Why to change gear.?

I find it best to change gear just before the con rods leap out the side of the engine

I'm feeling a bit right now!

Tim

[Stu]

Originally Posted by sinbad

I imagine a restricted bike might benefit from a larger rear sprocket more than a full power one?

No, as accel on restricted bike is fine, it's top speed that lacks IMHO

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah it might, certainly won't lose anything except maybe a little mpg. But you'd only feel it at higher speeds, where a lower gear does the same thing anyway.

Originally Posted by Stu

No, as accel on restricted bike is fine, it's top speed that lacks IMHO

I see. I haven't ridden a restricted bike. I read that they're similar to normal bikes up to the mid-range, and then have nothing to give after that? What sort of rpm do they get to in top gear? Obviously nowhere near the limiter, so would it be possible to increase top speed by changing (lengthening) the gearing to keep it in the gutsy zone?

I guess with a larger rear sprocket you'd spend almost no time at all in first gear if you were giving it beans, it would probably be a pain unless you revved it into gutless zone and that would defeat the object anyway.
Interesting.

i tend to change up when the little light tells me to shiftup, around 16,500K RPM

Hello scott

Right, 33bhp engines - nothing after 8000 rpm, power curve tails off alot after 7500 rpm. Max power is around 7500 rpm...strangly enough, this follows the torque curve of the unrestricted engine.

I dont bother changing up any higher than just over 7500 rpm (unless I'm looking for some more of that loverly sound) if I'm out for a thrashing, but most of the time 5-6k is my change up time. Depends on the situation really. Just change up when you need to; there is no real right or wrong rpm (ok, it might not be a great idea to change up at 2000 rpm), but it might not be great when riding through heavy traffic to be at 6000 rpm in first gear, just because you think you should be changing up at 7500 for second gear!

Restricted SV's need a bit of work to keep them on the boil when out for a thrashing; drop below 4000 rpm and nothing is happening very quickly

Matt