sixth gear

[twiggy2cents]

also there i s a misconception with 6 speed transmissions. Almost always the 6th gear isnt a double overdrive, it is your overdrive. The gears are closer and 6th gear is in the ball park of what 5th gear would be. It makes better use of the engines power

 

[Steve]

Yeah, but with 6 closely-spaced gears, you "chain" guys can change your sprockets and make it a double overdrive.

Those of us that have (happily) been "shafted" don't have that "luxury".

.

 

[gearhead13]

For me, I would be all for shafties (no more worn out chain and sprokets), but I dont like the lifting action when you get on it.

 

[Steve]

Have you ridden a GS shaft, or is all your shaft experience on other bikes?

Suzuki was last into the shaft-drive stuff back in the day, and learned from the experiences of others. There might be some shaft-effect that only the purists might notice, but for the most part, most people would not notice.

I had two 1300 Kaws, one of the first 79s on the streets of Los Angeles, then, years later a full-dressed Voyager. Both of them REALLY jacked the rear when I hit the throttle. I don't notice any of that with my wife's 850L or my son's 850G. Maybe because the 850 is relatively under-powered, maybe because Suzuki got it right, but most of us either don't notice or have adapted quite well.

.

 

[gearhead13]

One of the shafties I rode was a 80's Kawa 750 and the lifting was disconcerting.

 

[Steve]

I agree. I could hold the front brake on either of my 13s and let out the clutch a bit, the front woud dive a bit on the forks and the rear would jack up well over an inch, giving it a nice "California rake" effect.

However, the question remains ... have you ridden a GS shaftie for comparison? :-k
I think you would be surprised, if not outright pleased.

.

 

[gearhead13]

No, I havent rode(ridden?) a GS shaftie. I will put it on my to-do list.

 

[49er]

No, I havent rode(ridden?) a GS shaftie. I will put it on my to-do list.

Steve's right. You haven't lived until you try a GS Shaftie. No hint of torque jacking on the 850. Some other makes do have a bad reputation for this, but Mr Zuki certainly did his homework to fix that problem.

The Japanese are such good refiners, of anything half decent.

 

[duaneage]

I rode a Honda Nighthawk 650 (shaft) and it literally rolled to one side from torque steer on the rear. Honda shaft drive back then was terrible.

 

[Zooks]

grab that thing on the right, twist it, and stop sniveling... :twistedevil:


That engine is designed to spin. It likes to spin. It wants to spin. So spin it!

6,000 - 9,000 rpm is the sweet spot.

ditto !!!!

 

[shiznizbiz]

possible swap

possible swap

So, to kind of bump this topic, I was wondering if anyone has actually ever successfully swapped out the final drive gears from other models? I know the drive shafts are different; but the final drive gear couplers are the same for the 1100gz, 850gz, 650gz. (z being 1982) I guess what im getting at is this. Can i possibly swap out the final drive gears of my 650gz for the final drive gears of either the 850 or 1100, and what would be the benefit/effect on my gearing?
Would the end result of this combination be too long for my swingarm, even though im using my prop shaft and everything of the 650 proximal to the final drive gear coupler?
Thanks

 

[bwringer]

The 650 is sui generis, so no.

On the 850+ shafties, you can swap rear ends all you want.