I used to use the rpms to tell what gear I was in on my old 91 ZX-6. I used to forget if I was in 4th, 5th, or 6th. I had it down to a science, the rpms and speed moved in a ratio. That was the speed number was roughly 1/10th of the rpms in 5th gear and so on.

Here are some examples:

4th gear - 5000 rpms = 40 mph / 7000 rpms = 60 mph / 12000 rpms = 100 mph

5th gear - 5000 rpms = 50 mph / 7000 rpms = 70 mph / 12000 rpms = 120 mph

6th gear - 5000 rpms = 60 mph / 7000 rpms = 80 mph / 12000 rpms = 130 mph

See the pattern, it worked everytime and once you are used to it, one glance will tell you what gear you are in. It only works for 4th, 5th & 6th. The first three are completely different gear ratios.

Your 70 mph at 6000 rpms works perfectly into my math in 6th gear.

The top speed I saw on that bike was 143 mph at 13,000 rpms. Redline was 14,000 rpms. Damn good for a 91 600 without ram air. Pretty stable too!

 

Sounds right. Not sure about the other gears but 6th gear about 7K RPM's gets me to 80MPH or so. Then again my speedometer is off by 5MPH at 40MPH as well.

 

BigO, mine runs the same RPM/MPH as yours.

 

hey thanx a lot guys, i never expected to get 12 replies. You answered my question perfect Thanx again.

 

Noticed the same RPM to MPH on mine as well.... But do you cats even get 2 6th and stay in it on the highway.city riding???.... My Kat is alot slower but on the highway I usually only got 2 4 or 5th (on the Kat 4th gear was even with MPH, 5the -1(5000 rpm = 60 mph), 6th -2(5000 rpm = 70 mph). And I only got 2 6th if I was riding with others and had to CATCH up .....lol....

 

If you're on the freeway, you should be in 6th. Why rev your bike more than necessary and use extra gas also. You have plenty of power to get out of the way even in 6th. If I am riding on the streets, I usually ride in the top gear whenever possible unless I downshift to pass or I'm in the twisties.

 

+ 1

If you are not worried about gas milage or more wear and tear on your engine. I mean I could stay in 1st or 2nd and do 60 - 70 MPH on the freeway but why? even the little bit of money i have invested in the bike is still worth more care than that.

 

+ $1
didnt really look at it from the gas point of view... was running 4th and 5th and just never going 2 6th n my commute... but the past 2 days went fron about 32/35 mpg...2 40/42...