How many gears?

[mortation]

Does anyone know how many gears are in a 1983 GS850 GLD transmission? I thought it was a five speed and I in fact can not get to a 6th gear if there is supposed to be one. But in 5th gear at 3k RPMS I am only doing around 40. So to hit high way speeds I bet that tach needle will be buried if it can even go that fast :P

Is this normal or is yet another thing busted?

[Mark whiz]

I'm pretty confident that yours is only a 5-speed. The RPM you mention sounds about right. My 700 with stock gearing runs 50mph at 4K rpm, 40mph at 3K rpm.

[brveagle]

That's right. 5 speed

[DanTheMan]

My '80 GS850L turns about 55k running 65-70mph in 5th gear. Sounds like a lot, but it's good for it. :-D 9k is redline........

[bwringer]

It's a five speed -- about 6,000 rpm at 80-85mph (keep in mind that 25 year old instruments can be rather approximate) is perfectly normal, and won't hurt the engine a bit. It's made to spin, so spin it.

Quit worrying about it -- grab that handle on the right and twist all you want.

[emjay]

My motto: shift at red line. :twisted:

[crag antler]

My motto: shift at red line. :twisted:

My motto : Shift until it stops\\/\\/

[Steve]

But in 5th gear at 3k RPMS I am only doing around 40. So to hit high way speeds I bet that tach needle will be buried if it can even go that fast

Just how fast are your highways? :shock:
By your own calculation, 3k=40, so 6k would be 80. Redline is 10k, how fast do you want to go?
"Buried". Into the red, or off the dial? (That's over 12k, or 168 mph.)


Yep, a 5-speed for sure.

In 5th gear, it's 14 mph per 1000 rpm. (That's GPS-corrected speed.)
1000 rpm = 14 mph
2000 rpm = 28 mph
3000 rpm = 42 mph
4000 rpm = 56 mph
5000 rpm = 70 mph
6000 rpm = 84 mph
7000 rpm = 98 mph
8000 rpm = 112 mph
9000 rpm = 126 mph

Yeah, might be nice to have a 6th gear, but it's such a flexible engine, it doesn't really matter. I have played a bit with my wife's 850 and have even taken street corners in 5th gear. That engine just pulls like a tractor from just over idle on up to screaming at redline. \\/


.

[BassCliff]

Zoom, zoom, zoom!

Mr. mortation,

Yes, 5 speeds and I run my bike on the freeway between 5000-6000rpm (70-80mph) with no issues whatsoever. My bike has been running great and after my recent valve adjustments the bike is even smoother. It's like glass at 5000rpm. If you rev it above 7000rpm you'll really get a surprise! Zoom!

Do you have a manual yet? PM me.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[emjay]

...screaming at redline...

Music to my ears.

[mortation]

lol alright thanks all