6th gear

[TallGear]

I also own a DL1000 VStrom.
It has 6 gears...the 6th being OverDrive.
The OD gear is nice on the freeway because it will cruise around 70mph at 3500-4000rpm, without breaking a sweat.

The first thing I noticed with me Sprint was no overdrive.
Even in 6th gear, it seems to be running pretty "tight" at 4000-5000rpm.
For a touring bike, I was expecting something similar to the VStrom.
In 6th, I find that I am always trying to shift up....looking for one more gear.

I guess I'm used the twin and will have to adjust to a higher rpm motor?
Just curious what other people think.

[MVP44]

The Sprint is a much different animal than the VStrom - these bikes like their RPMs higher in the range (more Sport than Touring if you will) The sweet spot on these bikes between 6.5 and 7.5k when running around the twisties and runs smoothly right around 4.5k at highway speeds. If you get into the 3k range these engines are not at their happiest - they will still pull from here, but much prefer the higher revs - Don't forget to ensure your rev limiter works every now and then These ladies do not like to be babied.

Twist it and enjoy!!!!!!

[H2Orat]

I find myself doing that on a fairly regular basis. I've also noticed that there's not much of a RPM drop when shifting into sixth from fifth, which probably explains my hunt for that elusive seventh gear! I would think that for those who dropped a tooth on their countersprocket, the problem would be even worse! Even though checking the tach has saved me from many extra shift attempts, I sometimes forget to do that and will catch myself subconsciously upshifting, based on the sound of the motor. I'm considering installing a digital gear indicator, but I haven't really looked into it yet...

Cheers!

[oldndumb]

Originally Posted by MVP44

The Sprint is a much different animal than the VStrom - these bikes like their RPMs higher in the range (more Sport than Touring if you will) The sweet spot on these bikes between 6.5 and 7.5k when running around the twisties and runs smoothly right around 4.5k at highway speeds. If you get into the 3k range these engines are not at their happiest - they will still pull from here, but much prefer the higher revs - Don't forget to ensure your rev limiter works every now and then These ladies do not like to be babied.

Twist it and enjoy!!!!!!

Thats it in a nutshell. Well said.:

[oldndumb]

Originally Posted by H2Orat

I find myself doing that on a fairly regular basis. I've also noticed that there's not much of a RPM drop when shifting into sixth from fifth, which probably explains my hunt for that elusive seventh gear! I would think that for those who dropped a tooth on their countersprocket, the problem would be even worse! Even though checking the tach has saved me from many extra shift attempts, I sometimes forget to do that and will catch myself subconsciously upshifting, based on the sound of the motor. I'm considering installing a digital gear indicator, but I haven't really looked into it yet...

Cheers!

Acumen

www.triumphrat.net/speed-triple-forum/72558-acumen-gear-indicator.html

[WhoMe]

I've been wondering for a number of years just what the manufacturers think people are doing with their 100hp+ bikes in 6th gear. I know with the Sprint that there's not enough difference between 5th and 6th that if I'm in a spot where I think I might need to rapidly accelerate out of the way, I'm not in 6th anyhow.

There's probably some mechanical reason that I don't understand why most any large displacement streetbike these days wouldn't have a nice tall 6th to be used for long-distance stretches of highway where bike & rider comfort are a stronger need than rapid acceleration...or is there?

[F4sSprintST]

Originally Posted by WhoMe

I've been wondering for a number of years just what the manufacturers think people are doing with their 100hp+ bikes in 6th gear.

I was trying to break my top speed of 147.3 mph today, but couldn't

[TallGear]

I was trying to break my top speed of 147.3 mph today, but couldn't

Just curious....how many rpm's did it take to get up to 147.3mph?

[F4sSprintST]

Originally Posted by TallGear

Just curious....how many rpm's did it take to get up to 147.3mph?

Basically, maxed out in 5th gear, shift to 6th, no real change. Doesn't acceleration, doesn't slow.


Now, I didn't hit the rev limiter in 5th, just basically ran out of umph

[PhxMan]

Was that 147.3 mph readout from the speedo, or GPS, or ?? Thx Phxman