6 gears

[DIGGER]

Rode 430 miles yesterday on my Valk.     Beautiful weather in East Tx.    My son on his new Harley (117 ci= 1900+cc) and his buddy on his Harley.      I like to ride speed limit +5mph.    They like to ride 80-85mph.   My Valk will maintain that speed but I feel like I'm pushing it to run that fast continuously.     I'll say this.....those Harleys with 6 gears can cruise.    The Valkyrie has plenty motor to handle 6 gears....Wonder why Honda didn't put 6 gears on the Valkyrie.     Would have been nice to have that option when needed.

[Chrisj CMA]

I wish there was a sixth gear too. But I think Honda built the Valkyrie to be more of a hot rod than a long distance cruiser.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I too would like a sixth gear. But to say that you are pushing the motor to run at 80-85 is strange to me.  I've run at 90-100 for miles and miles at a stretch with the bike just humming along. These are the best high speed cruising bikes I've ridden in my 47 years of riding.

[old2soon]

              Trust me Digger you are NOT pushing it. Ask any of the 6 club members here that followed me to Spearfish in 15 on the slab. At that time speed limit in South Dakota was 80 M P H. And I was a bit North of that!   Well maybe more than a bit.   RIDE SAFE.

[DIGGER]

I too would like a sixth gear. But to say that you are pushing the motor to run at 80-85 is strange to me.  I've run at 90-100 for miles and miles at a stretch with the bike just humming along. These are the best high speed cruising bikes I've ridden in my 47 years of riding.

I have also run long distances at 85 or so.     But I have always felt like I'm pushing the engine just a little.    I led the group for 200 plus miles then they led.    Problem with following, especially on back road 2 lane highways, is that when you encounter obstacles such as road construction, traffic lights, slow vehicles, etc. you I had to run short distances 100+ mph to catch back up and I don't like doing that.    One of the main reasons I like riding by myself.    Another reason is both my son and his buddy own construction companies and they have to stop a lot and jerk their phones out.    All thru breakfast and pizza at lunch they were on their phones working out problems.  HA

[Wizzard]

I rode many miles at 85 + on my way to Fairbanks and back and had no problems at all. It does kill the mileage though.

[Challenger]

This sounds like more of a compatibility problem than a design flaw with the Valkyrie. I'm not sure what it would take to hurt the Valk motor, but high speed isn't it. The only down side to no sixth gear is fuel mileage drops off dramatically above 80 mph. I generally run 80 to 90 on the super slab. I quit worrying about high RPM years ago and still cruise there on my 21 year old I/S. Check out the High mileage Valk thread.  
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,51704.0.html

[f6john]

I have to agree with Digger. I don’t worry about pushing the Valkyrie too hard, I just don’t enjoy running at at those rpms for extended periods of time. Especially since the motor has the guts to pull a deeper gear. It’s really just a personal preference of how I like to cruise.

[Sorcerer]

The only time I felt uneasy was after 115 mph. After 120 mph that little guy on my shoulder would start to get fidgety. At 130 mph he would get down right panicked. There was still motor left but I would listen to him at 130. As far as fuel mileage goes, running at 90 on I-90 in SD, 2 up pulling a Cycle Mate cm1000 into a sustained 45 mph head wind ( unknown head wind, Valk didn’t care) the bike started sputtering at 80 miles on the trip meter. 4.2 gallons = 19 mpg.

[old2soon]

The only time I felt uneasy was after 115 mph. After 120 mph that little guy on my shoulder would start to get fidgety. At 130 mph he would get down right panicked. There was still motor left but I would listen to him at 130. As far as fuel mileage goes, running at 90 on I-90 in SD, 2 up pulling a Cycle Mate cm1000 into a sustained 45 mph head wind ( unknown head wind, Valk didn’t care) the bike started sputtering at 80 miles on the trip meter. 4.2 gallons = 19 mpg.

               Did similar one year leavin my Brothers place in Illinois and headin back to Missouri. Fueled just before I got onto I-55 S. Less than 130 miles later I hit reserve. 6 gals of 87 octane turned into not only air pollution BUT a frikkin HUGE amount of fun.  Those 6 carbs git down right THIRSTY runnin over the ton fer extended periods!  And she will Still break that car tire loose on a hard launch.  I can't recall anyone here blowin up one of these engines. Iffin I iz wrong someone will chime in. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Agreed....those speeds just south of triple digits for extended periods won't hurt anything but the wallet. I've done it more than once but only when needed, not as a general practice....you simply have no need to run that hard and fast unless needed. One case for me was when I was visiting my daughter in central Illinois and got word of my sis-in-law having had a stroke and the family was asked to gather in case things turned terminal....thankfully they didn't. My wife was at another sister's place in the Columbus, OH area so I jumped on the bike and headed out to be with her and family. It was 362 miles and under 5 hrs., stopping for gas and having to go through Indianapolis & most of Columbus slows you down some.

