5 or 6 speed? Gear indicator?

[Wisedrum]

The 5 gear box of the 2013 Honda is good the way it is.
Don't miss a sixth gear. The fith gear is long enough to not cruise around in high revs at common speeds in common traffic situations. Fully reved it reaches up to over 240km/h before the rev limiter, earlier the speed cutter, that's another story, will set an end to 'acceleration'. Theoretically, but 90HP are not able to do...

Wisedrum

[AzBob_imp]

I've never had a bike with a gear indicator before and I will admit it's nice to have but it would not be a deciding factor in my purchasing.

The 6th gear though is almost a must, I'm always looking for another gear on my HD and at one point I wanted to install a 6 speed trans but just couldn't afford it at the time.

That's because redline on your HD was like 5000rpm. The redline on the CB1100 is 8.5k and the torque curve is flat all the way up, making max horsepower around 7.5k. There's a lot more revs to work with on the CB1100's engine. I never feel like I need a 6th gear on it.

[LongRanger_imp]

Just think -- when 7-speed gearboxes become the norm, everyone will frown upon 6-speed gearboxes.

[Houtman_imp]

I never use my 6 th gear , not even on the Interstate.

[the Ferret]

I use my 6th gear every time I ride

[alprider]

i use the 6th always too in villages/towns by 30mile speed/50km speed...wehre is the problem........ ????...sooo much torque.............................

[Nortoon_imp]

I use sixth when cruising just to extend my fuel range. If I am enthusiastically romping through the corners on some backroad I use fifth or less. The lower gears decelerate and accelerate quicker which provides more control when swooping through the corners.

I use the gearbox and throttle to control speed when cornering. The brakes are just for surprizes like deer or the big chrome grill of a 4x4 pick-up that suddenly appear.

[misterprofessionality]

pretty much agree with everybody else here. I can cruise 80mph comfortably in 5th gear, without revving very high (only about 4k?). I could shift up and lower my revs even more, save gas, ect, but im usually in traffic around other cars and sitting at 4k just gives me more engine brake/throttle response "just in case." if i'm on an empty road going long distances i'll shift to 6th gear and cruise at 3k rpms. so, basically, it's "tour" mode.