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4 vs 5 speed bike! 4 vs 5 speed bike!
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
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Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 16 Apr 2013
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4 vs 5 speed bike!
Here in Ecuador there are selling a lot of 250cc and 230cc bikes ,
some have 4 and some have 5 gears.

Is it true that if a bike has lets say ,20hp and 4 gears that it would be better in the hills than a 5 speed?( 4 speed feels more powerfull)
But a 5 speed better for long distance?

Or am i thinking wrong?
Can someone tell something about it?

Thanks a lot and saludos!
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Old 16 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by anaconda moto View Post
Is it true that if a bike has lets say ,20hp and 4 gears that it would be better in the hills than a 5 speed?( 4 speed feels more powerfull)
But a 5 speed better for long distance?

!
Broadly, it is the case, but you should look at the detail of specific gear ratios for a fuller answer; these will vary between the various manufacturers.
For a bike with a chain-final-drive it is relatively easy to change the overall gear ratios by changing the drive sprocket(s); for a shaft drive bike there is no easy way of changing the gearing provided by the manufacturer within the design of the engine/transmission.

In general, the bike with more gears will feel better on longer runs at higher speeds because the design has a wider spread of gear ratios simply because it has more gears available.

The same thing goes for 5 Vs 6 speed bikes in the bigger engine capacities.
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Old 16 Apr 2013
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So if i am looking for something that pulls a bit more,
i better go for a 250cc with 4 speed, or is the answer not that simple?

saludos.
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Old 16 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by anaconda moto View Post
So if i am looking for something that pulls a bit more,
i better go for a 250cc with 4 speed, or is the answer not that simple?

saludos.
Well now, it gets more complex - there is the issue of the state of tune of the engine which determines the output of not just horse power but torque; to "pull" with good acceleration you need torque, and HP is of much less interest at that time when you need to accelerate.
Engines are designed to develop maximum amounts of HP and torque at various revolutions of the engine depending on the expected use of the bike - racing, touring, or whatever.

Even changing tyre sizes will affect the gear ratios to some degree.

The best option is definitely to test ride any particular bike of interest while bearing in mind the variables mentioned so far.
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Old 16 Apr 2013
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Often the first gear on a five speed bike is lower than with a four speed. this means you can ride slower and pull away easier. Fifth gear may not be any higher than on a four speed or it might, you have to look at final drive ratios. with a five speed box you have more chance of having a suitable gear for comfortable riding.
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Old 17 Apr 2013
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Your quickest and easiest method is to go ride the bike/s.

Some bikes have a broad spread of power .. so they can be left in a gear and simply use the throttle.. other bikes need to have the gear box stirred frequently. It is a combination of engine tune and gear box ratios that is important. Some racing 125cc bike have 18 speeds...

Go ride. It is not simply the number of speeds, and engine tune. It is also how it fits you and your luggage and your trip.
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Old 17 Apr 2013
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As others have said it's a complicated area with things like state of engine tune etc affecting how the bike responds, but personally I'd take the five speeder every time on a small capacity bike.
I've had a number of similar bikes over the years, some with four speed and some with five speed boxes and the four speeders have been lacking - there's been too much of a gap between the ratios. Not a problem perhaps on a large capacity bike - a 600 single or something, but on a 125 or a 250, five beats four IMHO.
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Old 18 Apr 2013
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Thanks all!
I better go and test!, becouse i see it is not años easy answer

Saludos.
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