The phantom gear

[tgabber]

I can't think of a ride of more than a few miles when I haven't tried at some point to change up from top.

Indeed other than when I'm moving off I generally don't have a clue what gear I'm in.

How common is this?
____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[Villers]

When I first started riding and had the RS125 I was looking for more phantoms than that suspiciously gay derek bloke off 'most haunted' and I never knew what gear I was in at any one time. Ive got a bit better now but i'll often find myself in the wrong gear when i'm changing down a few. When I first got the CBR600 I would be chasing another gear but no because I'd maxed out sixth, it was more often because it felt like it was pulling too strong and I wanted a slower cruising gear - but thats all to blame on the aprilia, I'm used to it now!

[tatters]

used to always count my gears on my first bike NSR125, but now l don,t bother so it does happen now and again when l rarely get to the 6th gear
____________________
Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Silver]

I try and change into the next gear when redlining at 170mph... it's so annoying

[18aprilia]

the thing that i do most is try and go up a gear when there are no gears left to go up! still with me lol? the only reason why is becuase my bike is limted to 5000 revs. and it takes 4 gears for me to get too 45mph then the 5th gear takes me to 55mph so i keep on thinking thats theres more when there aint shit!
____________________
Supra King

[Visitor Q]

I tend not too as my top gear is very long, and it is loathe to redline in top. Ever. So i just get white knuckles holding the grip round so much. Used to do it on the 50cc aaaaaaaaaaaaall the time. Not really an issue though is it?
____________________
China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Pete]

Annoying thing about trials, never really get to top gear. Have tried to change down from 1st though. Also changed up from 1st and found neutral, when I can never find neutral when I want to! Mr Murphys wretched law seems to plauge me!

Pete.
____________________
One fine day in the middle of the night, two dead men got up to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other!

[Gazdaman]

I do it fairly regularly, doing about 60-70ish. Because in good conditions 60 is redlining in forth. In windy conditions, 60 is max speed in fifth.

So I try to change into my non-existant 6th gear on most trips if I take in an A road.

Gaz

[Craggles]

Done it once... Don't really see the point in my top gear, it knocks off revs but the bike seems to slow down Damn four stroke 125!

I also have an indicator...

Craig
____________________
If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[ian_s]

T, good post.

[stinkwheel]

I do it all the time, the bike is geared down quite heavily and will rev-out in top. There is also no rev counter.

I don't often actually go fo a full change (like closing the throttle and pulling the clutch), you can kind of 'feel' through the lever if there is another gear there before you do so.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[AcIdBuRnZ]

Used to do it a lot when I changed from the NSR to the ER-5.

But now I'm used to the bike and I can tell from the revs and feel of the throttle which gear I'm in.

One day the NSR stuck itself in 2nd pulling up to a set of lights (much frantic kicking of the gear lever and swearing followed) - was horrible trying to pull away on a 2 stroke in 2nd gear with a cold engine that was determined to stall on me - just kept revving it's nuts off and it pulled away ok
____________________
Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

[Frost]

I count down but never up...

I often try to change up from 6th serveral times on a long run, but ive never once tried to change down from first one changed down too many.

[zaknafien]

Almost never. When I'm on the motorway I have tried a few times but it isnt often I use motorways.
____________________
02 Firestorm.

[G]

I generally have a good idea of what gear I'm in on the road, though my 5 geared DRs confused me a bit initially.

On the track I tend to work in '2 down' this corner '3 down' the next, with going up as many gears as possible on the straights (but redlining each one). So am never really sure which gear I'm in and quite often do try and go for 7th.

[fuzz]

I don't do it that often, usually only to check if I am in top. I find it good to do so you know how many gears to change down at the next set of lights
____________________
https://www.bikepics.com/members/fuzzbcf/
Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[Bendy]

I do it fairly often on the motorway, noticably more since I downgeared my bike. I think my brain forgets that the revs are about 2000 higher at 'cruising speed' than they used to be and equates this with needing to change up.

[Adam_P]

I usually manage it at least once a ride, usually just after I've set off and have been checking everything else around me, I've forgotten which cog its in and gone for a seventh gear.

Done on motorways/dual carriageways a couple of times too.

Pleased it's not just me.
____________________
Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[Demonic69]

I can easily tell top gear on the GPZ, it's when all the power dies
Regularly try 7th on the Blade since it's been downgeared.
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[stryker]

I know on my bike its 6000 rpm at 80mph when in sixth gear. However on a run or at a time when gaining speed but have no time to look at the console I try for that phantom 7th gear.
____________________
Now what?

[askew]

[synaptyx]

"Definitely not every ride but sometimes"

Yep. Was thinking of getting a gear indicator as I haven't usually a clue what gear I'm in. Has anybody used these things? What do you think of them?

[map]

One bike with six gears, one bike with five gears - what do you think happens when I swap and change
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?