We don’t need no stinking 6th gear in the FJR

[Slardy]

OK, folks,

I have some interesting information for you. Some of you may remember in the past there was quite a bit of chatter on the FJR forums concerning the need for a 6th gear on the FJR: an overdrive gear. We all looked at the new Concours that had 6 gears and wished we had 6 too. Well, my son bought a new K1300GT recently and after riding it a few times, I figured out what was puzzling me about the contrast in performance between it and my FJR.

My 2007 FJR, in 4th gear at 3000 rpm, is producing 50 mph. The K1300GT in 6th gear is turning the same 3000 rpms as my FJR in 4th! Yeah, you heard me. We don’t need no stinking 6th gear in the FJR. We already have the lowest reving bike of the 3 major sport-touring brands.

After I took the K1300Gt for a 20 minute test ride, I told my son that the BMW is crazy-fast. And now I know why it felt that way. After starting out and shifting to 3rd or 4th, the BMW felt like it had much greater acceleration capability compared to the FJR. Well, I was driving the BMW like I would the FJR so we all know what 3 and 4 gear feels like. BUT, I thought the BMW was in a comparable gear. It was not! All the BMW gears are turning many more revs than the FJR. So when I thought the BMW was in 4th (the FJR we are all used to on the FJR) it was in reality in the FJR 3 and when the BMW was in 5th, it was still like the FJR in 3rd. Only when the BMW got into 6th did it have the same gear ratio as the FJR in 4th!

I just saw a 60 to 80 mph roll-on comparison of the K1300GT, the Concours and the FJR. Here are the figures:

BMW: 3.10 seconds

Concours: 4.28 seconds

Yamaha: 3.73 seconds

Folks, how close to the BMW’s roll-on time would the FJR be, IF IT WERE IN 4TH GEAR?

Comments, please?

Slardy

 

[SkooterG]

I've always maintained that the FJR does not need a 6th gear.

What it needs is a 7th gear.

 

[happyPuppy]

I agree , anything less than 1:1 is overdrive. Six gears may allow for better spacing , but it looks like Yamaha did a pretty good job with 5.

 

[Hudson]

I differ: many times I've clicked up to get into the phantom 6th gear, usually while cruising on slabs during longer rides

I wouldn't change the first five gears, but I would add an overdrive 6th to lower the RPM's at highway speeds.

 

[r1byker]

I differ: many times I've clicked up to get into the phantom 6th gear, usually while cruising on slabs during longer rides
I wouldn't change the first five gears, but I would add an overdrive 6th to lower the RPM's at highway speeds.

What he said.

 

[gregory]

Afterburner would be nice

 

[DaveFJR]

Good info on the K bike gear ratios. I don't want/need another overdrive gear but a six speed would allow shorter ratios for stronger acceleration.

 

[Silverbear]

I differ: many times I've clicked up to get into the phantom 6th gear, usually while cruising on slabs during longer rides
I wouldn't change the first five gears, but I would add an overdrive 6th to lower the RPM's at highway speeds.

+1. IMHO the FJR has enough torque to comfortably handle one more gear on TOP OF the fifth we currently have. It would be nice to see a sleepy 2700 RPM cruising at 65, and since most of the torque is available at that RPM, we wouldn't even have to shift down to make a quick pass at highway speeds.

Silverbear

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Afterburner would be nice

And..., an Oscillating Over-thruster...!

 

[FJRay]

Here we go again. Pull up a chair and get the popcorn going. :clapping:

 

[FJRBluesman]

I'll take 6th gear to-go please.

Or better yet, maybe like a mountain bike, I'll take 21 gears.

 

[08FJR4ME]

What's wrong with this picture?

Kid: BMW K1300GT (new!)

Pops: 2007 FJR

 

[Bugnatr]

Wish he was my kid, I'd like to ride the Beemer

 

[TruWrecks]

Maybe Pop's kid is over 20 and making his own money?

My Busa is turning 3,800 going 65 in 6th. My FJR is turning 3,300 at 65 in 5th.

6th gear conclusion:

Pros: More usable torque and lower RPMs at cruising speeds.

Cons: More shifting, and shifting more often. Heavier transmission with more points of failure. Major redesign.

As far as the mileage concern goes, My FJR and Busa get about the same mileage for freeway riding. Both are in the 38-42 MPG range. Not bad since the FJR is almost 200 lbs heavier and not as aerodynamic as the Busa. I think Yamaha did a pretty damn good job on the FJR.

 

[WBill]

C'mon.

My Gen I spins 3K at 50 mph in fifth gear. [That's how I know I'm in fifth.] 4k at seventy mph is where the big torque lives. Still, I've never felt the need for an extra gear. Heck, the fjr redline is 9K. It is perfectly comfortable at 4k rpm's, and the drive train is designed to handle the parameters. Much more, and I start looking for leo's to spoil my day.

Old fashioned motorcycles may run best at three two or three K, but the feej is a new era moto. Vis a vis the BMW K bike, We're splitting hairs, when one considers the whole picture of riding 400 miles, or so, in a day.

There are a few things I would like Yamaha to do to upgrade the FJR, but an extra gear is not one of them. WBill

 

[beemerdons]

I'm throwing my vote in with gregory, charismaticmegafauna and FJRay; maybe even in with SkooterG. Afterburner - Damn straight, Yamaha should have brought this out years ago: Check! Oscillating Over-thruster - Way past due and truly essential: Check! How in the hell did Yamaha fail to install a factory Smuggler with a built in popcorn maker: Double Check!

Rarely agree with SkooterG, in fact I've pledged to avoid that unpleasantry at all costs, but I do concede that the FJR does need a 7th gear. But after owning Miss Lucy Liu for seven years and 40K miles, my sweetie FJR does not need a 6th gear!

 

[Bugnatr]

Reason for 6th gear? Nevada

 

[bikerkash]

The 08 GT will smoke the FJR and the 09 GT is even quicker. The 08 BMW GT also gets better mileage. Beside the GT having more HP, I believe the 6 speed also has a big effect on these issues as the RPM do not drop as much when you change gears. While the FJR is an excellent bike it is beginning to show it's age in the high tech world. Yamaha really needs to do an update on the FJR to keep it as the best sports touring bike on the planet.

 

[UselessPickles]

I just saw a 60 to 80 mph roll-on comparison of the K1300GT, the Concours and the FJR. Here are the figures:
BMW: 3.10 seconds

Concours: 4.28 seconds

Yamaha: 3.73 seconds

Folks, how close to the BMW’s roll-on time would the FJR be, IF IT WERE IN 4TH GEAR?

Comments, please?

Slardy

With my side cases off and my stock windshield lowered, my 5th gear 60-80 time is 3.0s.

With my side cases AND top case on and my VStream windshield raised, it slows down to 3.5s.