GSX1400 Owners .org

General => Bike Chat => Topic started by: VladTepes on Friday, 08 September 2017, 04:39 PM

Title: How many gears is too many?
Post by: VladTepes on Friday, 08 September 2017, 04:39 PM

Yammie XJR  owners claim 5 is enough.
We all know 6 is a better number.


So is 14, do you think, sufficient?


and what if that were to deal with the POWER!!!!!! of a 50cc parallel twin?






Yep 50, that was not a  typo.


Quote from: Suzuki MotorcyclesBeen there, done that!


(https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fkickstart.bikeexif.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F07%2Fsuzuki-rk67.jpg&hash=873511efa2bb9fba0421cabd668474a00d99d7d5)






http://www.bikeexif.com/suzuki-rk67




So the question is..... Is this a "14" you'd like to own...?

Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 08 September 2017, 04:54 PM
Certainly is an amazing piece of engineering for sure, but it's way too small & I'm way too big for it.
I'd be the proverbial "gorilla f**king a football"  (acknowledgments to Rogues for the adage)
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Mick_J on Friday, 08 September 2017, 06:22 PM
A long time ago 3 gears was enough, then it was 4, then 5 now 6, fantic's had 7, my car has 7.  It will go on as long as there is space to shove them in or we all go electric and go back to 1.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: T 24 on Friday, 08 September 2017, 07:20 PM
Less torq in narrow area -> more gears is needed. More torq, less gears. Forget that emission nonsense.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Teufel on Friday, 08 September 2017, 10:56 PM
Or maybe 16.
How awesome is this?

At the end of 1967 Suzuki turns up with a sensation by presenting a brand new three cylinder, afraid of the possibility that Honda would bring out, as rumours had it, a three cylinder in 1968.

The RP68 was a very interesting machine, it has 2 lying and 1 standing water cooled cylinders, Behind the standing cylinder the waterpump installed driving off the gearbox. The bore and stroke were 28x 25mm. This little engine had rotary disc intakes, and was given a rev range and BHP up to 19 bhp at 20.000 rpm, good for some 200km/h. It had a power band of 500 revs and it needed 16 gears.
Description
Engine type: Liquid-cooled 49.87 cc 3 Cylinder in V
Triple rotating discs valves 2-stroke.
19.0bhp/ 19.000 rpm.
Bore x stroke: 3 x 28 x 25 mm
Carburetor type: 3 x Mikuni 20mm
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Top speed: 200 kph
Clutch type: Dry multiple plates
Transmission: 16 speed
Rotating drum type box straight cut gears
Tyres: 2.00-18 / 2.25-18
Brake type (front): 1 drum, 2 cam
Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Andre on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 03:16 AM
Quote from: mjgt on Friday, 08 September  2017, 06:22 PM
A long time ago 3 gears was enough, then it was 4, then 5 now 6, fantic's had 7, my car has 7.  It will go on as long as there is space to shove them in or we all go electric and go back to 1.

Our 14 would do ok with 3 gears  :grin:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 05:40 AM
I wonder how the RP68 would have gone with a CVT?  Have it get to the powerband & stay there using CVT.  Be lighter & less complicated. 200K is astonishing!  :notworthy:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Teufel on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 08:47 AM
Yes KC, it's insane.
I was so sad when all the new regulations came in.
I loved the insanity of the Honda 125 5 cylinder (FOUR stroke WTF) and the 125 V4 Suzuki.

CVT
Ha Ha. How much of the 19 hp do you think you'd lose?

Are you really a Maori God?
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Batkwaka on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 08:49 AM
I always thought 5 gears was enough on my 1100 Katana. Interestingly both the Katana and the 1400 have the same road speed in 5th gear.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 05:54 PM
Quote from: Teufel on Saturday, 09 September  2017, 08:47 AM
Yes KC, it's insane.
I was so sad when all the new regulations came in.
I loved the insanity of the Honda 125 5 cylinder (FOUR stroke WTF) and the 125 V4 Suzuki.

CVT
Ha Ha. How much of the 19 hp do you think you'd lose?

Are you really a Maori God?
No mate, I are a white boy n certainly no God.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Justforkiks on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 05:56 PM
I don't know? How lazy are you. :whatever:
I personally enjoy big torque of the 14 and shifting all the time on a long journey get real tiring.
I keep it in 5th and just play with the throttle  :8:
6th gear is used on the motorway.

