. A happy :spyder2: lover.

You're not saying that if you punch it at 35 mph in 5th vs 60 mph in 5th you get the same acceleration, are you? I'm talking your spyder, not anyone else's.

 

[Dudley]

A lot of you will probably call me a liar after you read this but i don't care.

I can't understand why you come on so strong. If you can do this, good for you. I don't think anyone would call you a liar. That's not the purpose of this forum. But what little I know about mechanics, if you run an engine in a gear or gears too high for it's load, you will eventually damage it.

 

[woodchuck]

fifth gear

You're not saying that if you punch it at 35 mph in 5th vs 60 mph in 5th you get the same acceleration, are you? I'm talking your spyder, not anyone else's.

I am not saying that I get the same acceleration at 35 as I would at 60. granted, it will not take off like a jet but it will pull no problem.
I read this forum a lot and get some good ideas from you

 

[Firefly]

50 mph is way to slow for 5th gear on a SM5. My SM5 boggs bad when going too slow in that high of a gear.

:agree:

50 mph or less in 5th is WAY too low RPMs for this bike.

35 - 40 mph in 5th and you're lugging - very bad for your engine.

Heck--- you can hit 52mph in 1st gear. I'm typically in 3rd and you have tons of power when you roll to WOT. Would feel like a dog if you tried this in 5th for sure.

 

[krb1945]

Good answers one and all.

I think I found part the problem... right side Y gasket leaking and my drive belt is snug against the inner sprocket flange. This may be sapping some of the power too. Her drive belt is off the flange just enough you can see the inner side of the gear teeth.

Also both of us have large windshields, her's is a little large though.

SE5 does not downshift when punched.

I also agree with the extra 60 lbs slowing me down.

And some machines do run much stronger than like machines. BajaRon, I also had a GL1100 than was far superior than any other wing I've ever owned.

I'll fix both y gaskets next week and then we'll try it again. If she dusts me again... I'll have to back up and punt. Ken krb1945

 

[wyliec]

I've heard ice cream from Bruester's slows down reaction time. Next run, 1 scoop for you and 3 for the wife.

By the way, when you're at 50 mph in 5th what rpm are you both at?

 

[SpyderWolf]

Is the SE5 yellow? If so, then that helps confirm those are the fastest Spyders from the factory. :roflblack:

 

[krb1945]

Her SE5 is red... I've always heard red is faster... mine is yellow

In 5th gear at 50 my SM is at 3900 and the SE is 4 even. That minor difference could be the way the cluster is calibrated... I think. I'll verify those numbers again tomorrow. My remember'er doesn't work as well as it use to.

Firefly is absolutely correct... 50 is too low for 5th... we did this as a test. Usually at 50 I'm in 4th and shift to 5th at 60 to 65.

It must be the pecans or chocolate chunks that slows reaction time.... It sure is good though.

After I change the gaskets and get that darn belt off the inner flange ... we'll test them again. Have a great weekend folks and please ride 'em safely! Ken krb1945

 

[SpyderWolf]

Her SE5 is red... I've always heard red is faster... mine is yellow

In 5th gear at 50 my SM is at 3900 and the SE is 4 even. That minor difference could be the way the cluster is calibrated... I think. I'll verify those numbers again tomorrow. My remember'er doesn't work as well as it use to.

Firefly is absolutely correct... 50 is too low for 5th... we did this as a test. Usually at 50 I'm in 4th and shift to 5th at 60 to 65.

It must be the pecans or chocolate chunks that slows reaction time.... It sure is good though.

After I change the gaskets and get that darn belt off the inner flange ... we'll test them again. Have a great weekend folks and please ride 'em safely! Ken krb1945

It has to be the pecans slowing you down, because I like chocolate a whole lot! :roflblack:

 

[Raptor]

In 5th gear at 50 my SM is at 3900 and the SE is 4 even. That minor difference could be the way the cluster is calibrated... I think.

Firefly is absolutely correct... 50 is too low for 5th... we did this as a test. Usually at 50 I'm in 4th and shift to 5th at 60 to 65.

I think it's in the clusterung too. And 50 is way too low for 5th. I'm usually up in the 70s before going to 5th. This motor loves bein in that 6000-ish rpm range. It's a good spot in the band to be also. At least for me.

 

[BajaRon]

Switch vehicles and try again. That's what makes the most sense. If it is the weight it will show that.
It may not totally switch the results because there may be other reasons as well that one is faster than the other in your experiment, but changing one variable is good science...

When I rode dirt bikes a buddy an I both had 1976 Can-Am 250 MX bikes. He raced, I didn't. He would get me about a bike length out of the hole on his bike, then we'd swap and he'd do the same thing again on my bike.

He weighed 35 lbs more than me so once we got on top of the sand at higher speeds I'd make up the difference and start to pass him.

There is nothing worse than getting beat by your own bike with someone else riding it.

 

[Riversong]

Where's Bruesters??

I frequent South Georgia and love Ice Cream so tell be where?? Gosh I wonder if we have some Blue Bell in the freezer!

 

[krb1945]

Riversong...

In Valdosta... stop by 5840 Old US 41 north, Hahira GA and we'll run up there and pig out. They have the best there is in the USA. Ken krb1945