Which gear for 60mph?

[upnorthbacon]

I currently own a sportbike and starting my research into what bike I'm going to buy next year. I borrowed my friends '06 rocket over a weekend and put 350 miles on it. What a great ride it was! Anyway, I mentioned to him in fifth gear at around 60mph it seemed to have more vibration almost felt like it was lugging. On the expressway I noticed 5th gear smoothed out at the higher speeds and felt better. To me 4th gear almost felt smoother and better for 60mph? So that got us wondering if you guys run 4th gear for everything and just use 5th for the highway?

 

[saboteur]

Not the gear, but the rpm's. Mine has a buzz around 2000 that fades quickly on either side. But nope, fifth is fine from 40-100+mph

 

[Evil Mitch]

yep im always still in 4th at 60mph im not even considering 5th yet i usually use fourth most of the time and 5th as a highway gear i find my bike likes fith at around 75mph when im below that im in 4th
but i guess it depends on your riding style

 

[Evil Mitch]

Not the gear, but the rpm's. Mine has a buzz around 2000 that fades quickly on either side. But nope, fifth is fine from 40-100+mph

40mph in fifth really i wouldnt even be in 4th its not good for the engine to be in too higher gear making it labour
I doubt you would have much torque in that gear at that speed

 

[upnorthbacon]

That's what "felt" right to me when I borrowed it too. Anyone experiment if 4th or 5th is better on fuel at 60mph? I've heard lugging can be just as bad as higher rpms on fuel mileage?

 

[saboteur]

40mph in fifth really i wouldnt even be in 4th its not good for the engine to be in too higher gear making it labour
I doubt you would have much torque in that gear at that speed

Not lugging, but if I find myself slowed down that much I often just let it go. Speed increase is a smooth affair from that speed in 5th, but I'm not actually getting on the throttle much. 40 mph is near the minimum limit in top gear.

60mph in 5th is a tad over 2k rpm? Yup, 4th should drink more fuel at that speed.

 

[HansO]

Not lugging, but if I find myself slowed down that much I often just let it go. Speed increase is a smooth affair from that speed in 5th, but I'm not actually getting on the throttle much. 40 mph is near the minimum limit in top gear.

60mph in 5th is a tad over 2k rpm? Yup, 4th should drink more fuel at that speed.

Maybe it's a state of tune thing but when I first got mine, it would shudder and generally act like a pig. Since then I have removed secondary's put on triple K&N's staintunes and Sam's header also aTuneECU tune and at every stage found the bike got smoother and smoother 21,000klm's later and I can go down to 40klm (25mph) in top and open it up it just pulls smoothly. My conclusion is that the Rocket is so strangled in it's standard form, it needs to be allowed to breathe

 

[Evil Mitch]

I also have the triple k&N filters secondaries removed GIpro Tune ecu tune ect ect
but i have never really tried riding it at that speed in that gear since the mod.
I only ever did when the bike was new and i was still getting familier with the beast.
I like to use engine braking alot also so i tend to keep her revs up a little im always north of 2500rpm usually between that and 3000 until im getting on the throttle of course then i couldnt tell ya lol cos im looking where the brutal beast is launching not at my rpm

but yeah would agree with hanso on the smooth delivery with the mods
not sure about fuel consumption not something im gonna test or concerned with because i didnt buy a 2300cc machine to be economical just for the fun factor and thats all. I can tell you that i get 280k before my fuel light comes on but im not sure how far i can get after that as i always fill up as soon as i can after that im guessing about another 70k roughly. Im sure others get a better distance than that and some worse but it has alot to do with the pilot and if they just cruise everywhere or launch i think. I only have one point left on my licence so ill probably get some good fuel economy for a while from now on
Regards Mitch

 

[xhdskip]

I really don't use the speedometer much.
I use the tach.
If it's at or below 2,000, I downshift,
if it's at or above 5,000, I shift up.
80MPH is at 3,200RPM with a 225X55 car tire in fifth.
Gas mileage?
Who cares?
Ran with a busa on the way home just now.
One of my oldest friends son just got another one,
and was headed home to his moms house,
I tagged along at 100+
Had a blast, way different than riding with my harley buddies at 60-65...

 

[HellFire]

That's the cool thing about a Rocket ... 5th gear works for 40mph to 150mph.