I like to cruise in our state park now and then. Most roads are posted 35 mph, some areas 25 mph. What gear (I ride in 4 in 35 zone and 3 in 25 zone) do you think would be suitable under those conditions?

 

Well, your bike will have the grunt to ride in 3rd gear at 25, but wouldn't you be lugging?

Hell, I'm still in 1st at 25. I'll hit 2nd at 27-30ish, unless I'm wringing it out

 

At 25 I could cruise the park in 2nd no problem and at 35 I would do it in third just putzing around.

 

Whatever gear keeps the RPM's over 2000, preferably 2500. You don't want to lug the engine which is "generally" under 2000 and you want to stay in your torque curve. This also depends on what gear you are in. 2000 rpm in 2nd gear is different than 2000rpm in 4th gear. Roll the throttle on from those gears at 2000 and see what I mean.

Also keep in mind that rolling through a state park at 4000 rpm probrably isn't a good idea either .

 

6th that's best, park it

 

Most of my normal driving is either between 20-30mph(2nd gear) or 30-40mph(3rd gear).

 

Depends on the bike and how it is set up. I can work my bike without lugging it from 1800rpm up in the first 2 gears and 2200rpm in the last 3. He's just cruising through a state park.

 

Exactly. I'd be in 2nd for the any of the 25 or 35 zones for just putzing around a state park trying to keep the rumble down but keeping the RPM's at a suitable level.

 

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?

 

Yes, honestly some people do actually need to be told what gears to be in.