6th gear useless?

Is it just me or is the 6th gear useless? I mostly ride around 110kmh (about 70 mph) on the Highway but I can never use the 6th. It actually slows me down and I have to shift back into 5th right away. Often even into 4th when going up a hill. Could the high elevation I live in be an issue (4600ft)? Or is it just the gearing that makes it so slow/weak?

Several of us have felt that way about the factory gearing. There's no way I'd go back to the stock ratio.

Sarah

i ride at high elevations. I live in the front range in Colorado (5000+) and have ridden at very high altitudes. I was at 12,200 feet this weekend.
I'm riding a 13/49 combination. Bike seems comfortable in 6th in the 55-65mph range. Holds the power there on the flats, but drop to 5th for acceleration.
My bike does have all of the performance mods

6th gear useless? No. Do you "need" to use it often? No.


It does have a purpose though. Think of it as an over-drive gear. It drops the revs down a bit and relieves vibrations and noise a touch when slabbing.

On any small displacement, high rpm designed motorcycle the gearbox is to be used as a weapon and a tool.

6th gear has it's place, but not every situation calls for it.

I've hit the rev limiter in 5th gear quite a few times - in that case I definitely am glad there was a 6th gear to shift to.

If I ever find myself slabbing for any period of time 6th gear is fine until I feel the urge to pass somebody, then it's a given I'll want to downshift and gas it.

That being said - I also think and thought the stock gear ratio sucked sweaty donkey balls and have changed to something more smile inducing.

I used the crap out of 6th gear this past long weekend blasting the Black Hills in South Dakota. Cruising at (an indicated) 84mph was no sweat until I had to climb some huge hills. Then it was just a matter of dropping to 5th and pressing on; shift back to 6th at the top and scream down the other side.

It might be altitude related. Or rider expectation related. I use 6th gear everyday and almost always above 55-60mph, but im near sea level with a moslty stock bike with stock x wheels tires and gearing.

I found the stock gearing a bit long legged. Didn't use 6th much on the tarmac unless it was above 70, and first was useless off road. Gear change fixed that tho.

I'm geared at 13/50, 6th gear is very useful :)

Ok well looks like I'm in the market for some new gearing.

6th seems good to me on the motorway doing over 75. But I think this bike isn't really happy at these speeds - much better suited to lower speed hooliganism & tight cornering

OMG!!! Just realised Shewolf is the same age as me!!!! Maybe she wants to visit the 'motherland' for a drink or two???

I'm with Motokid....It's overdrive on the highway.Keeps the RPMs in the sweet spot when cruising. I am really glad its there especially after living with a DRZ400 with 5 gears....sucked

jeffpack1957 wrote:

I'm geared at 13/50, 6th gear is very useful :)

How was it useful?

I just went to the 13-48 but only a short ride so far--seems to be just fine. Tomorrow I'll do a 250 mile dual sport mostly off road and will have a better feel for the new gearing--the ride does have some slab in the mix.

I agree that with stock gearing 6th is next to useless when you are at altitude--I'm at 6400 or better on all rides.

I don't know why, but i have not found the stock gearing to be too tall at all. I do have an X with knobbies, which changes the gearing some. I ran ~ 8k miles with the stock gearing, 13/42. After they wore out, i got a new chain & gearing of 14/46, which was like gearing up one tooth in the back from stock.

I have all the mods, so get the most hp i can, & find it plenty for all around riding. I also only downshift from 6th on long steep hills or mountain grades. I cruise at 70+ very comfortably. Trying to stay ahead of some weather last year, i rode 80+ for 4-5 hrs coming back from utah. I still find 1st plenty low for low speed putting in rocks or tight technical sections.

I am at 4500', & most of my riding is at 6k' & up, though i do get to 2k every so often. I also seldom get over 9k.. just occasionally in some utah passes.

I generally cruise on side roads below 60, & seldom get out of 6th, unless there is a long steep grade. I'm under 200# with all gear, so maybe that affects it too, plus i usually tuck a bit to streamline.

This is all for pavement, though on easy dirt roads i will get to 6th & cruise a bit.. if i can go 50+

But i know a lot of people really like the lower gearing.. but i also came from a 5 spd close geared drz, so the wide gearing of the wr is like going from rags to riches! With the drz you have to compromise.. either gear for low speed or high.. the wr does not require that choice. I can have my cake & eat it too!

WRXR wrote:

Is it just me or is the 6th gear useless? I mostly ride around 110kmh (about 70 mph) on the Highway but I can never use the 6th. It actually slows me down and I have to shift back into 5th right away. Often even into 4th when going up a hill. Could the high elevation I live in be an issue (4600ft)? Or is it just the gearing that makes it so slow/weak?

If I did not have 6th gear on my commute here in dfw texas then I would get run over by cars. This is one reason that I picked the wr.

HOLY MOLY what a difference one tooth less on the front sprocket makes. Took her for a spin today, on the highway and on the trails (discovered some awesome singletracks today woo)
I can slow down and accelerate between 80-120kmh in sixth easily now, and when cruising at around 110 the rpms are perfect.
The second gear works well on the trails, I even can start in second without clutching too much. And most important the second is more powerful at slow speeds, I don't have to shift into 1st all the time any more.

12/44 - perfect setup for me.

Watch that swingarm the 12 tooth gets really close to chewing thru it.

13/45 here 6th gear 30mph + sometimes looking for 7 or 8.
Might try 43 since engine mods.

WRXR wrote:

HOLY MOLY what a difference one tooth less on the front sprocket makes. Took her for a spin today, on the highway and on the trails (discovered some awesome singletracks today woo)
I can slow down and accelerate between 80-120kmh in sixth easily now, and when cruising at around 110 the rpms are perfect.
The second gear works well on the trails, I even can start in second without clutching too much. And most important the second is more powerful at slow speeds, I don't have to shift into 1st all the time any more.

12/44 - perfect setup for me.

Yep - old school rule was 1 in the front equals 3 on the back.

I run 13/48 and love it.

Do you have a speedo healer of some kind? Or use a GPS?

If not - your factory Yamaha speedometer is WAY off in terms of speed. Like roughly 20% off.

motokid wrote:

WRXR wrote:

HOLY MOLY what a difference one tooth less on the front sprocket makes. Took her for a spin today, on the highway and on the trails (discovered some awesome singletracks today woo)
I can slow down and accelerate between 80-120kmh in sixth easily now, and when cruising at around 110 the rpms are perfect.
The second gear works well on the trails, I even can start in second without clutching too much. And most important the second is more powerful at slow speeds, I don't have to shift into 1st all the time any more.

12/44 - perfect setup for me.

Yep - old school rule was 1 in the front equals 3 on the back.

I run 13/48 and love it.

Do you have a speedo healer of some kind? Or use a GPS?

If not - your factory Yamaha speedometer is WAY off in terms of speed. Like roughly 20% off.

Uh - means I travel faster or slower than shown? Guess I have to see what my GPS says.

You will be moving slower than shown.

Your speedometer reads faster than what you are moving.

The stock speedometer shows 7.7% faster than actual speed.

Dropping in front, and/or raising any in rear throws it off even farther.

I'm very happy with stock gearing. I cruise at 75 all day on my bike. Flat as a board down here though.

I love the 6th gear. After living with a KLR650, the 6th gear is a life saver. I don't know how many times I tried to shift to a higher gear on the KLR only to realize I was already at my limit. It's a great overdrive.

6th gear is fabulous on the road at 60 and above. I run 13x45 on an x and can ride all day on the interstate and never leave 6th. I don't have to shift to 5th to pass with the gear change.