Does anyone use 5th gear?

[BykBoy]

When upshifting, I spend very little time in 5th gear. I alwyas bump up right into 6th. When down shifting, I always double down to 4th to feel any impact on deceleration. I almost never find myself riding in 5th gear. Even when riding the twisties in WV... I am eather in 4th or 6th. What about you?



I wish Triumph would have set 6th gear with a highr ratio. That way the bike have better fuel milage and a 5th gear I would actually use...

[ChrisN]

I generally use 5th on the way up but never on the way down. Always double down to 4th. I think 6th should be a higher gear for motorway-type use only.



I also think 1st is a little high too. Some say my sports can tuning is responsible for it feeling higher than standard - I don't know? But I'd rather drop the clutch and get away with a quick change up to second.

[Foxy]

When I first got the Tiger I wasn't too sure about the gear ratios, until I got used to the power characteristics. For most of my riding I would now agree that sixth feels too low, and could be a useful overdrive gear. I also wouldn't mind first being a little lower, not that I ever get problems away from the lights but I didn't realise how awkward tackling a grassy slope with luggage would be with stock gearing.

[Capbuster]

Amen Gentlemen!



     I feel the same way you guys do about transmission ratios in the Tiger.  6th gear is useless.  Only thing I know to do is gear up to the 19T motor sprocket and live with it!



                                           Ride it like ya stole it!

                                                    Capbuster

[ratpackleader]

:?

I know its a long ways back when you last posted this thread, but after many miles on my 05 tiger i wonder why we have 6th gear at all. Lets face it if you ride the bike within the user power band of between 4 and 6500 revs in 4th gear your in complete control for fast acceleration and engine braking, and at speeds on the permitted legal limits and more, Which begs the question is 6th gear just fashionable as everyone else has 6. Now the engine revs to 9k ish and thats about 110mph on current gear ratios in 5th so with a little tweaking at the factory 6th could become redundant. Phew, got that off me chest.

[greg]

I think 5th is completely useless, simply never use it. 6th is fine for motorways. It's a fashion thing having 6 gears.

[ratpackleader]

:?

Hi Greg

I think you have missed my point. If 5th is useless and you never use it then mathematically if you remove 5th and you use 6th only you have a 5 speed box. Or have i missed the thread/?

[Sofalofa2005]

The redline may be at 9,500, but don't you think it's more relaxing when the motor's spinning low on a long run with constant throttle?. Doing 85mph on the motorway, the motor's at almost 6,000 rpm... I'd prefer it spinning at 4,500rpm etc

[ratpackleader]

:)

Hi Sofalofa

Fair play to you all. We all have our own ideas but its good to share them as we would never get any where if we all stayed in low gear.

[greg]

:?

Hi Greg

I think you have missed my point. If 5th is useless and you never use it then mathematically if you remove 5th and you use 6th only you have a 5 speed box. Or have i missed the thread/?

Ah I see, that is what the Doctor meant by attention deficit disorder!

[greg]

:?

Hi Greg

I think you have missed my point. If 5th is useless and you never use it then mathematically if you remove 5th and you use 6th only you have a 5 speed box. Or have i missed the thread/?

Ah I see, that is what the Doctor meant by attention deficit disorder!

[Patrick the Scot]

Fashionable or not, the 6th gear ratio is real handy on the super-slab at about 120 out in the desert.

[steve2047]

Changed the front sprocket to 19t as my 50 mile daily commute is 95% m/way standard roads. Extra 10 miles to the tank & power in 6th between 80 & 100 is superb. 70mph = 4400rpm in 6th

[Sofalofa2005]

steve, exactly a 50 mile a day motorway trip for me too... Will consider doing this, but doesn't changing sprocket sizes mess up the speedo/mileometer readings etc?

[ChrisN]

but doesn't changing sprocket sizes mess up the speedo/mileometer readings etc?

No. The speedo/mileometer is connected to the front wheel and has nothing to do with the gearbox or rear wheel drive.