The R1150R’s 6th gear

BigJugs · Post by **BigJugs** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:11 pm

Cruisin' on the slab at 70mph my boxer turns 3400rpm so I suppose I have the "overdrive" 6th.

Cheers,

P Jensen · Post by **P Jensen** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:28 pm

I have an 04 with the N/C overdrive per the invoice. When shifting from 5th to 6th the RPMs drop about 1000. Runs at about 3800/3900 at 80mph and 4750 at 90mph. Only wish it had the 31/10 rear end ratio from the RS/RT. I would be willing to add a few rpm at cruise for some extra grunt off idle.

Post by **Biff's R** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:49 pm

Al,
I have the "European" standard 6th gear. .80 is the raito. The new 04 bikes have the option on 6th gear. Overdrive(0.70) is an extra charge, while my 6th gear is considered standard. I may have an anomoly for R's in the USA.

There is definitely a difference, because my "old" (2003) red R was at 3800-4000 RPM at 80 mph, but the new silver '04 R is at approx 4500 RPM at 80 mph. There is not a big jump from 5th to 6th on the new bike.

QSIMDO · Post by **QSIMDO** » Mon May 30, 2005 7:30 pm

I'm sure you guys are correct, but at 4k I'm lucky to see 68-69 mph in 6th!

Couldn't get out 'til today to check.
My speedo must be trash.

Post by **MattPie** » Tue May 31, 2005 3:29 pm

QSIMDO wrote: i'm sure you guys are correct, but at 4k I'm lucky to see 68-69 mph in 6th!

Ditto. I have a 2004 (bought Aug 04), and I apparently have the short gears.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:39 am

Acacia wrote:I initiated a discussion on the overdrive 6th subject back in January when I was about to purchase my 50R - and some had not heard of the Overdrive then - thinking is was a reference to the 6th gear that was added after the 1100. My 04 purchased in January of this year has the overdrive 6th - stated as such on the BMWMotorad papers.

The 'standard' 6th gear has a .80 ratio. The 'overdrive' 6th gear is .697 or .70. I also understand this overdrive 6th is the same as that on the RT. The final drive to my knowledge is the same for all 50R's

The 'overdrive' 6th translates to about 3800rpm at an indicated 80mph, whereas the standard is 4000 at an indicated 80mph. 4500 rpm is in a 'happy zone' approaching an indicated 95-100mph with the OD.

If there are other 6th gear ratio's, I am not aware of them.

Code: Select all

Post by **sshallen** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:07 pm

Even with the taller gear, mine still feels like it needs another gear.

Yep.

I have the "overdrive" and that still means 3,900 RPM at 80mph. Really limits cruising. 4,500 rpm for sustained periods of time just sounds like it would abuse the engine.

Interestingly, first gear is too tall. I'm sure the close ratios are nice for the track, but I'd like a lower first gear, a taller sixth, and the other four adjusted as needed between them.

Acacia · Post by **Acacia** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:57 pm

3900 at indicated 80 - sounds like you have the a regular .80, 6th - tire wear condition ?

4500 for extended periods - abuse to the motor? WHAT?

My bike has 2 sweet spots - 3800 or 80 indicated|(with new tires) and over 4500 which it 95 plus.

I recently did several ride sections the same WE of at least 20 miles plus, each at 5000 and over. That is sweet, effortless cruising. Nowhere near the party zone which these bikes also love.

Taking the power and torque bands into account, -that is where the motor begins to come into its stride.

I would hazard to say, not riding up there (at least sometimes) and grocery shopping is more likely to be abuse

Post by **JCsman** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:36 pm

[quote=]"AnonymousOK....if we take HI Lord Gomer statement that the "optional" sixth gear ratio is .70 that is directly opposite to Biff's R claim that his bike tach's 4500 at 80 mph.....Biffs statement indicates that the ratio has to be greater than .80......
[/quote]

What am I missing?
I read the non-overdrive (yeah I agree it is technically an overdrive if < 1.0) was 0.80 and Biff said he turned 4,500 at 80 mph.

Others stated the overdrive 0.7 ratio, 4,000 (near enough) rpm at 80 mph

Take 8/7 x 4,000 = 4,571 (near enough to 4,500).

