The R1150R’s 6th gear

[Ansink66]

The standard R1150R Roadsters here in the Netherlands are equipped the sportive short 6th gear. The ‘overdrive’ 6th gear is optional and can be fitted on a new bike instead of the short gear with no extra charge.

From what I have gathered on this board, in the US the standard Roadsters are equipped with the ‘overdrive’ gear. Nobody ever mentioned on this board if the short 6th gear option is available in the US. Are they?

I think it would be nice to see in a poll how many of us have a R1150R with the short 6th gear and how many the ‘overdrive’ 6th gear.

In case you’re not sure, this might help: my little blue Roadster is equipped with the ‘overdrive’ 6th gear. At 100 km/h, the engine makes 3000 RPM.

Cheers,
Emile

[High Lord Gomer]

Even with the taller gear, mine still feels like it needs another gear. I definitely would recommend the overdrive gear.

[beemer-biker]

In case you’re not sure, this might help: my little blue Roadster is equipped with the ‘overdrive’ 6th gear. At 100 km/h, the engine makes 3000 RPM.

Is there any other way to tell? I don't mind going for a little ride to see, but it might be easier to check while it it still in the garage.

[DJ Downunder]

Is there any other way to tell? I don't mind going for a little ride to see, but it might be easier to check while it it still in the garage.

only if it's a very long garage...

DJ

[DG02]

The rear drive gear ratio is stamped on top of the rear drive housing near the black vent on top. My 2001 Roadster has the "short" gearing which was standard for the Canadian market that year. The rear drive is stamped "31/11".

[High Lord Gomer]

I believe that 31/11 is merely the ratio for the rear (31 teeth and 11 teeth), resulting in a 2.82:1 ratio for the rear drive.

The difference is in the 6th gear, which would be inside the transmission.



As far as I can tell, the std 6th gear is 0.8:1 and the overdrive gear is 0.7:1.

[Capt. Blackadder]

The High Lord hisself is correct. 31/11 refers to the 2.82:1 final drive ratio. If you have the overdrive 6th gear, 80mph and 4000rpm will match up.

[boxermania]

Most of the US bikes come with the "overdrive" six gear. The differential is 31/11 in all which provides a 2.82 ratio as Hi Lord Gomer has indicated.

With the above combo you should see the following:

3000 R's at 60 mph
3500 R's at 70 mph
4000 R's at 80 mph

The gear ratios for the US bikes are:

ear ratios 1st:
2.05:1

2nd:
1.60:1

3rd:
1.27:1

4th:
1.04:1

5th:
0.90:1

6th:
0.80:1

So that makes both 5th and 6th gears overdrives. Does anybody know what is the ration of the "optional" 6th gear?

[boxermania]

Interestingly enough for those of us that were rodders in our youth the aluminum Muncie 4 speed (Chevrolet) ratios were....and are.....

1st - 2.20
2nd - 1.60
3rd - 1.27
4th - 1.00

Throw in a 4:11 rear and watch that 57 Chevy go

How about that.......just a bit of trivia......

[High Lord Gomer]

So that makes both 5th and 6th gears overdrives. Does anybody know what is the ration of the "optional" 6th gear?

Based on this, it looks like 0.70:1...
http://bmwducati.com/bikes/bike.aspx?m=1&bid=1037

[mistercindy]

I wasn't sure until I read the numbers in the post. My 6th is definitely overdrive.

Most of the US bikes come with the "overdrive" six gear. The differential is 31/11 in all which provides a 2.82 ratio as Hi Lord Gomer has indicated.

With the above combo you should see the following:

3000 R's at 60 mph
3500 R's at 70 mph
4000 R's at 80 mph

Yup. That's me.

[UHGORDO]

With the above combo you should see the following:

3000 R's at 60 mph
3500 R's at 70 mph
4000 R's at 80 mph

Thank God...someone finally posted something in English like a true American....now, time to go to McDonald's, MMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Dave

[Biff's R]

I had the overdrive on my first R, and have the shorter 6th on my current R. I like the shorter 6th gear a bit more, becuase it is a bit more useable. I do not have to downshift to pass as much, and 80 mph on the speedo is about 4500 RPM.

BTW, I did not realize I had the shorter 6th gear on the new bike until I was ridiing it home, and tried to shift to 7th.

[Acacia]

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.

[Guest]

OK....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......

Actually I found the info in the UK site....the European bikes indeed run a .70 6th gear as Hi Lord Gomer indicated that makes Biff's R a statistical error because with a ,70 gear the bike would tach lower than 4000 R's

Gearbox Ratios
2.050 / 1.600 / 1.270 / 1.040 / 0.900 / 0.700

Rear Wheel Ratio
2.82

Now I'm happy........anyone out there running ~ 3500 R's at 80 mph.....show your face

[boxermania]

Darn again.....forgot to log in....my post above.....

[boxermania]

BTW....all that have taken the poll have indicated the wrong overdrive the US offering is the shorter overdrive, .80 vs.70 for the europeans.....

The poll is in error........

[socalrob]

All I remember is that on a speedy ride with Dean in Utah my bike hit 125mph indicated at exactly 6500 rpm in 6th.

I also recall that a good 5th -6th shift point seemed to be a 108 mph. (I recall 6,800 rpm)

The above may limit my use of 6th gear as I am not normally riding in that territory.

I need to check, but I think my bike exceeds 80 mph indicated (I'm thinking I see about 83) in 6th while tacking 4,000. I'll look on the way home if possible.

[Ansink66]

Hi Boxermania,

According to the original (Dutch) brochure the one is described as “sportive transmission, 6th gear short” and the other one as “overdrive transmission”. The poll is not in error.

But there is of course the possibility of confusion if someone in the US at some point has decided to call both transmissions “overdrive”. But why would one do so? The short 6th gear with the higher rpm does not function as an ‘overdrive’.

Emile

[boxermania]

Ansink66......you are correct on the description....however, my point is that the respondents have the poll terminology confused .......the reason being is that as we know the US fitment is the .80 ratio which is shorter than the .70 gear which the brochure refers to as overdrive.

The truth of the matter is that they are both overdrives, anything under 1:1 is an overdrive, now between the two the .80 provides briskier acceleration so it could well be described as "sportive" while the .70 will provide a more relaxed cruising, at lower rpms, which could be described as an "overdrive".

In closing, what has taken place is that the way the poll was written the US riders assumed overdrive to be the .80 ratio which is not correct, the other explanation is that the high number of respondees in that category are all europeans which I seriously doubt....have I convinced you?.