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

[High Desert Rider]

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.

Sounds like a player hater to me...

I bet you were upset when Jesse James broke the Beemer land speed record with his Hydrogen powered Chevy. :good:

 

[johnny80s]

I'll take 6th gear to-go please.
Or better yet, maybe like a mountain bike, I'll take 21 gears.

I have the same but with fries.

 

[user 213]

With the exception of Bugnatr, the rest of you 6th gear wanters are a bunch of sissies!

That's right, you heard me. Before you go typing a response, I double dog dare you to actually use the rest of the rpms available to you. The red line isn't the rest, the fuel cut is. Spend some time cruising at 8k and above, then come back and whine you want a 6th gear. You don't need 5th, 4th or most of 3rd.

 

[UselessPickles]

Spend some time cruising at 8k and above, then come back and whine you want a 6th gear. You don't need 5th, 4th or most of 3rd.

You don't really need any of 3rd gear. I have cruised down the freeway at 70mph in 2nd gear just for the fun of it. It makes for some good roll-on passing power, and will take you up to about 90mph

 

[user 213]

You don't really need any of 3rd gear. I have cruised down the freeway at 70mph in 2nd gear just for the fun of it. It makes for some good roll-on passing power, and will take you up to about 90mph

There you go. Just be careful about surface conditions and cold tires. V65 has a nice thread explaining why. :dribble:

 

[Rolavine]

FJR 5th about the same RPM as K bikes 6th, OK!

But the K1300GT has a redline 1500 rpm up from the FJR to 10,500, and that K bike won't make peak power until 9500, the FJR's redline.

IMHO, your attempt to show that the FJR does not need a 6th gear based on comparison to the K bike, shows that the FJR does need a 6th gear.

 

[YAM TOM]

Previous bike was a six speed and i really miss it. I think with a six speed the gears are closer togeather and you get better throttle responce. 6TH Overdrive would be nice maybe it would get rid of that dam vibration at highway speeds

 

[roger dodger]

My C-10 Concours had a 'close ratio' 6-speed tranny and all I ever did was shift. To get to the store was 5 shifts EVERY light. It may be best for keeping in the "power-zone', but is a terrible nuisance when the FJR just HAULS ASS @ every point above 2k rpm. I like a torquey bike w/ 5 speeds. All 3 in the stable feel smoother w/ 5 vs. 6 speeds. Lastly, The Connie was turning 4k @65, the FJR is turning 4k @70!

 

[drboblj]

Am I missing something here? What's the downside of having a 6th gear for eating up highway miles? The first five gears don't have to be "close ratio" to accommodate a sixth gear. I think they're pretty good as is: ninety in second is certainly not "short" , but not once have I said to myself "Damn, this bike's not quick enough." I have, however, thought that it's a bit thirsty. Really, should this bike get 10-12 MPG LESS than my car ? ( Of course, it's ten times more fun!)

 

[madmike2]

Of course, everyone here already recognizes that the FJR 5th gear IS an overdrive, right?

I assume those who want a 6th gear want a "super-overdrive" 6th gear. Why not have a different set of final drive gears made? The engine certainly has enough torque to handle an increase.

The other assumption is that everyone has accepted that it would take a transmission re-design to accommodate another gear.

As for hunting for the "phantom" top gear, I used to do the same with my C-10 Connie. (Note: I also hated "rowing" through the gears in town!) Just a bad habit from wanting to go even faster at the same RPM. I've also done it on my FJR and found I was running along at "commute speed" (4500 rpms) in 4th gear. I kind of surprised myself when there WAS another gear. Like I said....the habit of wanting "more".

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I assume those who want a 6th gear want a "super-overdrive" 6th gear. Why not have a different set of final drive gears made? The engine certainly has enough torque to handle an increase.

What is the problem...? What's wrong with the FJR's gearing -- as it is?

Ya know, Honda went through this with the 1100/1200cc GoldWing -- changing rear-drive gear ratios to satisfy customer wants for mileage/power/?. They went back and forth and probably only satisfied a few....?

I was once replacing a broken tach cable on a 500cc Honda Silverwing (a noted, and disliked - for, 'revver') in a Daytona Fla. Honda store parking lot for and old guy (not the easiest job -- they're fitted to the cam-shaft/fan drive, and kinda hard to get to). When another old guy came by to have a look-see -- and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The first old guy (who owned the bike) replied, "Why not?"

The other guy said, "All having that tach working will do is slow you down...!"

Great response -- I thought. Just ride the bike -- some (tend to) get 'hung-up' on numbers....(imho). :blink:

 

[Wanderer]

The only time I've ever wished for a 6th gear was on I-40/I-10 where I've got the throttle lock set near 100mph and the gas mileage is crappy. Sure, I'd love to kick it up another notch and get back to to the 50mpg I enjoy at the posted speed limit but 35mpg is just the price to pay. After about 80mph the fuel economy goes down pretty steadily, but c'mon...

Adding a 6th gear to get to 3k rpm/80mph seems silly to me... How often would you really use that gear?

 

[bigjimbiker]

Comments, please?
Slardy

I wouldn't mind another gear but it would be REVERSE!

 

[Pepperell]

Actually, you could probably get rid of 2 & 4 and only drop a second or two in the quarter mile with the remaining 1, 3 and 5!!

Just sayin'...

 

[happyPuppy]

Of course, everyone here already recognizes that the FJR 5th gear IS an overdrive, right?
I assume those who want a 6th gear want a "super-overdrive" 6th gear. Why not have a different set of final drive gears made? The engine certainly has enough torque to handle an increase.

The other assumption is that everyone has accepted that it would take a transmission re-design to accommodate another gear.

As for hunting for the "phantom" top gear, I used to do the same with my C-10 Connie. (Note: I also hated "rowing" through the gears in town!) Just a bad habit from wanting to go even faster at the same RPM. I've also done it on my FJR and found I was running along at "commute speed" (4500 rpms) in 4th gear. I kind of surprised myself when there WAS another gear. Like I said....the habit of wanting "more".

I agree, I do not want to be in a tall overdrive 6th, and have to get out of the way quick and have nothing without dropping a gear , that takes seconds I may need. 5th still has guts to move fairly well. I really like the current gearing, I do 3500 at around 60 in 5th. Easy on the engine , and to cruise on the slab when I have too.

 

[Art FJR]

I would vote for a taller 5th. Just a little.

If you are in 5th, you aren't really having any fun anyway. Perhaps it would make the mileage better at highway speeds. Just don't mess with the first four.

Art

 

[bigjimbiker]

I would vote for a taller 5th. Just a little.
If you are in 5th, you aren't really having any fun anyway. Perhaps it would make the mileage better at highway speeds. Just don't mess with the first four.

Art

I agree, Art.

I don't shift into 5th (overdrive) unless I'm on the Interstate.

If I was worried about mileage I'd be on a Vespa!

bigjimbiker