where is my 6th gear

[dennis roy]

I have a 82 gs850glz. I was just wondering ....why didn't they offer them with a 6th gear? The gear indicator has a 6 on it...was it an option or just because the indicator is interchangable with something else that has a 6th gear? If it's an option for my bike...I WANT IT...and where do I get it?

[chef1366]

80 1100l

Yeah, I have the same thing on my bike. When I first bought it I thought there was something wrong with my transmission. Not! just a pipe dream.

[bradleymaynar]

The 6th gear was for the smaller displacement bikes (550's mainly and I'm sure I'll be corrected if it was for smaller). My '79 750 had the indicator and I could make out the 6, but it was only a 5 speed. I'm not totally sure why, but I believe that the 6 speeds were mainly a smaller first gear and a little taller 6th gear. I don't know if you've tried any high speed testing of your 850, but, if you have, then the question is, do you need another gear?

Brad tt

[smithbm]

My '81 GS550T has 6th.

[dennis roy]

I have definately tried the high speed testing. I think it needs another gear just for highway cruising.

[bwringer]

I agree that the 850 needs another gear. It's turning about 6,000 at 80MPH, which seems a little frantic.

Then again, it'll do that all day and all night with no trouble. I've been on lots of long distance all day rides on my 850 where I use the interstate to blast through the boring bits.

[JMHJ]

My 450 had 6; the 5 in my 750, and now 850 did/does seem like one too few, kind of like an old 3-spd auto trans vs. a 4-spd auto with overdrive. The gas mileage has to be suffering. I'm used to 5 now though.

[beby99]

And there's another reason why CHAINS RULE!! :-D

(can change gearing with a swap of a sprocket)

[Nerobro]

the 550 and smaller bikes had 6 speed trannys. The reason the indicator shows 1-6 is that the part is a suzuki specific part, and they used the same part on all of their bikes. It's cheaper that way.

As for why the big bikes have fewer gears... it's about size and price. It's cheaper to build a 5 speed transmission, and if the engine is torquey enough to handle it, why bother with the extra gear. Seccond motors that make more torque, need wider gears, so there's less room available for more gear ratios. Also on the shafties, you really can't afford to make the gearbox much wider ;-)

[gekkechef]

And there's another reason why CHAINS RULE!! :-D

(can change gearing with a swap of a sprocket)

yeah, yeah!!!!!!!!

[bradleymaynar]

And there's another reason why CHAINS RULE!! :-D

(can change gearing with a swap of a sprocket)

Ahh yes! Yet another reason I like my dirty chain. 80 mph at 6k rpm? I like my sedate 4500 rpm at that speed! :razz: It's good on gas, too!

Brad tt

[crag antler]

As for why the big bikes have fewer gears... it's about size and price. It's cheaper to build a 5 speed transmission, and if the engine is torquey enough to handle it, why bother with the extra gear. Seccond motors that make more torque, need wider gears, so there's less room available for more gear ratios. Also on the shafties, you really can't afford to make the gearbox much wider ;-)

My GT 250 has 6 and I hardly ever get up to 5th let alone 6th.

Now a question for Nerobro,how is it then that my next love, the Concours, has shaft drive, is a 1000cc machine with a 6 speed.:shock:

[crag antler]

Ahh yes! Yet another reason I like my dirty chain. 80 mph at 6k rpm? I like my sedate 4500 rpm at that speed! :razz: It's good on gas, too!

Brad tt

Dirty chain..................noooo

Brand new 530 chain. So many things you can tweak with chain drive.\\/ \\/

Oh the day to have both