The only real problem I've ever had riding at excessive speeds for extended periods is it's difficult to break the suction when trying to dismount. 

[Jess from VA]

The Valk 5th gear is a true overdrive ratio-wise, but the flat 6 runs at high RPMs in all gears, naturally and easily.

It took me a couple years to get used to it after two decades on a big twin before the Valk.  And I still shift for non-existent 6th from time to time anyway (good thing the bike doesn't mind).

At 80 or above (on any road with any speed limit), the coppers in my state (VA) can arrest you and take you away in cuffs (and tow your bike somewhere) at their discretion.  So I hold it to 79 indicated (which is really about 75 mph with our built-in speedo error of 5%).  

I ain't never been arrested and taken away in cuffs for anything, and don't need that kind of excitement at my age.  Though I spent many years in courtrooms, it was always for some other poor bastard.  And it really isn't that much fun (and isn't cheap).  

[Avanti]

If you leave 80 mph behind it will take you longer to get to your destination due to stopping for fuel.  You might as well enjoy the ride and the next ride and the next ride.

[98valk]

Honda stupidly put a lower OD 5th gear in the Valkyrie instead of just using the higher OD 5th gear the Goldwing 1500 has. 
I use a 205/65-16 tire which puts the RPMs equal to the GW 1500 rpms.

[baldo]

Honda stupidly put a lower OD 5th gear in the Valkyrie instead of just using the higher OD 5th gear the Goldwing 1500 has.  
I use a 205/65-16 tire which puts the RPMs equal to the GW 1500 rpms.

If someone was into the gearbox for something, could that gear be swapped out for the GW gear?

Wasn't there an aftermarket 6 speed gearbox for the Valks? Does Baker sound right?

[old2soon]

       These days stead of a 6th gear I want a Japan only Valkyrie with that reverse gear. IF you've EVER parked at the wrong angle you KNOW of What I speak!  RIDE SAFE.

[98valk]

Honda stupidly put a lower OD 5th gear in the Valkyrie instead of just using the higher OD 5th gear the Goldwing 1500 has.  
I use a 205/65-16 tire which puts the RPMs equal to the GW 1500 rpms.

If someone was into the gearbox for something, could that gear be swapped out for the GW gear?

Wasn't there an aftermarket 6 speed gearbox for the Valks? Does Baker sound right?

only aftermarket was the mario gears from Italy with a higher OD than the GW 1500. Big BF did not like them. His review of them was on his site.  Lamont found out about them and imported them.

My reading indicates that the '97-00 GW gear set will swap into the Valkyrie engine.  Pre '97 will not.

good thread here with much info
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,29276.0.html

[msb]

If you leave 80 mph behind it will take you longer to get to your destination due to stopping for fuel.  You might as well enjoy the ride and the next ride and the next ride.

Well said...my feelings exactly   I'm thankful I survived my earlier days regularly bombing around at 100 + mph on much less capable bikes...I hope to enjoy many more years on my Valk.
That being said, after all these years I do still forget myself now and then and find myself going for another gear. I also like the fact however, that I dont always have to shift down a gear from 5th when in the hills and mountains.

[Valker]

There are several companies around this country who will machine a set of custom ring gear and pinions to your specified ratios. Changing the final drive ratios will accomplish the desired reduction.
I've ridden Hondas since 1968. I figure "pushing it" engine wise is a percent of redline. Fifty % of redline on the Valk is 3250 RPM. That figures out to about 70mph. That means redline would be about 140mph. I've spun Hondas with an 11,000 rpm redline for hours and hours at 10,000 rpm (GL500 Interstate) which was just below 100mph. Never an issue.

[cookiedough]

It is, at least for me though personal preference, to be cruising along at say 3000 rpms vs. over say 3500 rpms at those much higher speeds.  I like my near 70 mph at around 3000 rpms seems to be the sweet spot I like to be in much into the 80's and the engine/exhaust, etc. gets a tad bit too loud for my tastes.
Lower rpms would be nice much past 75 mph for sure, at least for me.

My kids 1997 honda magna 750cc likes to REV higher than our Valks.  I put in a 17 tooth sprocket in the rear vs. standard 16 tooth sprocket to lower rpms near 400 rpms at hwy. speeds and LOVE IT.  It gets 2-3 more mpg on average around 50 avg mpg and lower rpms at hwy speeds decreases noise level as well as not really seeing any noticeable decline much at all in performance.  I surely in town 25-30 mph can keep it in 2nd gear at a much quieter rpm level with 17 tooth vs. 16 tooth sprocket for the chain while not shifting as often or as quickly which I like not shifting up/down all the time, thus I have a VAlk running 5th gear doing 30-35 mph very often.

