Install a 6-speed trans on a 2013?

[GoldOxide_imp]

... for some there is a resonance, a sort of therapy that hums through the bones cruising mildly while in an elevated gear.

[the Ferret]

Lol maybe yours doesn't want to be there, but mine kinda likes it there, just cruising the country curvy back roads and I'm far more likely to use my brakes for rapid deceleration in dodging cars....well pickup trucks and farm equipment, than using the throttle

Use of throttle is more in a riders mind and desire than it is based in necessity. Some guys just have to ride like they are in a road race every time they mount up, to challenge themselves, feel the thrill of danger so to speak, others dont have that need and just ride to ride, to relax, feel the calming effect that a nice ride can produce.. I have a nephew that rides like the first type. Claims if he tries to ride at the speed limit he will fall asleep. Thinks speed limits and double yellow lines are just suggestions for the sheep that follow the rules. He rides on weekends with a group of guys like that. One of them crashes about every other ride. But they are young and tough and hopefully will live long enough to learn. I on the other hand are like the second group. No challenge, just joy, whether I'm on a 58 hp bike or 150 hp bike. Just ride, just rack up the miles, just burn the gas and wear out the rubber, just feel the wind, and the curves, relax, enjoy the scenery and the weather and that doesn't require a lot of effort or rpms or gear changes. Just ride.

[Cormanus]

The foregoing discussion makes the point pretty clearly that there is no right answer to the question of the 'right gear' to be in — at least within the boundaries of not harming the engine.

Now to respond to some Ferret questions ...

Wouldn’t bother /= prefer.

Given both options, same exact bike in every way- AND having rode both to feel the difference- would you still choose the 5?


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It’s a good question, Dubs. Given when I ride distances I like winding roads, I’ve no real need for 6 gears. When I do have to take a freeway, I’d probably appreciate the extra gear. But, if I had a chance to trade mine for a 6-gear model (unlikely, as I don’t think there are any in Australia) I wouldn’t take it unless the deal was just too good to pass up.

It’s a good question, Dubs. Given when I ride distances I like winding roads, I’ve no real need for 6 gears. When I do have to take a freeway, I’d probably appreciate the extra gear. But, if I had a chance to trade mine for a 6-gear model (unlikely, as I don’t think there are any in Australia) I wouldn’t take it unless the deal was just too good to pass up.
To put Dubs question another way .... 2 identical bikes sitting on the sales floor, same price, except one is a 6 speed and one is a 5 speed. Bikes are identical except for the transmissions. Which would you choose?

Like m in sc says you don't have to shift into 6th if you don't want to, you can ride around all day in 5th.

We've had guys on this forum advocating keeping our bikes between 4000 and 6000 rpms. 4000 rpms would be speeding even in 3rd gear on the 45-55 mph roads around here. I'm not riding around all day in 3rd gear.

I also know a guy on another forum that says the best/most efficient rpm for running a bike is at 85% of the available revs. On a CB that would be 7250 rpms.

And lugging TO ME is when the bike is chugging and bucking and will not pull cleanly, requiring a downshift to pull cleanly.

Have you ever tried shifting into the next higher gear only to find out you were already in top gear?

On my ST 1300 with no gear indicator, I once rode about 25 miles on the freeway before finding out I had another gear to shift in to. I had been running in 4th lol.

I've had 3 speed, 4 speed, 5 speed and 6 speed motorcycles. All were able to do the speed limit and more So that begs the question are more than 3 speeds really necessary?

1. I'd take the 6-speed.

2. See another post of m in sc's. I'm afraid I've always been one of them, although I'm learning ...

top gear isn't a goal for me, most people ride/drive like it is, which i never understood.(think about it).
Also, it was 23 years before I had a crash, so time and mileage means nothing. Ive never totalled a car, or even wrecked one, (in 36 years of driving) but i still put my seatbelt on, so that logic IMHO is flawed. I've had to dodge cars, and i can do it on 40 hp bikes, and have, many times. I just don't ride them in 6th gear at 45 mph (very often) either. Heck, im usually never out of 4th in town on the CB.. not because i don't want to 'shift more', that's just not where it wants to be.

3. Yep. Done it often on the CB.

4. Done that on the CB too.

5. Well, if necessity is the only goal, then no. Whatever number gets you to cruising speed is enough. But necessity is not the sole goal here, is it? Presumably using more gears evolved over time because it was better for engines, lowered fuel consumption and delivers greater comfort at highway speeds.

