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Road speed to gear ratio

8K views 30 replies 17 participants last post by  giturgun 
#1 ·
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Just wondering what is correct speed for each gear on an 1800 don't have a handbook, it's just to settle a difference of opinion with another rider. Would like to know what it says in the handbook ,
 
#2 ·
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Exactly what is it you are looking for?
Proper speed to up shift/down shift?
Top speed in each gear?
 
#4 ·
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Surely like any vehicle it depends on the road conditions, driving one up or two up, towing the trailer, no trailer, are you going up hill, down hill on the flat, short shifting, medium shifting or giving it the full beans mode. I usually do all modes inmost vehicles I drive from bikes to cars to lorrys (Trucks) in American. The main point surely is to drive smoothly. The machinery & passengers will like youmore.



Regards, Tony.
 
#5 ·
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Yea thanks for that but I understand that , I was just wondering what Honda advises about speeds for the different gears . Normally it's written in the handbook I just don't have the hand book . It was based on a conversation I had with another winger who was insisting that you should never go over 2500 rpm in any gear. So he gets into top gear as soon as possible and for the most part leaves it in overdrive or fourth gear and let's the engine just pull along at low speeds. Says the engine is well able for it so no need to keep changing gear all the time , as I do. maybe he is right but I seem to do the opposite and on some bends might be down in second with the rpm at about 3000.
 
#6 ·
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I don't have a 1800 or a manual for one. But I never look at the tack for shifting on any of my wing's. I do it purely by sound and. feel. and some days I feel sporty and other days im laid back and shift lower rpm. I have only ridden a 1800 a cpl times but it had tons of power down low so it probly really doesn’t matter. In my mind it would be harder on an engine to run at lower rpm than higher rpm. to a point
wilf
 
#8 ·
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heartofgold wrote:
It was based on a conversation I had with another winger who was insisting that you should never go over 2500 rpm in any gear. So he gets into top gear as soon as possible and for the most part leaves it in overdrive or fourth gear and let's the engine just pull along at low speeds. .....
You know, not enjoying the engine is almost a crime.

That 1800 is like a turbine above 4K RPM.

As far as "recommended speeds" for each gear, I'm familiar with all the owners manuals of each model, and have never seen a chart.

The 2500 RPM guy may have come from "American V-twin" cruisers. :?
 
#9 ·
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heartofgold wrote:
..never go over 2500 rpm in any gear.

Crazy-Talk, ..pure and simple.
 
#10 ·
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I looked it up, never would have thought it. Honda recommends this.

1st to 2nd 12 mph (20kph)
2nd to 3rd 19mph (30kph)
3rd to 4th 25mph (40kph)
4th to OD 31mph (50kph)

Sometimes I run mine down to 30mph in 5th but that is just easing along on flat ground. It will do it easy enough but I don't like to lug an engine like that.
 
#11 ·
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DaveO430 wrote:
I looked it up, never would have thought it. Honda recommends this.

1st to 2nd 12 mph (20kph)
2nd to 3rd 19mph (30kph)
3rd to 4th 25mph (40kph)
4th to OD 31mph (50kph)

Sometimes I run mine down to 30mph in 5th but that is just easing along on flat ground. It will do it easy enough but I don't like to lug an engine like that.
Where in the heck is that, and what RPMs does that translate to? Geepers.

In any case, 2500 isn't even a shift point for me yet.
 
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#12 ·
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DaveO430 wrote:
1st to 2nd 12 mph (20kph)
2nd to 3rd 19mph (30kph)
3rd to 4th 25mph (40kph)
4th to OD 31mph (50kph)
All I can say is... :cheeky1:! Dave, I have no doubt that it may say that but, we all know if you don't wind up a Wing it's not happy. And neather is the rider!

Makes me wonder if the if the person who came up with those numbers was unaware that there IS a throttle on the right.



 
#14 ·
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Well, no chance of damaging your motor & complaining to Mother "H" :cool:
 
#15 ·
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heartofgold wrote:
Yea thanks for that but I understand that , I was just wondering what Honda advises about speeds for the different gears . Normally it's written in the handbook I just don't have the hand book . It was based on a conversation I had with another winger who was insisting that you should never go over 2500 rpm in any gear. So he gets into top gear as soon as possible and for the most part leaves it in overdrive or fourth gear and let's the engine just pull along at low speeds. Says the engine is well able for it so no need to keep changing gear all the time , as I do. maybe he is right but I seem to do the opposite and on some bends might be down in second with the rpm at about 3000.
Sometimes when I'm out 'loafing around, exploring', I may shift at alower RPM than normal, but for 'normal' riding, it's anywhere from 2,500 RPM - rev limiters, but once up in 5th gear, I usually leave it there, unless road conditions dictate a change to avoid lugging the engine, until I'm back up 'to speed' .....or, .... I'm toying with/harassingthe Sport Bike boys in the twisty bitsand then I rarely ever see top gear unless we happen onto a very long straight.;)
 
#16 ·
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+1 on what Ken said.

