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Message started by Kirill Timofeev on 02/10/14 at 21:42:47

Title: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by Kirill Timofeev on 02/10/14 at 21:42:47

If anybody here had chance to compare 4 gear savage vs 5 gear savage it would be very interesting to know what they think. What would I gain if I'll upgrade 4 gear box to 5 gear box?

Title: Re: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by verslagen1 on 02/10/14 at 21:55:53

They kinda screwed up 5th gear, too narrow a jump.

I've had both, started out with a 5spd. then picked up a 4spd. Didn't keep it long that way. You do have a wider spread, but not difficult. a tach would've helped with the transition.

Title: Re: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by jcstokes on 02/11/14 at 11:35:42

In my frequent fits of absent mindedness I've ridden in fourth on our "freeways"? and at 100-110 kmph 60-68 mph there's about a 500 rpm difference between fourth and fifth.

Title: Re: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by Kirill Timofeev on 02/11/14 at 19:57:17

Thanks folks, probably not much reason to upgrade gear box.

Title: Re: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by savagebob on 02/11/14 at 23:15:17

From reports I read on here, the 4 speed actually has a better spread of gears. Enough to convince me to actually seek out a 4 speed anyway. ;)

Title: Re: 5 gears vs 4 gears
Post by mpescatori on 02/12/14 at 02:16:13

My personal experience.

Looking at graphs of gear spread as a function of ratios and revolutions/minute (hence, scientific data, not just "someone's wisdom")
5th gear in a 5-speed is essentially in line with 4th gear in a 4-speed.

True, there is a minute difference in primary gear ratio, but it's negligible, and puts the two top gears on par.

So the real difference is that in a 5-speed, 4th gear is really a "halfway" gear between 3rd and top.

I have a 4-speed, and after my chain drive conversion, which upped final drive from 2.94:1 (belt drive) to 2.88:1 (17/49 chain drive)
AND
a rear tire change from 140/80x15 to an unexpected 140/90x15 (which upped tire diameter a bit)
I now have my final drive ratio which is some 8% taller than previously.

Not much, you might think,
BUT
in the real world, 3rd gear is now my everyday downtown cruising gear, and I can use 4th gear (top) only when doing at least 75-80Km/h (50mph)

So... if I did have a 5-speed, I'd often be cruising in 4th gear instead of either straining 3rd at 4000rpm or riding 4th at 2500...

On a big single, 500rpm DO mean a lot, especially at lower revs.

Oh... and DO fit a tach... ;)