[tommymck_imp]

The foregoing discussion makes the point pretty clearly that there is no right answer to the question of the 'right gear' to be in — at least within the boundaries of not harming the engine.

Now to respond to some Ferret questions ...

Wouldn’t bother /= prefer.

Given both options, same exact bike in every way- AND having rode both to feel the difference- would you still choose the 5?


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It’s a good question, Dubs. Given when I ride distances I like winding roads, I’ve no real need for 6 gears. When I do have to take a freeway, I’d probably appreciate the extra gear. But, if I had a chance to trade mine for a 6-gear model (unlikely, as I don’t think there are any in Australia) I wouldn’t take it unless the deal was just too good to pass up.

It’s a good question, Dubs. Given when I ride distances I like winding roads, I’ve no real need for 6 gears. When I do have to take a freeway, I’d probably appreciate the extra gear. But, if I had a chance to trade mine for a 6-gear model (unlikely, as I don’t think there are any in Australia) I wouldn’t take it unless the deal was just too good to pass up.
To put Dubs question another way .... 2 identical bikes sitting on the sales floor, same price, except one is a 6 speed and one is a 5 speed. Bikes are identical except for the transmissions. Which would you choose?

Like m in sc says you don't have to shift into 6th if you don't want to, you can ride around all day in 5th.

We've had guys on this forum advocating keeping our bikes between 4000 and 6000 rpms. 4000 rpms would be speeding even in 3rd gear on the 45-55 mph roads around here. I'm not riding around all day in 3rd gear.

I also know a guy on another forum that says the best/most efficient rpm for running a bike is at 85% of the available revs. On a CB that would be 7250 rpms.

And lugging TO ME is when the bike is chugging and bucking and will not pull cleanly, requiring a downshift to pull cleanly.

Have you ever tried shifting into the next higher gear only to find out you were already in top gear?

On my ST 1300 with no gear indicator, I once rode about 25 miles on the freeway before finding out I had another gear to shift in to. I had been running in 4th lol.

I've had 3 speed, 4 speed, 5 speed and 6 speed motorcycles. All were able to do the speed limit and more So that begs the question are more than 3 speeds really necessary?

1. I'd take the 6-speed.

2. See another post of m in sc's. I'm afraid I've always been one of them, although I'm learning ...

top gear isn't a goal for me, most people ride/drive like it is, which i never understood.(think about it).
Also, it was 23 years before I had a crash, so time and mileage means nothing. Ive never totalled a car, or even wrecked one, (in 36 years of driving) but i still put my seatbelt on, so that logic IMHO is flawed. I've had to dodge cars, and i can do it on 40 hp bikes, and have, many times. I just don't ride them in 6th gear at 45 mph (very often) either. Heck, im usually never out of 4th in town on the CB.. not because i don't want to 'shift more', that's just not where it wants to be.

3. Yep. Done it often on the CB.

4. Done that on the CB too.

5. Well, if necessity is the only goal, then no. Whatever number gets you to cruising speed is enough. But necessity is not the sole goal here, is it? Presumably using more gears evolved over time because it was better for engines, lowered fuel consumption and delivers greater comfort at highway speeds.

5. Well, if necessity is the only goal, then no. Whatever number gets you to cruising speed is enough. But necessity is not the sole goal here, is it? Presumably using more gears evolved over time because it was better for engines, lowered fuel consumption and delivers greater comfort at highway speeds.
Plenty of times, I find myself at the speed limit accelerating through the gears to third or fourth, then go directly to 6th to cruise at a nice leisurely pace for country road riding. I wouldn't mind less gears, but I'd want the top gear to have the same ratio as the current 6th.

[Tom_imp]

Surely I'm not the only one who prefers 5 speed.
I think with 6 speed your changing gear way to much for very little gain if any.

I'm a 5 speed man too

[1985CB450_imp]

the comment about the slipper clutch is laughable, truly. the 1st time i experienced one was on an aprilia SL1000 my ex wife had that had been tuned, and just flat out ripped. it did, absolutely, keep the back wheel from locking up. same on my ktm, ducati, and i added one to my grom when i went bonkers on the 4 stroke motor build and would absolutely lock up the rear wheel on an abrupt decel. It allows you to match rpm coming out of a corner much better. there is no down side to slipper clutch and is absolutely beneficial on certain bikes and riding styles..

as far as the 5 vs 6 speed. I can ride the CB at 2500 in 6th, have done it, and it will accelerate from there 'ok'. . its much easier to do with the power commander than it was, but i never really lug the motor riding. To me, 'lugging' a motor is, if you are at 'x' rpm, and try to accelerate and it just falls on its face.. you are lugging it.