Does that not support Biff's statement about his second bike?

Post by **sshallen** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:14 pm

Acacia wrote:3900 at indicated 80 - sounds like you have the a regular .80, 6th - tire wear condition ?

Really? But folks above are seeing 69 and 70 mph at 4,000 in sixth... pretty sure I have overdrive if I'm indicating 80mph at 3,900.

4500 for extended periods - abuse to the motor? WHAT?

This might be my own personal hangup, not a bike limitation. If I'm doing an 120 mile interstate segment at 90mph, it just feels like I'm revving the bike to death. Seems like one more gear would put it at 3900 to 4000, gas mileage would improve, etc. Not sure.

I think my mental "rev limiter" has been tuned to V8's for too long.

Paul Mihalka · Post by **Paul Mihalka** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:26 pm

On my '99 R1100RT I did several cross-country rides, and in Kansas/Nebraska/Canada my regular cruise speed is 90. That was around 5.000 rpm. It felt a little busy, but definitely no harm done. At 170K miles the engine was perfect, no oil consumtion, never had the heads off.
My latest crossing was with my R1150R with the long 6th gear. Comparatively it felt real smooth and relaxed.

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:46 pm

Don't forget the damn speedo errors. Most of us haven't got a clue how fast we're REALLY going unless we run a GPS! (Mine's only a couple of Km/hr fast).

So if the speedo is usually 'reading high' on these things, can the tacho be in error as well?

Post by **NoRRmad** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:19 pm

I seem to have an 'intermediate' 6th gear. I know I'm in 6th when the tach reads exactly half of the speedo. 4K RPM at 80.

Acacia · Post by **Acacia** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:42 pm

There are several variables. This is how I have concluded that there are different 6th ratios.

We started with a friends 02 and my 04, (which came with the stated 'overdrive'). Both front and rear tires in generally similar wear condition. A clear road, both speedometers reading close to 80mph. His rev counter was on 4000. Mine was on 3800. We swapped bikes. Same readings. Both of us commeted that the 200 rpm difference was felt as well as read. Is this a case of 2 sets of meters being that far out?

Research of the literature also indicated that there were the .80 and .69, 6th ratios fitted to our bikes.

Now, what others are seeing - they see? 4500 is certainly not 80 mph indicated on my bike - closer to 90 plus indicated. I run a cyclecomputor that reads about 4% less than the speedo and is close to the same friends GPS.

My conclusion then is - there is a .80 as well as a .69 ratio. If that is so, then I must have the latter - just as my BMW spec sheet 'overdrive' said.

Post by **xaque** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:44 pm

I have the "short" 6th gear...

I hate it.

When I shift from 5th to 6th there is only the slightest noticable difference.

Sometimes I wonder if they accidently put two 5th gears on my bike...

is that possible?

-Xaque-

Post by **CycleRob** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:13 pm

Well, it looks like xaque has found us all an easy test. I have the 4,000=80 gearing and the lower gears are evenly spaced with a noticeably much bigger RPM drop to 6th.

6th is my favorite gear.

ArtieMS · Post by **ArtieMS** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:38 pm

Today I checked my 2004 R1150R on the highway. Bought it Feb 2004

4000 rpm = 72 mph indicated

4400 rpm approx = 80 mph indicated

I assume I do not have the overdrive 6th gear.

R1150RDave · Post by **R1150RDave** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:25 pm

For what its worth....
My 2001 UK model runs 70mph at 4000rpm in 6th.

Looks as though this is the minority throughout the world. (this forum)

QSIMDO · Post by **QSIMDO** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:57 pm

Well, for New England roads I like the shorter 6th gear.

Matter of fact I'd like to put in the RT final drive at 2.9X -1 (think it's 2.91 without looking it up) for around here.

I like acceleration to blur your eyes!

I know; should have bought a different bike, but this one's soooo comfortable.

Just came back in after a nice ride with the Widder on "loud" and looking out for ice in the shadows.

And "Hey!" to the bronze Rockster on rt 7 in Falls Village if your here!

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The R1150R’s 6th gear

My R1150R is equipped with the following gear option

6th Gear

gear ratio