can i install a sixth gear

[bdalameda]

Thanks for the chart - This is great info.

Dan

[BassCliff]

Mind like a steel sieve

Mr. Nessism kindly reminded me that the GS shaft drive gear ratio chart is his compilation. Sorry Ed.

I've updated the page where the chart is stored to give credit where credit is due. Thanks Ed!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[flyingace]

Something else to remember when thinking about changing the final drive ratio - this will effect all gears equally. First gear will be taller and driveability will be effected from stops. Your acceleration will be slower through the gears as well. If you want the engine to spin 3500K at 70, the bike will be almost unuseable at slower speeds.

What the 850s really need is a 6th gear, but the bike was designed with 5. This includes an engine designed to run all day smoothly and efficiently at 5-6K RPM.

To get over the notion that running at 5K RPM is somehow inappropriate, find yourself a big twin and run it down the highway at 5K. Then hop back on your GS - you'll never complain again.

[NES07DEZ]

Thanks to everybody that helped me out with this issue.

[TheCafeKid]

Something else to remember when thinking about changing the final drive ratio - this will effect all gears equally. First gear will be taller and driveability will be effected from stops. Your acceleration will be slower through the gears as well. If you want the engine to spin 3500K at 70, the bike will be almost unuseable at slower speeds.

What the 850s really need is a 6th gear, but the bike was designed with 5. This includes an engine designed to run all day smoothly and efficiently at 5-6K RPM.

To get over the notion that running at 5K RPM is somehow inappropriate, find yourself a big twin and run it down the highway at 5K. Then hop back on your GS - you'll never complain again.

Very very good point.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Do as we have said, the GS 1000 beveled drive gear set WILL NOT FIT in an 850 period no questions.... I tried it years ago. It will fit into the motor but will not engauge the internal trans shaft

[motocycle shawn]

???

Ok so will a 83 gs 1100gl final bolt and work on a 80 gs1000g?
What is the gain?
And why should do it ?
I have a good final drive from a 83 1100gl
sorry to skip all the info but i have to read all of them wow

[Nessism]

Ok so will a 83 gs 1100gl final bolt and work on a 80 gs1000g?
What is the gain?
And why should do it ?
I have a good final drive from a 83 1100gl
sorry to skip all the info but i have to read all of them wow

Yes it will fit, and your freeway rpm's will drop about 300 at normal cruising speeds.

[Gssheller]

no a sixth gear can not be added, no you can't change your shaft ratio. You are just going to have to live it it, 5500 is nothing for these bikes, these motors were designed to rev (as are most bikes harley excluded) and they love to and that is where suzuki hide the power take it up to 7000k then you will feel a completly differant motor, it really wakes up.
Don't feel bad shift her all the way up at redline it will be fine.

I know this is an older thread but something here rang very true to me and I wanted to comment on it.

I felt the same way about the rpm's. They seemed too high cruising at 60 with 4000 rpm's. I read this thread (I've made it through hundreds- just a few thousand to go), and thought to myself, "self, you need to test this hyposthesis that the motor is happier at higher rpm's."

So I did just that. Got her to a nice, straight, long stretch, dropped into 3rd gear at about 45 and ran her up there. WOW!!! At about 6000 rpm the engine smoothed right out and seemed to pull for more. While I didn't take her to redline, I did break 8k in 3rd and 4th and that was way too fast for me.

Truly remarkable. And I would never have known but for you guys and your knowledge.

Thanks again.

[dardoonk]

I know this is an older thread but something here rang very true to me and I wanted to comment on it.

I felt the same way about the rpm's. They seemed too high cruising at 60 with 4000 rpm's. I read this thread (I've made it through hundreds- just a few thousand to go), and thought to myself, "self, you need to test this hyposthesis that the motor is happier at higher rpm's."

So I did just that. Got her to a nice, straight, long stretch, dropped into 3rd gear at about 45 and ran her up there. WOW!!! At about 6000 rpm the engine smoothed right out and seemed to pull for more. While I didn't take her to redline, I did break 8k in 3rd and 4th and that was way too fast for me.

Truly remarkable. And I would never have known but for you guys and your knowledge.

Thanks again.

The more time you spend in those rpms, the more you'll like your bike..

[850 Combat]

its is a shafty. but on my gear indicator it has a number six on it.
its weird

You can wire that up to make it light up if you want, but it will not add another gear unfortunately.

[oldgrumpy]

yes... you can....

hi guys yes you can if its chain drive,,,, a guy in victoria is making a turbo fuel injected xs650 with big bore kit and repharsed crank ,,, also to help he made up some gear blanks as dummies and checked them out for suitability in the transmissionand it will give him 6 gears for his land speed record attempt in aust..... regards david

[Steve]

hi guys yes you can if its chain drive,,,, a guy in victoria is making a turbo fuel injected xs650 with big bore kit and repharsed crank ,,, also to help he made up some gear blanks as dummies and checked them out for suitability in the transmissionand it will give him 6 gears for his land speed record attempt in aust..... regards david

David, this is a VERY OLD thread that has been dredged up.

If you look back at the first few posts, this is on an 850, which is SHAFT-DRIVEN, not chain.

.

[mike_of_bbg]

I felt the same way about the rpm's. They seemed too high cruising at 60 with 4000 rpm's.

Heh. Having a sixth gear and geared higher than factory, my bike spins 5k @ 60.

[maxmh27]

One of my GS 750's has an unknown mod that has uprated the torque. 5th gear is like 3rd - 4th gear and it will pop wheelies in 3rd. this is all well and good but i would go with changing the rear sprocket for a smaller one giving it a higher ratio through all the gears. I am having difficulty getting info on what sprockets are available and where to acquire them. I live in the UK any help appreciated.