what speed/Gear on a Park Road
#13
I had to chuckle at that one too. I worked at a car dealer "many" years ago and had delivered a car to a customer. The car had a manual transmission and while we were driving back to the dealer, I was slowing down for a red light. The light went green before we got to it and at the speed we were going, I simply shifted to second gear and continued on. The customer almost came unglued! "You can't do that!!!" she said. I, naturally enough, wanted to know what in the world she was talking about. She had been told that you had to start in first and move upwards through the gears from there and she took it literally no matter what. I guess she never downshifted at all unless she went all the way to first! I feel sorry for anyone who ever got stuck behind her in traffic!
#14
I use a rule of thumb to keep from lugging the engine and it's rather simple.
0 - 10mph - 1st Gear
10 - 20mph - 2nd Gear
20 - 30 mph - 3rd Gear
30 - 40 mph - 4th Gear
40 - 55mph - 5th Gear
over 55mph - 6th Gear
So if my speed drops to 40 then I use 4th... my mind thinks under 40 = 4th or under 30 = 3rd... etc
0 - 10mph - 1st Gear
10 - 20mph - 2nd Gear
20 - 30 mph - 3rd Gear
30 - 40 mph - 4th Gear
40 - 55mph - 5th Gear
over 55mph - 6th Gear
So if my speed drops to 40 then I use 4th... my mind thinks under 40 = 4th or under 30 = 3rd... etc
Last edited by Dickf5187; 04-16-2009 at 04:35 PM.
#15
I've really never understood questions like this. It doesn't matter if you're riding a bike or driving anything with a manual tranny, the vehicle will always tell you what gear you need to be in, no matter if it's a park road or a freeway. Engine lugging, need a lower gear. RPMs too high, need a higher gear. Personally I rarely even look at my spedo and I don't have a tach and somehow manage to ride. I mean seriously, does anybody actually need someone to tell them what gear they need to be in at any given speed?
#18
Best answer is by dickf, 10 in 1st, 20 in 2nd, 30 in 3rd, 40 in 4th, 50 in 5th, Remember there are no stupid questions and if there are, you can always learn something even from stupid people.. These guidelines are from the manual. Yes, I know whatever gear according to weight, gradient and whatever bike sounds like, seat of the pants, sound of engine and lugging etc....all understood. Thanks
#19
I use a rule of thumb to keep from lugging the engine and it's rather simple.
0 - 10mph - 1st Gear
10 - 20mph - 2nd Gear
20 - 30 mph - 3rd Gear
30 - 40 mph - 4th Gear
40 - 55mph - 5th Gear
over 55mph - 6th Gear
So if my speed drops to 40 then I use 4th... my mind thinks under 40 = 4th or under 30 = 3rd... etc
0 - 10mph - 1st Gear
10 - 20mph - 2nd Gear
20 - 30 mph - 3rd Gear
30 - 40 mph - 4th Gear
40 - 55mph - 5th Gear
over 55mph - 6th Gear
So if my speed drops to 40 then I use 4th... my mind thinks under 40 = 4th or under 30 = 3rd... etc
I don't use 6th until I hit 70.
Anybody else?
#20
The recommended shift points in my owners manual limit the engine to a max of about 2500 rpm on my bike. Not many of us ride "that" easy!