I use to have a 1984 honda magna way back from 1988 to 1998 and loved it having a 6th gear, but would lug the engine if shifting from 5th to 6th gear at 55 mph or lower is a MUST to be around 60 mph to shift into 6th gear lowering engine rpms drastically and much quieter at hwy. speeds I like much better.

I think most of us would prefer a 6th gear not only for a possible slight bump in mpg (at most 1 mpg probably)  but as well for reduced engine/exhaust noise lowering rpms.  If no one had a 6th gear cycle though only 5 gears none the wiser though right??

[DIGGER]

I guess if our Vslkyries had 6 gears.....we would be wanting 7 gears...ha

[rocketray]

do not ride any faster than you are comfortable with--trust your instincts-they are never wrong--they have evolved over a million years--at 69 y.o. your reflexes aren't as good as at 18--an MRI at your age WILL show at least some signs of dementia. Plenty of guys at the racetrack can sense when they are over their head and slow down..maybe it's a 6th sense. As Clint Eastwood said"a man just has to know his limits".As far as hurting the Valkyrie?..that  isn't an issue....a bigger windshield is certainly going to keep some air off you and make it easier to ride but at higher speed the increased wind resistance you will lose some gas mileage

[cookiedough]

sort of off subject though, but auto mfgs. went from 3/4 speed to now the more common 5 and 6 speed trannies.  NOW in recent years,  is not unheard of between 7 and 10 speed transmissions.  I wonder why so many?  Does a F150 V6 engine really need 10 speeds?  What is the REAL benefit in terms of speed/power or mpg or running lower rpms or ?? when it comes to say 6 or 7 speeds to 10 speed trannies?  Inquiring minds want to know?   Gee, my dinosaur 2017 tundra has 6 speeds and feel it needs NO MORE, although a less beefy 4.30 rear axle ratio (would prefer 3.90) to get better mpg would be nice.

[98valk]

sort of off subject though, but auto mfgs. went from 3/4 speed to now the more common 5 and 6 speed trannies.  NOW in recent years,  is not unheard of between 7 and 10 speed transmissions.  I wonder why so many?  Does a F150 V6 engine really need 10 speeds?  What is the REAL benefit in terms of speed/power or mpg or running lower rpms or ?? when it comes to say 6 or 7 speeds to 10 speed trannies?  Inquiring minds want to know?   Gee, my dinosaur 2017 tundra has 6 speeds and feel it needs NO MORE, although a less beefy 4.30 rear axle ratio (would prefer 3.90) to get better mpg would be nice.

mpg. with FI the engine can have low rpms since it doesn't need air velocity through a carburetor to maintain an air/fuel ratio.

[cookiedough]

sort of off subject though, but auto mfgs. went from 3/4 speed to now the more common 5 and 6 speed trannies.  NOW in recent years,  is not unheard of between 7 and 10 speed transmissions.  I wonder why so many?  Does a F150 V6 engine really need 10 speeds?  What is the REAL benefit in terms of speed/power or mpg or running lower rpms or ?? when it comes to say 6 or 7 speeds to 10 speed trannies?  Inquiring minds want to know?   Gee, my dinosaur 2017 tundra has 6 speeds and feel it needs NO MORE, although a less beefy 4.30 rear axle ratio (would prefer 3.90) to get better mpg would be nice.

mpg. with FI the engine can have low rpms since it doesn't need air velocity through a carburetor to maintain an air/fuel ratio.

makes sense but in reality the 10 speeds not much better than 6 or 7 speed trannies in mpg.  Our old 4 speed auto pontiac vibe 1.8L gets 31 hwy mpg and 15 years old while say the new subaru crosstek (although AWD loosing say 2 mpg due to AWD) same sized about 2.0L  engine also gets only 31 hwy mpg and has more gears say 6 or 7.   Even the new honda HRV (yet again AWD) only gets 32 hwy mpg and that is a 1.5L smaller engine and pretty sure that has 6 or 7 speed trannies as well vs. only 4 speeds.

govt. regulations stepping in demanding mfgs. get better mpg out of vehicles nowadays but in reality especially in trucks do NOT get much better, if any, mpg than they did since the 1980s.   My old when had it 1990 chevy silverado 350 V8 got 17 hwy. mpg and most 1/2 ton trucks in real world driving get not much better now say 19 hwy mpg.    Yes, hp went from say 250 to now pushing 400hp, but it got the job done just not as quick off the line.

