SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> 5'th Gear working right..?
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1214576654

Message started by Jackhammer on 06/27/08 at 07:24:13

Title: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by Jackhammer on 06/27/08 at 07:24:13

I know there has been a lot of talk about the 5'th gear on the savage being a little short, but i feel like mine is barely (if at all) different from 4'th. When going about 40 mph, if i shift from 4'th to 5'th I barely even notice any difference in RPM's. Is this normal for the savage? By the time i get to 65 mph I feel like she's rev'ing pretty high. I'm just not familiar enough with the savage to know if this is normal. Thoughts?

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by dills84 on 06/27/08 at 07:29:30

top speed is only 80ish (depending on the bike)... so by 65MPH you ARE revving pretty high. I havent really noticed on my savage. 5th seems to work as its supposed too.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by Starlifter on 06/27/08 at 07:35:10

This is normal. As you slow down and shift into 4th from 5th you will fel the difference. Above 50 MPH I shift into 5th, and the bike smoothes out just a little. I think the new 5th gear is just a tweak from the old four gear setup of the savage transmission.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by Toymaker on 06/27/08 at 07:36:56

I have a slightly oversize tire (150/90-15) and with that, I picked up about a 10% gain in speed to rpm's. So now when the speedo say 55, I'm doing 60.5 -ish. I do notice a difference in 4th and 5th. But to say I'm topped-out at 80.......well I know I can get more than that......but I don't like going that fast anyway. This man don't like getting stopped by the federals.....
:D

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by 4carbcorvair on 06/27/08 at 08:45:23

I noticed that on mine too, not much difference from 4th to 5th. I played back and forth a little bit and there is a slight difference, not much. IMO, first should be a bit higher (numerically), it seems a bit fast in first. I would like the ability to go a bit slower in traffic without slipping the clutch or engageing and disengaging. And 5th should be a bit lower (numerically).

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by Jackhammer on 06/27/08 at 08:47:30

Thanks for the feedback guys. After playing around with it a bit this afternoon, your right, i did notice a slight difference. I guess i just expected it to be more "overdrive" style. At least i don't think anything is wrong with the bike. Thanks guys.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by verslagen1 on 06/27/08 at 09:00:25

typically change in rpms from 1st to 4th is about 1000 rpms (digital tach 500 rpm increments)
however 4th to 5th is only 500 rpms.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by sluggo on 06/27/08 at 12:26:05

494441415E15192D0 wrote:

top speed is only 80ish (depending on the bike)... so by 65MPH you ARE revving pretty high. I havent really noticed on my savage. 5th seems to work as its supposed too.

80ish you say... time for some jetting work. mine curizes 80ish all day and will do 90is no problem.

fifth is more like an overdrive than a new gear.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by BurnPgh on 06/27/08 at 13:26:17

ditto to what sluggo said on both counts. I've only ever been bawlzy enough to get to 85 (in a 55 zone) but it WILL most certainly hit an indicated 95 and maybe the ton if you push it. I wouldnt do so for extended periods but days trips at 80 im sure would be no issue. I generally dont break 65-70 though so i cant be absolutely certain. The 5th gear seems like it was kind of just thrown in when suzuki re-released the savage so they could say "Hey look, its got 5 gears like the other cruisers!" Could've done without it but it is kind of nice to have. Save a little gas, turn the revs down a bit like an OD. What year is your bike dill? The redlines for gears are 1 - 35, 2 - 55, 3 - 75, 4 - 90, 5 - 100. The only way you should be revving real high at 65 is if your in 3rd and even then you arent at redline.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by T Mack 1 on 06/27/08 at 14:58:18

Normal.... not much ofr a jump from 4th to 5th. I keep looking for a 6trh.... ;D :o

Add to Suzuki wish-lists, either a taller fifth gear (but there is no more room in the case for it.... or a smaller rear sprocket ( with speedo adaptor / corrector).

yea,... I know convert to chain drive..... but I would rather see Suzuki make a "better Fuel economy kit" with all the peices in it.

T Mack

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by Jay on 06/27/08 at 19:41:14

Fifth really is, as Sluggo pointed out, like "overdrive". I hit it when I get up to about 60mph, and that's really when I notice a beneficial difference in RPM's.
As for the bike only doing about 80ish, I had throttle to spare at 87mph; but then my "pucker factor" kicked in. :D
Ride safe,
Jay

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by ALittlebird on 06/29/08 at 12:58:22

The distance between 4 and 5 is so small that I've caught myself on numerous occasions missing 4th completely. I just toe up a little harder than I should.

I gave up trying to count gears. My assumption if I'm doing 60 mph I'm in 5th.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by bill67 on 06/29/08 at 13:36:17

I wished 5th gear was an overdrive it geared way to low.

Title: Re: 5'th Gear working right..?
Post by willrph on 06/29/08 at 16:45:21

Does any kow why Suzuki geared it so low? Was it just space in the transmission? It seems they could have taken better advantage of the engines power curve.