Don't laugh
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Chris1984
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- Location: Living in Ireland but from England
Don't laugh
just reading a few bits on here and a few people have mentioned about riding the bike and keeping rev's high etc also noticed something about slipping the clutch more,please could someone explain what they mean,when riding my bike when in 6th it feels and sounds like it needs another gear which has me looking for another thats not there.
- Wabby
- zxr400 oc member

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Re: Don't laugh
Hi mate,Chris1984 wrote:just reading a few bits on here and a few people have mentioned about riding the bike and keeping rev's high etc also noticed something about slipping the clutch more,please could someone explain what they mean,when riding my bike when in 6th it feels and sounds like it needs another gear which has me looking for another thats not there.
Revs need to be at least +10K RPM to get any real power. Above +12K RPM is where the fun is at
In regards to needing another gear in 6th, it sounds like you are either riding a REAL long straight roads, and like 130+mph, or maybe the bike has been geared for acceleration, thus sacrificing top end and making it 'rev more' on each gear.
How many teeth on rear sprocket? - Whats top speed in top gear?
- Jamz
- zxr400 oc member

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Re: Don't laugh
Chris1984 wrote:just reading a few bits on here and a few people have mentioned about riding the bike and keeping rev's high etc also noticed something about slipping the clutch more,please could someone explain what they mean,when riding my bike when in 6th it feels and sounds like it needs another gear which has me looking for another thats not there.
I think you mean you've seen posts about peoples clutches slipping? This means that when the clutch plates are worn out the power made at the engine can't all get to the drivetrain, and so it will just rev higher but not go any faster, much like if the wheel was spinning or you were pulling the clutch lever in slightly.
Or you could mean you've seen talk about a slipper clutch - which will stop the back wheel losing traction when shifting quickly down the gears.
Or at it's most basic level, 'slipping the clutch' is referring to letting the clutch lever out slowly like when you do a race start.
As for needing another gear, I'd take as many as you can give me!
Oh - and there are no stupid questions... but if there's a stupid answer then I'm probably behind it!
- Vard66
- zxr400 oc member

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Re: Don't laugh
Chris1984 wrote:when riding my bike when in 6th it feels and sounds like it needs another gear which has me looking for another thats not there.
Jamz wrote:As for needing another gear, I'd take as many as you can give me!I'm always trying to shift up again when I'm already in 6th. It's quite disappointing, but a very good reason why I should NEVER be let on anything really fast.
Absolutely same here, I thought I was a bit of a noob for doing that. Example - earlier, I was having a go with a local car that's got a bit of a reputation for having some power - until today the only quotes I had were mad figures like 360bhp (context - 1996 Peugeot 306). In reality, it's pushing out about 200hp, which isn't so impressive, but it's N/Asp, which IS.
Coming down a long straight hill, I was knocking at the lever like a madman hoping there was another gear, while the bike revved out and shivered.
That's my choice of sprockets though - 14/47 atm, and acceleration is lovely, but top end is only about 120ish.
Good policy. No shame in asking if you don't know.Jamz wrote:Oh - and there are no stupid questions... but if there's a stupid answer then I'm probably behind it!
- 86zxr01
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Re: Don't laugh
Havnt you got a 9r though?!Jamz wrote:As for needing another gear, I'd take as many as you can give me!I'm always trying to shift up again when I'm already in 6th. It's quite disappointing, but a very good reason why I should NEVER be let on anything really fast.
- Jamz
- zxr400 oc member

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Re: Don't laugh
86zxr01 wrote:Havnt you got a 9r though?!Jamz wrote:As for needing another gear, I'd take as many as you can give me!I'm always trying to shift up again when I'm already in 6th. It's quite disappointing, but a very good reason why I should NEVER be let on anything really fast.
They're not exactly sluggish
- RedexRobB
- Site Admin

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Re: Don't laugh
Perhaps hes refering to how revvy the 400 feels? I used to think that when i first ever got a ZXR, and there have been alot of people here think that at motorway speeds/70mph (7K rpm ish) the poor little engine is gonna blow.
Truth is ive thrashed the ZXR 90 miles at 8k-9k rpm from gillingham to ipswich pretty much non stop, and although it may feel revvy its actually doing no harm at all. That rev range is a nice sweet spot on my bike too.
I also end up looking for the imaginary gear, your sure you have one but its never ever there. And im sure thats also down to how the engine feels, it always feels like it needs an extra gear.
Someone mentioned gear ratios, i guess one way to make it rev a little lower in top is to get a bigger front sprocket; or smaller rear, but you loose acceleration, you will however get better fuel consumption for the lower engine speed at 70mph. But then do you use it mainly for motorway riding? Cos when it comes to town youll have to nail the throttle to get going.
Truth is ive thrashed the ZXR 90 miles at 8k-9k rpm from gillingham to ipswich pretty much non stop, and although it may feel revvy its actually doing no harm at all. That rev range is a nice sweet spot on my bike too.
I also end up looking for the imaginary gear, your sure you have one but its never ever there. And im sure thats also down to how the engine feels, it always feels like it needs an extra gear.
Someone mentioned gear ratios, i guess one way to make it rev a little lower in top is to get a bigger front sprocket; or smaller rear, but you loose acceleration, you will however get better fuel consumption for the lower engine speed at 70mph. But then do you use it mainly for motorway riding? Cos when it comes to town youll have to nail the throttle to get going.
- wonderpupp
- L-plate hell

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Re: Don't laugh
I remember believing my ZXR400 was really quick and I rode really fast (for all of about 3 months), till one day I had to follow some massive 1300cc triumph bike to a mates house. the lack of grunt of the ZXR really felt like I was on the wimpyest bike in the country.
that's when I learnt to REALLY open the throttle, even though I had ridden 2strokes all my life.
then I realised this ZXR rode kind of like a 2 stroke, rev it and keep it in the revs, and it all clicked into place.
And I became the most notorius blue bike in the new forest. Lol.
that's when I learnt to REALLY open the throttle, even though I had ridden 2strokes all my life.
then I realised this ZXR rode kind of like a 2 stroke, rev it and keep it in the revs, and it all clicked into place.
And I became the most notorius blue bike in the new forest. Lol.


