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5 speed or 6 speed?



So I guess 6 speed makes for lower revs at top speeds but is there any
No. You could have 2 or 1000 gears and still have the same final
gearing ration. Gears help you get there, they dont define where
'there' is.

advantage of a 5 speed? Do 5 speeds pull harder at lower gears? OK I know
it's going to depend on each bikes actual gear ratios but I mean generally.
Why is it they even still make 5 speeds?
Some bikes don't need it. If you've got a bit fat spread of torque in
something like a big v-twin there's just no need for it. (Aka Harley, and
other Jap cruisers).
The only reason you more gears (6) than less gears (5) is because the
transition between gears is so you can accelerate faster. In most
situtions two identical machines, one with 5 and one with 6 gears,
that compete in a drag race will result in the 6 geared bike winning
as it can keep its engine closer to peak torque/power figures than a 5
geared bike. I"ve got a 6 gear bike with enormous torque, when
The exception that Paul didn't mention was where the gear changes take
up enough time that the time lost offsets the acceleration gained by
keeping the engine closer to peak torque/power. That's why drag bikes
tend to use air shifters which minimise change delay.
Hence why all GP bikes have only 2 gears. To compensate for all that
lost time.
or lock-up clutches.....

pootling along I'll happily go 1, 3, 6., if I've been forgetful I can
go 3,4,,6 but when in hoon mode I'll use all of them.

Cruisers don't NEED to have closer ratios for max accel, so they dont.
The more gears,the faster the bike.
My 6 speed bike is at least 60-70kmh faster than my 5 speed bike,which in
turn is over twice as fast as my 4 speed motorcycle.
i wonder whats wrong with my 21 speed MTB
Power to weight ratio ;-)
Probably faster than my 18 speed, on the other hand, my 12 speed is
faster than my 18.



Postman Pat