But if you don't like 6th gear.. then just dont use it.

Glad somebody else gets it

What I don’t understand is why would anyone ride in a gear where their 1140cc bike accelerates only “ok”…..

Too many years riding in city traffic for me to put myself in that position when a simple gear change improves your chances to get out of the way quickly

I for one, don't put myself into situations where I have to get out of the way quickly. Also if necessary I could quickly downshift to enhance acceleration if needed. Takes but a fraction of a second.

The CB 1100 suits me and my riding style, even if it's not your riding style. My (2) FZ1s had 125 hp, my ST 1300 125 hp and my FJR 150 hp. I rode them on the same roads at the same speeds in the exact same way as I ride my CB 1100. Never once in 220,000 miles on those 4 bikes combined, did I ever have to get out of the way quickly, nor in the 78,000 miles I have put on my (2) CB 1100s, nor the 24,000 miles I have put on my lowly 58 hp NC 750, which btw accelerates like a turtle on downers lol. ( it has other attributes I like)

On the other hand I dont understand why someone seemingly dependent on instant acceleration would choose an 1140 cc bike that weighs 550 pounds and only has 84 hp, which can be out accelerated by any number of 600 cc bikes out there that weigh 100 pounds less and have more horsepower, not to mention the myriad of 1000 cc bikes currently on the market with less weight and more than 100 horsepower, sometimes way more. Heck, a 40 year old 1983 Honda CB 1100 with 109 hp would be a better choice for someone where instant acceleration was a priority.

Its all a matter of perspective

I for one, don't put myself into situations where I have to get out of the way quickly. Also if necessary I could quickly downshift to enhance acceleration if needed. Takes but a fraction of a second.

The CB 1100 suits me and my riding style, even if it's not your riding style. My (2) FZ1s had 125 hp, my ST 1300 125 hp and my FJR 150 hp. I rode them on the same roads at the same speeds in the exact same way as I ride my CB 1100. Never once in 220,000 miles on those 4 bikes combined, did I ever have to get out of the way quickly, nor in the 78,000 miles I have put on my (2) CB 1100s, nor the 24,000 miles I have put on my lowly 58 hp NC 750, which btw accelerates like a turtle on downers lol. ( it has other attributes I like)

On the other hand I dont understand why someone seemingly dependent on instant acceleration would choose an 1140 cc bike that weighs 550 pounds and only has 84 hp, which can be out accelerated by any number of 600 cc bikes out there that weigh 100 pounds less and have more horsepower, not to mention the myriad of 1000 cc bikes currently on the market with less weight and more than 100 horsepower, sometimes way more. Heck, a 40 year old 1983 Honda CB 1100 with 109 hp would be a better choice for someone where instant acceleration was a priority.

Its all a matter of perspective


The CB will give instant acceleration, you just have to be in the right gear…

top gear isn't a goal for me, most people ride/drive like it is, which i never understood.(think about it).
Also, it was 23 years before I had a crash, so time and mileage means nothing. Ive never totalled a car, or even wrecked one, (in 36 years of driving) but i still put my seatbelt on, so that logic IMHO is flawed. I've had to dodge cars, and i can do it on 40 hp bikes, and have, many times. I just don't ride them in 6th gear at 45 mph (very often) either. Heck, im usually never out of 4th in town on the CB.. not because i don't want to 'shift more', that's just not where it wants to be.

Exactly my point
If I’m running 80+ mph on my 2013 then I’m looking for 6th gear, otherwise not so much. I bought the bike used dirt cheap and the lack of a 6th gear didn’t really factor in as it was such a good deal.

I probably ride harder than most here as it sees redline every time it leaves the garage so my perspective may be slightly biased as such.

Bottom line, if it’s a good deal buy the bike and don’t be afraid to run it hard

[Gone in 60]

Just to give my two cents, I'm with 1985CB450 on this one. My '13 was a great deal for a pristine, low-mile bike when I bought it. Five minutes of research showed me that the price was lower than a '14 most likely due to the five speed. But, it was the right bike at the right time, and I'd had enough black bikes (a '14 dlx would have broken the bank at the time). And at highway speeds, I never regret the lack of a sixth gear. It's not ready to blow up at 80 mph, where it sits for a good portion of any riding I need to do.

[PowerDubs_imp]

I could probably live perfectly fine with a 5-speed.

But boy do I like the ‘14 gauges MUCH better.

Note- the 14 ecu is tuned differently specific for the 6-speed. As noted in the engineering articles that used to be on Hondas website:


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