Would I go CVT route. Errr no  that just feels like cheating in some way!!! :whatever:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 06:04 PM
It's awesome on the quad bike, full power n go!
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Saturday, 09 September 2017, 06:05 PM
Having said that, would I want the 14 to have CVT? No.  It was for the wee 50cc that had a power band of 500 rpm, just an idea.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 03:51 PM
I think 5 gears with the ratios a bit wider apart would have been plenty for the 14..
You could still retain the same ratio for 5th.. So revs would be the same at any given speed in top gear.
My Honda CB1300 had 5 gears but in that bikes case the top gear was too low (4000rpm at 70mph If I remember correctly).
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 03:58 PM
I think the 14's would be about the same (in top gear), 4000rpm would be around 120K or 70mph.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Mick_J on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 05:50 PM
Closer to 85 mph @ 4000 rpm Col.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 05:55 PM
No wonder I get tickets!
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 06:00 PM
Sounds better to me, 70mph is 112kph.
I jump from 5 speed bikes FJR and Katana and it doesn't worry me, they are revving higher because you lookk at the rev counter but they are also giving away a few cubes, but as for performance the FJR 2002 goes OK.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 21 September 2017, 06:04 PM
Yeah, it's the MPH thing. 112k & reckon I'd be doing about 3400-3500
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 12:51 PM
Speedo or GPS ;)
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Sweaty on Friday, 22 September 2017, 01:44 PM
I'm sure mine is 100 kph @ 3000 & 120 kph @ 3500 on the Speedo.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Kiwifruit on Friday, 22 September 2017, 03:22 PM
Sounds about right Sweaty......... but is 200kph @ 6000 rpm, guess it should be.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:10 PM
Sweaty, set you phone up so it's showing GPS & have a ride. Think you'll find your actual speed on the GPS at 3000 is probably closer to 94-95. I've got a speedo healer thingy hooked in, had to adjust mine by 6.5% from memory, was a while ago.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:14 PM
Sound right to me as well. I got mine revving to 8 in top and I'm sure it was reading 266 k's on speedo, it was a very bumpy road and my vision was a wee bit blurred. Just glad I had the three pots up front to slow me down for the hairpin.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:20 PM
266!!   Jeez Irish -  oh of course, that would have been on a closed circuit race track, silly me.  :facepalm:

But anyway, pretty sure they top out (std ones) at 240, or so I've heard.  :mwink:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:40 PM
No Col it wasn't on the track and it wasn't standard, I had a Staintune pipe on it, that's why I took it off.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: T 24 on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:40 PM
I tried once (on closed track of course), speedo showed over 260, but when I checked speed from gps, it was "only" 242kmh.
Engine was pulling hard, but it was enough for me, on that bumpy "track".
That bike (14) is not made to those speeds. Scary experience.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:44 PM
Agreed T24, it's a little bit loopy doing speeds like that on a 14, it's a good bike for sure, but for high speed there are better options imo.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:51 PM
Givi screen, top box, panniers all matching of coarse, easy as.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:54 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September  2017, 04:44 PM
Agreed T24, it's a little bit loopy doing speeds like that on a 14, it's a good bike for sure, but for high speed there are better options imo.
You where only doing 2 klms over what it is supposed to be capable of, must have had a tail wind ;)
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September 2017, 04:58 PM
Well I guess if they were a matching set, then it would help the slipstream effect, yeah?
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Kiwifruit on Friday, 22 September 2017, 06:06 PM
Does it help the aerodynamics to have an arse the same width as the panniers ??
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September 2017, 06:46 PM
Why yes, yes it does! The drag co-efficient would be greatly reduced if that were the case.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: grog on Friday, 22 September 2017, 07:50 PM
couple of years ago i posted about my throttle stuck, i blamed the audi tt. stupid bike just kept going faster. was somewhere up near ive not gone lately. we both ended up at local bottle shop. shook hands. he said, fast bike. i said fast car. was a fun ride for an old bloke. think my speedo needle is still bent.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September 2017, 08:47 PM
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Friday, 22 September  2017, 06:06 PM
Does it help the aerodynamics to have an arse the same width as the panniers ??
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September  2017, 06:46 PM
Why yes, yes it does! The drag co-efficient would be greatly reduced if that were the case.
I usually only put them on when the missus is on board. I'll ask her what she thinks about the aerodynamics and drag co-eff.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Kiwifruit on Friday, 22 September 2017, 11:44 PM
No no no.....I'm sure she barely affects the power to weight ratio.  :worshippy:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Batkwaka on Saturday, 23 September 2017, 08:10 AM
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Friday, 22 September  2017, 08:47 PM
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Friday, 22 September  2017, 06:06 PM
Does it help the aerodynamics to have an arse the same width as the panniers ??
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 22 September  2017, 06:46 PM
Why yes, yes it does! The drag co-efficient would be greatly reduced if that were the case.
I usually only put them on when the missus is on board. I'll ask her what she thinks about the aerodynamics and drag co-eff.
Hi Irish, which hospital are you planning on staying at, might come visit?
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Irish in Oz on Sunday, 24 September 2017, 12:56 PM
Everthing is fine I took this pic of her at the IOM, bottom of Bray Hill.
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: Speedy1959 on Sunday, 24 September 2017, 02:49 PM
Looks bloody good to me !!
:imrgreen:
Title: Re: How many gears is too many?
Post by: VladTepes on Saturday, 30 September 2017, 10:49 AM
I know a 1400 can do 205ish indicated 2 up with luggage before the pilots survival instincts kick in.