Gearing and highway speeds?

[Lord Popgun]

Like Red1100 when I am just going along at 45-60 I some times forget to shift to 5th. It must be old age.

So far in my around town riding I've pretty much only shifted to 5th just to make sure they remembered to install it at the factory!

[Deftquiver_imp]

I'm in the oposite boat most of the time... I'll find that I'm already in 5th gear because I enjoy the smooth shifting too much, and the CB11 has enough torque to pull in 5th gear.

[GoldOxide_imp]

So I have test ridden the CB11 and really liked it, didn't get to spend much time at higher freeway speeds though. How do you like the 5 speed and the final gear ratio, is it relaxed at 65-70, or is it revving kind of high? Any buzziness/vibration issues?
I would want this bike to do everything from short trips around town to the once or twice a year week long tour.

I've found that the lack of vibration cues is going to take some getting used to. Twice I've found myself going down the freeway at 75 in third gear, happy as a clam. Only when I looked at the tach did I realize that 4th or 5th might work better.

I'm used to my CB750 which runs at 5000 rpm at 75 in top gear. The CB11 is only turning about 4200 rpm at 75. I actually stick to 4th gear on the highway unless I'm planning on spending a lot of time around 75 or higher. Although the engine pulls nicely from the low rpms, I prefer to keep it in the sweet spot on the power band that kicks in around 4800 rpm.

The gears are nicely spaced and there's no need for a 6th gear as far as I'm concerned.

I've found that the lack of vibration cues is going to take some getting used to. Twice I've found myself going down the freeway at 75 in third gear, happy as a clam. Only when I looked at the tach did I realize that 4th or 5th might work better.

I'm used to my CB750 which runs at 5000 rpm at 75 in top gear. The CB11 is only turning about 4200 rpm at 75. I actually stick to 4th gear on the highway unless I'm planning on spending a lot of time around 75 or higher. Although the engine pulls nicely from the low rpms, I prefer to keep it in the sweet spot on the power band that kicks in around 4800 rpm.

The gears are nicely spaced and there's no need for a 6th gear as far as I'm concerned.
I generally concur. 4th leaves alotta options open. 5th is okay for decent moving rush hour traffic, 6th used on long-hull cruising where power is not required.