Author Topic: What if the C5 had 6 gears (Read 7431 times)

BRADEY · **on:** October 19, 2010, 11:04:25 am

I would like to invite all gearheads to pour in your "gyan / knowledge" on the question

"What would have been the consequences of C5 having 6 gears instead of 5"

ScooterBob · **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2010, 12:41:14 pm

Quote from: BRADEY on October 19, 2010, 11:04:25 am

I would like to invite all gearheads to pour in your "gyan / knowledge" on the question

"What would have been the consequences of C5 having 6 gears instead of 5"

An extra "false neutral" between fifth and sixth .........

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:01:45 pm

I'd get lost. Seriously. It took me a long time to get used to 6 gears on my Ducati. 5 is already one more than an RE was born with.

Scott

qgolden · **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:07:17 pm

Not necessary in my opinion. I actually think 4 would be adequate. Top gear would be 1:1 as it is now anyway. The RPM's, Power Band and a top speed of 85 MPH just is not wide enough to justify the extra shifting.

t120rbullet · **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:11:57 pm

If the C5/G5 had 6 gears someone would want 7.
Saw it happen with HD.
IMHO 4 would be enough in the long run too but the 5 speed box is pretty well suited to the C5/G5.
CJ

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:24:59 pm

Quote from: qgolden on October 19, 2010, 01:07:17 pm

Power Band and a top speed of 85 MPH just is not wide enough to justify the extra shifting.

Eggs-zack-leey!

Scott

REpozer · **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2010, 06:05:42 pm

If the RE was a high revving, high HP making engine ......the 6 speed would help keep you in the upper HP curve. Maybe racing on a twisty mountain road kinda thang.

Since the RE id all about torque, really don't see the benefit of a 6 speed. gear box.
Just my $ 0.02

prof_stack · **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2010, 06:15:49 pm

+1 to all of the above.

People don't (generally) buy a RE for go-fast above 65mph stuff.

jjoe256 · **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2010, 12:40:05 am

Personally, I like the gearing on the G-5, but on the freeways I keep wishing for a 6th gear without changing the other ratios, a cruise easy 65.

Blairy · **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2010, 04:05:46 am

if you want speed, buy something else, but if you want cool & SUAVE, you got the right bike. I'm running a C5 with a Cozy on it, it's no highway rig but damb it good around the coast roads & backroads.

Andy · **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2010, 04:10:35 am

If there was a sixth gear.... I'd stop looking for it and start trying to find seventh!

jjoe256 · **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2010, 04:57:30 am

Totally disagree with the last two, sorry. A 6th would give that great lower rpm cruise-easy feel on the freeway. I'm used to 6 and never looked for a 7th on my Aprilia. I'm not interested in going fast, been there-done that, more the feel at whatever speed I'm going. I got the right bike. Still would like a 6th!

BRADEY · **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2010, 07:02:48 am

I think when I posed this question, I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to have sixth cog that would allow the C5/G5 to be ridden at higher speeds (80 MPH) but at easier RPMs for the engine to go on working over a longer period of time. Which really is the hard core reason for buying the C5, at least here in India.

But it seems most of us in US have it as a second machine to fall back on, for a lazy Sunday ride. Thank you all for sharing your views which make a lot of sense depending on the perspective in which you wish to ride this bike.

prof_stack · **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2010, 02:49:21 pm

The C5 is my only motorcycle but it is not the commuting vehicle of choice. That would be bicycle in good weather and automobile otherwise.

I'm fine with 5 gears for my intended use and usually don't keep a motorcycle much past 10k miles, if history is an indicator (the Electra-Glide was the exception, with over 20k miles logged).

r80rt · **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2010, 02:53:54 pm

My C5 is the only vehicle I own.

gashousegorilla · **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2010, 03:04:26 pm

Quote from: r80rt on October 20, 2010, 02:53:54 pm

My C5 is the only vehicle I own.

You is hard core Dan!

I agree, the C-5 is the main bike I ride, Not just a weekend special.

shappers · **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2010, 06:16:46 pm

Hi y'all, gutsy though the bike is I think one would be knocking it down a gear at the slightest sign of a headwind or uphill slope to keep it near the max torque revs. I've learnt to hang on to the gears for longer than I used to having found you don't need to take it to the rev limiter to make progress. There again I don't do any highway bashing these days. It suits a staid retiree like myself. I wait till I reach the traffic on the edge of town and filter right to the front usually timing it right to give it a fistfull and reach the centre of town and be parked up and in the shop long before all the tyro's who blasted past.

6 gears wouldn't do it for me but I will be going for the 19 tooth engine sprocket becomes available, shouldn't be long now!

Cheers, Shappers.

Anon · **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2010, 08:36:23 pm

Quote from: r80rt on October 20, 2010, 02:53:54 pm

My C5 is the only vehicle I own.

Yeah, my '06 iron barrel Deluxe is technically the only vehicle I own. My wife does have a car, but I almost never have it. Never been of the opinion that a Bullet is only a "second bike". I commute almost every day on mine (otherwise on bicycle or bus).

Eamon

Ice · **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2010, 12:52:05 am

I love the idea of a 6th gear.

Have sixth as a 1to1 and lower the rest, bump up a tooth or two on the counter sprocket for cruising and have a more impressive 1st for lugging around the trails

Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

BRADEY · **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2010, 10:26:53 am

Love the way Ice has put it.... would be sinfully good !!

Andy · **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2010, 11:11:37 pm

I'm 46 years old. I've been riding bikes my whole life. I learned how to drive a car one year and eleven months ago. Didn't even know how to turn one on before that.

I do have a car now (a $500 beater), which is my primary commuter between November and April, but the bike never truly gets garaged. If it's clear and dry, regardless of temperature, out she comes.

Before getting the car, I would ride my bike all year, even in snow conditions, although never particularly far. However, in my last winter riding season before getting the car I threw my old XT250 away in icy corners just a few too many times. The poor old girl was pretty beat up. I like the RE just a little too much to give her that treatment.

I was joking about the sixth gear. No matter what bike I've had (this is my fifteenth, I think), I always forget what gear I'm in and go looking for the next one, even when it's not there.

Ice · **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2010, 02:50:11 am

Supposedly the UCE lump makes use of I.B./ AVL five speed gearbox internals just fitted a bit differently.

If that's true then it stands to reason that if a six speed were to be introduced its bits might could be retro fitted into the earlier gearboxes.

Crawl in first and cruise in top

Bwa ha ha ha

2bikebill · **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2010, 08:25:01 am

"....I always forget what gear I'm in and go looking for the next one, even when it's not there...."

not just me then.....

BRADEY · **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2010, 10:54:08 am

I just wish the C5 had that magical gear ratio (either with the 5th or 6th cog) that would have allow me to cruise the highway at 80 MPH

GreenMachine · **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2010, 03:07:30 pm

not just the enfield as i wish my yamaha 1100 had a extra gear for over 60..

qgolden · **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2010, 04:03:59 pm

What you guys seem to be looking for is an overdrive rather than an additional gear.

-Q

GreenMachine · **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2010, 10:43:22 pm

their u go....

qgolden · **Reply #27 on:** October 31, 2010, 01:39:09 am

I don't think it's gonna' happen, Can't go with a smaller sprocket in the rear.
Doesn't seem to be room for a larger sprocket in the front.

I don't really think the mill has enough power to benefit from an overdrive gear. Unless you weigh in at something like 120 lbs I think you would spend a lot of time down-shifting.

A side car would be completely out of the question.