[stillmackn]

This will probably turn into a fact/opinion thread.....BUT....When just cruising down highway, are you "suppose" to be in a certain gear? I know I could easily cruise in first at 90mph crazyloco), if I choose too. I don't like the power lag of being in 5th/6th at 75-85mph...but in 3rd or 4th it feels like i'm pushin rpms a bit. SOOOOOOOO...nuts and bolts of my question, is there a right or wrong, matter of preference...?


My bike:

2008 ZX14, Dyno Power commander III, ignition module, shorty exhasut,lowered and stretched 6inchs...mapped for stock use. Thanks guys!

 

[iron8]

I use 6th @ 75-85 mph as a matter of fact my 08 pulls really hard at 85+ . Maybe its a difference in the setup but if there is too much lag maybe changing the gear ratio might help out . All I'm running is a pcv flies out and a full ti-force exhaust with stock gears . Hope this helps

 

[runnerhiker]

I don't think you are "supposed" to be in any certain gear, each gear will give you a different performance. Pick the one you want. There is no gear police.

 

[chadderkdawg]

I don't feel like you should have much lag in 5th gear at highway speeds...

 

[mad]

Cruising? I'm in 6th from about 45 mph and on up. If not, fuel economy gets ripped a new one. :hard
Heck, if I crack the throttle in 3rd doing 70 or so the front end shoots the moon if the rear keeps it's traction...yes, seriously. (factory gearing, full Akro, remapped, no secondary flies, extremely light wheels)

 

[185EZ]

I understand the question but don't understand what you're trying to accomplish.
Are you trying to pass cars all the time and don't want to take the time to downshift? Isn't that half the fun, shifting?
My 14 pulls plenty hard in 6th gear to get around just about anything, it just doesn't have that fall back in your seat acceleration unless i downshift.
So my matter of preferance while cruising is 6th and enjoy the ride.

 

[phatphil]

I'm starting to guess the 14 is your first bike....

 

[Alfatango1]

I live in Socal and every car on the freeway drives at 80 to 85 so 6th at 80 just to keep up is the norm. I drive a 12R and I know I can get out of any trouble with a crank of the wrist, but if I feel claustrophobic I will ride in 5th or 4th for a bit if I need to get the hell out of traffic. Mostly on the freeway I want to be in sixth as much as to save some fuel.

 

[09ZX14SS]

Dude, I don't know what the heck is wrong with YOUR 14, but mine MOVES the phuck OUT, when i just crack open the throttle in 5th, AND, 6TH @ 70/80mph!! .... lmaoooooooo :rotflmao

Maybe you should run some premium fuel in her, then, hollah back at'us :crackup

 

[09ZX14SS]

But I must confess .... the guy who dyno tuned my 14 got it correct!! My bikes' response is :headscratch ..... Very sensitive .... edgy .... it has NO lag. It moves RIGHT NOW! I like it just like that :evil

 

[audioboyz]

[/IMG]

I went for a ride today.Was in the high fourties.First time I was out on her for awhile,felt great.I have different gearing which I like.Was doing 65 at 4 grand in 6th and it pulls and pulls.I was in second and when it hit 7 grand the wheel came up rather quick,surprised me.

My new helmet has all these vents which is nice.My shield didn't fog once.It's a GMAX which I payed $121.00 for.Glad I got out today .Even did a burnout LOL.
Craig

 

[stillmackn]

I'm starting to guess the 14 is your first bike....

1st bike - Zx6r
2nd bike - zx10r
3rd bike - gsxr1000
4th bike - Busa
5th bike - current bike zx14

Anything I do or dont know about riding ive learned myself. Not a mechanic and dont really want to become one. Just asking questions that I think of while riding. 4k rpms at 75 in 6th doesnt have the "umph" of 7-8k in 3rd....just wanted to know if it will hurt the bike cruising at 75-90 in 3rd or 4th...if my ignorance annoys anyone, sorry....Thanks for the input from those who had something productive to say..

 

[185EZ]

I think everyone was fairly productive in what they had to say. You have to admit, it's a rather strange question from someone who has owned quite a variety of other bikes. You're going to get a variety of answers. That's why it's a forum. Maybe you can pick up a few ideas even from the non productive posts.
To be honest, I still don't understand if you're cruising, what's the point of being in any other gear other than 6th?
So if you're not a mechanic and don't wanbt to be one, then take everyone's advice and just cruise instead of putting unnecessary wear and tear on your bike. I doubt there's a person here who will say it's OK to cruise at 75-90 in 3rd or 4th. That's just silly.

 

[92K1500]

1st bike - Zx6r
2nd bike - zx10r
3rd bike - gsxr1000
4th bike - Busa
5th bike - current bike zx14

Anything I do or dont know about riding ive learned myself. Not a mechanic and dont really want to become one. Just asking questions that I think of while riding. 4k rpms at 75 in 6th doesnt have the "umph" of 7-8k in 3rd....just wanted to know if it will hurt the bike cruising at 75-90 in 3rd or 4th...if my ignorance annoys anyone, sorry....Thanks for the input from those who had something productive to say..

Found your problem. :thumbsup

You don't want to hold sustained light load high rpms. That's a good way to ventilate your block.

But it's your bike and you can do what you want.

On my 600 I was in 6th gear at anything above 50 unless I was in town.

 

[stillmackn]

just cruise instead of putting unnecessary wear and tear on your bike.

That is what I was getting at, is it bad for the bike...

 

[ejmesq]

<snip. . . I don't like the power lag of being in 5th/6th at 75-85mph...but in 3rd or 4th it feels like i'm pushin rpms a bit. . .snip>/QUOTE]

75-85 mph on the freeway is 6th gear, you want it to explode. . .just down shift.

 

[Masta Squidge]

Highest gear possible for the speed you are traveling while avoiding making the engine "chug".

Period.

Thats how one "cruises" with any vehicle.

Why is this thread still going on? Even my 500 was capable of out accelerating any (average passenger) car on the freeway in 6th gear. Of course, 75 mph on that was like... 6k RPM but still. I would assume a 14 is making more torque at 3k than the 500 makes peak and shouldn't have any troubles.

 

[slowninja]

This will probably turn into a fact/opinion thread.....BUT....When just cruising down highway, are you "suppose" to be in a certain gear? I know I could easily cruise in first at 90mph crazyloco), if I choose too. I don't like the power lag of being in 5th/6th at 75-85mph...but in 3rd or 4th it feels like i'm pushin rpms a bit. SOOOOOOOO...nuts and bolts of my question, is there a right or wrong, matter of preference...?


My bike:

2008 ZX14, Dyno Power commander III, ignition module, shorty exhasut,lowered and stretched 6inchs...mapped for stock use. Thanks guys!

I just don't get questions like this! I've seen it on all kinds of forums, including cars. If you really need to ask questions like this then it makes me wounder...

 

[Hammerhead]

Don't lug the motor. If you look down and find yourself falling below 4000 rpm, either speed up or downshift.

 

[Masta Squidge]

I would hope a 14 can handle < 4k rpm. My 500 could handle cruising around at 2800 without lugging. Had to downshift to really accelerate, but still.