Always Gear for 6th Gear Redline?

[extrakt0r]

So I was chatting with a racing buddy tongith, and he said to always gear for 6th gear redline on the longest straight of whatever track you are racing...

I have tried switching gears on my 2004 R1, but have found that stock gearing (17/45) seems to work the best for me...

At Blackhawk, I am just hitting about 12K in 4th gear at the end of the straight..(Yes I know I'm slow)

I know most people with 600's gear like this, but what about the big 1000 boys? If I were to go down 1 and up 2 in the rear the bike would just be a beast to contol leaned over from so much power and torque...

In addition I have found that my bike's geometry is best suited with this gearing (Yes I know I should have different chain lengts to keep my rear axle in the sweet spot)

 :-/

[Nate R]

If gearing for redline in 6th on the front straight means you are stuck kinda between gears (3rd too low, 4th too high for instance) when you exit a couple corners, it could take any benefit away.

At least, this is how I remember it being explained to me. Someone else can probably elaborate better on that.

[DanO966]

gear your bike for what makes you carry the most corner speed and allows you the best drive off corners.  plus it's not a bad idea to gear your bike so that you're  doing the least amount of shifts.  

my .02 cents

[Jeff]

Dan has the nail on the head.  It's no coincidence he's running 10's & 11's at BHF.

On my 600's, I've only ever touched 6th gear at Road America.  Every other track I get into 5th, but even then, I'm certainly not winding it out in 5th.

Gearing for top straight speed on most tracks (excluding Road A, BIR and maybe some others which have incredibly long straights) is NOT the brightest move.  Time is made in the corners, not on the straights.

[Super Dave]

So I was chatting with a racing buddy tongith, and he said to always gear for 6th gear redline on the longest straight of whatever track you are racing...

The ridiculousness of that statement tells me that this person does not have enough real hard competition to know better.


If you were doing to a long track...

And you were drafting...

You wouldn't have any gear left.

You spend more time in corners working to get in and out.  My child Dano hits it out of the park.

[Super Dave]

I know most people with 600's gear like this, but what about the big 1000 boys? If I were to go down 1 and up 2 in the rear the bike would just be a beast to contol leaned over from so much power and torque...

 :-/

See, again you're missing reality.

I use third, fourth, and fifth at Blackhawk.  I don't use sixth.  Most thousands that I've played with at Blackhawk use third and fourth only at Blackhawk.  They have huge torque, so they don't need all that ratio slammed into it to twist the geometry all around with anti squat in high RPM's.  

[Gixxerblade]

Oh great one enlighten us with your Super knowledge.

[Super Dave]

Bits and pieces here and there, sorry...

Otherwise, I have to be loyal to my students.

I think there are four on this thread.

[tstruyk]

Bits and pieces here and there, sorry...

Otherwise, I have to be loyal to my students.

I think there are four on this thread.

make that 5....

Hey SD... have you been to AB south yet?  gearing suggestions?  I'll be figuring out a new track during practice and team challenge.  got any nuggets?  pm or the usual email is fine!  Also wanted to discuss some possible geometry/suspension changes, I hear AB south is pretty rough.  TIA

tim

[Super Dave]

Haven't been there, and I won't be there this weekend.

Hit me with an e-mail on the geometry stuff.  

Seems like someone said that gearing might be at least similar to Blackhawk, but I can't confirm that.

[Zac]

Gearing depends on the bike, the track, and (some might argue) rider preference.  

On my TZ250 on our southwest (i.e. tight and short) tracks, I can usually gear to use 1st thru 5th or 2nd thru 6th. I almost always gear to use 2nd thru 6th, because I lessen the likelyhood of hitting neutral, and it gives me a really low first gear for the start.  On the same tracks, 600s (which have much wider ratio boxes) might use 2nd - 5th, and the liter bikes 2nd-4th.

My poor CR500, with the stock close ratio MX box, I gear for top speed on the longest straight and use 1-5 on pretty much every track.  On faster tracks I end up with a first gear that is so tall I can barely ride thru the pits.  I really wish I had a 6 speed...

-z.

[extrakt0r]

The ridiculousness of that statement tells me that this person does not have enough real hard competition to know better.


/quote]


 ;D I just think that the person who said this has just spent most of his years racing TZ's and his boy just made the Jump to a GSXR600 this year...

At blackhawk I use 2nd, 3rd and 4th and that is about it...At MAM at the end of the front straight I am hitting redline in 5th...

Besides, I wouldn't want to have to do that much shifting anyway

 ;D

Thanks Guys  8)