[f6john]

I remembered that my first Honda was a six speed! 72 360 that had the disc brake on the front. Seems some of the 360’s had drums front and rear and a five speed. I remember after I bought my next bike a 550 four, 3 or for of us were going for a ride but one guys bike was down so I loaned him my 360. He didn’t know about the 6th gear but when he found it accidentally, he was all smiles, he had a 350 or 360 five speed at the time.

[Rams]

With the Fat Lady's torque, who wouldn't want a sixth gear if one was available.   I find myself feeling for it once in a while only to remember that I'm already in OD.   I agree that it would be nice but, I have never worried about over revving the fat lady while on the highway.   But, my fat ladies have only seen triple digits twice to my knowledge.   If I'm riding with a group that wants to exceed the posted speed limit more than about 5 mph, I just let them go.  I have no doubt I'll catch up with them when they have to stop for fuel.

Rams 

[Alberta Patriot]

I'm all good with my bike just the way it is. A few times I have ridden for some time in 4th and not noticed until looking at the tach.

[Patrick]

15 or 20 years it was tried. You might be able to find the posts about Mario [ I think that was the name] gears.  From what I remember they didn't work out as well as expected. Apparently from what I remember the Valk doesn't like the lower RPM at the higher speeds.

[Pappy!]

You are definitely not pushing the engine at 80-85mph. Heck you have almost another 50mph left to play with!
Pretty sure your big cube Harleys won't keep up with you then!

[Willow]

Some of us are getting confused about the need for more gears.

More gears are needed for engines that have narrower power bands.  The Valkyrie (and some other motorcycles) has a wide power band.  What you want is not necessarily more gears but a higher top gear (more overdrive).  Honestly the Valkyrie could perform very well with four gears but I agree that it would sometimes be nice if the top gear ran at a bit lower RPM.

[indybobm]

According to the article, the overdrive gears did not deliver as expected. There was problems getting the engine to rev higher in 5th with the overdrive gears. They found themselves shifting back to 4th to get to higher speeds. Ended up putting the original gears back in. Honda got it right.
 

[Bighead]

The only time I felt uneasy was after 115 mph. After 120 mph that little guy on my shoulder would start to get fidgety. At 130 mph he would get down right panicked. There was still motor left but I would listen to him at 130. As far as fuel mileage goes, running at 90 on I-90 in SD, 2 up pulling a Cycle Mate cm1000 into a sustained 45 mph head wind ( unknown head wind, Valk didn’t care) the bike started sputtering at 80 miles on the trip meter. 4.2 gallons = 19 mpg.

At 130 you were within 5-6 mph of the limit of the phat gurl.

[DIGGER]

Ive had my Valk Tourer to 120Mph one time with throttle left over.   I chickened out.    My buddy at the time said he would max it out and got 128 mph.     

[Bighead]

Ive had my Valk Tourer to 120Mph one time with throttle left over.   I chickened out.    My buddy at the time said he would max it out and got 128 mph.     

Yep about 135 is tops with stock Valk. Kinda fun getting there as quick as it will get there though. 

[Rams]

Some of us are getting confused about the need for more gears.

More gears are needed for engines that have narrower power bands.  The Valkyrie (and some other motorcycles) has a wide power band.  What you want is not necessarily more gears but a higher top gear (more overdrive).  Honestly the Valkyrie could perform very well with four gears but I agree that it would sometimes be nice if the top gear ran at a bit lower RPM.

That would be true also.  Doesn’t mean I won’t still try to find one more gear even if it’s only in my imagination. 

Rams

[3W-lonerider]

i now have a bike that has a 6 speed transmission. sad part about it is, i can't use 6th gear unless i'm doing 80 plus.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Running a pre 97 GW gearbox in my custom Valk. I doubt most riders would notice any difference. Slightly less revs in top but no appreciable decrease in fuel consumption. Built 2 Valks with Mario O/D kits and they work fine but fifth is a really high ratio (feels more like a 7th) you have to stay in 4th for longer which might not suit if you are a 'short shifter'. If you've ever split GL crankcases you'll see why 6 speeds aren't an option - way tight.

[cookiedough]

i now have a bike that has a 6 speed transmission. sad part about it is, i can't use 6th gear unless i'm doing 80 plus.

wow, what Vtwin (probably) do you have that you have to wait until 80 mph to shift into 6th gear?  Seems pretty much useless to 90% of driving conditions then to have a 6th gear.  Like I said, my old 1984 honda magna had a 6th gear but if under 55 mph it would lug and chug NO power must be at 60 mph to get it to shift right without lugging no power.   80 mph to shift into 6th gear seems pointless to even have a 6th gear.

Am sure MPG will not help much with a 6th gear, but lower rpms/noise would be nice running at 75 mph on up.

[3W-lonerider]

Just bought a brand new kawasaki voyager. Now once i get the ecm reprogramed with ivans performance flash running in 6 th should be fine at 70