Was doing a lot of riding yesterday, with most of it off the highway in a lot of traffic.

Seems like the engine does a lot of lugging and pinging because it wants to be in a different gear. I've got the 5 speed. Don't want to downshift to 4th unless I'm at around 40mph, but 5th seems to lug a lot between 40 and 50.
Same goes for 3rd. You really need to get down to 30 before you drop it down.

I don't know but it seems like one of those CVT automatic trannys would be a whole lot easier on the engine. I know to say that is a sacrilege, but on the highway my engine purrs, but in traffic, the constant shifting is rough.

Always been that way. I've rode other models and it's really the same.

Any opinions? I realize I just have to live with it.

 

Blasphemy!

 

Fair enough.
It's not the shifting that bothers me. It's the engine lugging.

 

Uh, I am in 3rd gear at 40-50mph....and that is with a 6 speed......YOU are lugging the engine. Try keeping the revs at 2500.

 

My sons little honda 50 had an automatic tranny. I warmed it for him one morning, pulled next to him, got off, he got on. He immediatley gave it a little gas, wheelied over the tent and into the side of the truck. It was hillarious.
Guess I should have aimed it in a different direction.

 

Greetings,

Just wait longer to shift. I wouldn't own an automatic transmission, but keep in mind I haven't owned an automatic car in 15 years either.

 

Iam with the rest no way.

I have the 6 speed and i shift alot when needed thats what its all about. Drop her down and hammer the throttle.

No automatic in my cars either

 

Anybody seen, firsthand, or ever rode one of those Ridley automatic bikes. They really do not look that bad, from the pics i have seen.

 

To the OP- Watch the tach or listen to the revs if you don't have a tach. Keep it above 2300-2500 at all times and you won't have the lugging and pinging.

To the other poster- There is a Ridley dealer very close to me. I'd buy one for my wife in a heartbeat if I could get her to ride it.

 

Not just no, but heck no. I like to shift!