Gary856
Are we having fun yet?
We all have random thoughts that may not warrant starting a new thread, but collectively they should be interesting to share and discuss.
So, why don't all street bikes come with wide-ratio gear box with a tall top gear for freeway cruising? If a bike could cruise in 6th gear under 60 mph, it's geared too low.
My '02 R1150GS had a tall, over-drive 6th gear, which was great on the freeway, (except its 1st gear could be lower for steep off road trails.) Compared to that, my '08 R1200GS's 6th was a lot shorter. It's torquey engine can easily pull 6th gear under 60mph, which means the engine is revving unnecessarily high (by 500 rpm or more) at 80 mph. I rode an '16 R1200GS Adventure and its 6th also felt too short on the freeway. Same with my '07 KTM 690SM, which limits its appeal on longer trips on the freeway. All these bikes could and should be geared 10-15% taller in 6th, while keeping the 1st gear low.
So, why don't all street bikes come with wide-ratio gear box with a tall top gear for freeway cruising? If a bike could cruise in 6th gear under 60 mph, it's geared too low.
My '02 R1150GS had a tall, over-drive 6th gear, which was great on the freeway, (except its 1st gear could be lower for steep off road trails.) Compared to that, my '08 R1200GS's 6th was a lot shorter. It's torquey engine can easily pull 6th gear under 60mph, which means the engine is revving unnecessarily high (by 500 rpm or more) at 80 mph. I rode an '16 R1200GS Adventure and its 6th also felt too short on the freeway. Same with my '07 KTM 690SM, which limits its appeal on longer trips on the freeway. All these bikes could and should be geared 10-15% taller in 6th, while keeping the 1st gear low.