I'm not used to big single and after the break-in period, I'd like to know what's the "norm".

I personnally shift up a gear around 5k, cruising at 4.5k RPM

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former Red owner !

I'm normally cruising at 5k+ and would happily change up a gear there ... if the Tenere had a sixth gear that is

I've had several 'Thumpers' before and I just love the low rev 'lollocking' (is there such a word?) along! So I tend to change up the gears early (approx. 3.5 thou) ....... unless of course I want a quick getaway and then it's about 5.0 thou.!

Barry.

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Yes, I have that problem too. I just keep changing up and up and up until it won't go any further! (I know, I know... I should be aware of what gear I'm in but after riding bikes for 30-something years I'm too old to change ).

Barry.

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Always embarasing when you're going for a spirited overtake and pop the clutch to change up only to discover you've already run out of gears

Now now, we should ask ourselves if we are getting greedy. Correct me if I am wrong, 6th gear was becoming popular only about 10 years ago. When I had my beemers, the newer ones, I rarely used the top gear except on autobahn. It's a Tenere and a single we are talking here, not an autobahn rocket trying to race against a speedy ICE (german version of bullet train) train.

Cruise at 5k and change up at 5.5k, like the others I would like a 6th gear! I've wondered about dropping a tooth on the rear sprocket to be honest.
Edit to add, josephau, I'm not sure what BMW's you had, but on the ones I've ridden 6th has been very much an overdrive gear almost, not a gear for making progress with. Quite different from the 6 speed boxes on other bikes. On a Hayabusa in 6th at 186mph you are only doing close to 9.5k rpm, and if you remove the restriction it will pull all the way to the red I still have days where I miss mine

That did make me laugh ......... probably because I've done it several times and it does make me feel a bit foolish!

Barry.

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ive ordered a rear sprocket with one tooth less for my trip around france , will see how it goes when it turns up