I fondly look back at a ride halfway between Prescott Valley to Jerome, AZ. That is the road to the west of Jerome.

I was following a Kaw Ninja ridden by a fella of about 20ish+,
he was in full "ATGATT" with shorts, tennis shoes and loose flying hair. All that aside, he was trying his best to leave that big ugly old man's bike in the dust.

He somehow never got the job done.... :badgrin:
I was always 3 to 5 seconds behind him in every corner. My girl was in 3rd most of the time with an occasional 4th gear action. Taching whatever it took to the rev limiter.... she just kept on showing that Ninja how to do the twisties....

 
#17 ·
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DaveO430 wrote:
I looked it up, never would have thought it. Honda recommends this.

1st to 2nd 12 mph (20kph)
2nd to 3rd 19mph (30kph)
3rd to 4th 25mph (40kph)
4th to OD 31mph (50kph)

Sometimes I run mine down to 30mph in 5th but that is just easing along on flat ground. It will do it easy enough but I don't like to lug an engine like that.
I have seen charts like this for other bikes. I've never paid attention to them, because I believe that they are set up for conservative riding in order to maximize fuel mileage.

My first bike, a 1975 Yamaha 650 twins was rated for maximum fuel mileage at 31 mph in 5th gear. I tried it once. 31 mph was the slowest you could go in 5th gear, there for minimizing the wind resistance in that gear. But that's how the manual rated that bike.

If you shift that early, the bike has enough power to do it, but I doubt you are in your power band yet. It doesn't even start to get fun until you get over 3000 rpms.



So let me ask you this: Is he suggesting that you shouldn't run your engine over 2500? In top gear, you would only be going 50 mph at 2500. (I'm estimating based on my 1500). If you want to go 60 or 65, you have to be up over 3000 rpms.



No reason to limit yourself, unless you are seriously trying to conserve gas. It doesn't serve any other purpose to keep your rev's low.
 
#18 ·
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This whole discussion doesn't make any sense....recommended shift points etc...shifting up or down at a particular point is dependent on how hard you are accelerating, traffic conditions etc....hitting 5th at 30mph and then twisting it full on creates a ton of cylinder pressure that over time can damage the engine...it's all about hearing and feeling the engine...watching the speedo for your shift points is not too swift either....
 
#20 ·
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They do that to maximize fuel economy, all owners manuals I have read have similar, ridiculously low shift points. Remember cars that had the upshift light, same thing, you couldn't drive it like that except down hill, the light comes on at just slightly above idle speed. I usually upshift when I feel the torque peak and down shift to keep it in the power band if I am riding my normal pace.
 
#21 ·
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Brianinpa wrote:
I shift when the engine sounds like it needs to be shifted. I can't tell what the RPM's are (tach cable broke and I haven't changed it yet) but I have been riding it long enough to know when it is time.
Try earplugs sometime, and may find that you'll shift more with the torque curve of the engine.
 
#23 ·
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Brianinpa wrote:
rgbeard wrote:
Try earplugs sometime, and may find that you'll shift more with the torque curve of the engine.
Simply means I don't pay too much attention to the RPM's I shift at, not that I don't know what I am doing...
I'm just giving you something fun to do.
 
#25 ·
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Not having rode a 1800 for more than a quick cruise of a couple of miles just to say I did it, I'm afraid that I kind of over did it based on what is written. I rev my 1100 up to 4 to 5 thousand just for grins and never shift below 3000. Marg just hates to shift any lower, she kind of chugs a little. I ran the 1800 up to 5 grand or so just to get a feel for it. It felt good and it ran like a crotch rocket. Shift it like you rented it and have some fun. It can take it.
 
#26 ·
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Thanks lads for the information, I little surprised with the official speeds to gear change so maybe that is where my mate is getting it from . don't think I will change my riding stlye it just feels a lot better when you ride with the rev counter up around 3500 to 4000 rpm. A lot of wing owners I know like to get into top gear as soon as possible and allow the engine to pull along in a high gear I find in a lower gear the bike feels much more stable on the road like it was on a rail and you are never coasting around corners.
 
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