My 2002 GS Adventure gets pretty damned grumpy when I try to snick it into 6th after a very short stint in 5th. Generally happens when I am commuting and want to get it into top gear. If I ride out 5th a bit and gain some rpms..6th is much more friendly. Is this characteristic?
At anywhere below 80, 6th gear is not a good place to be, except perhaps on a long downhill or running on fumes trying to find some gas
I would almost never get to use 6th if that was the case. I have the Adventure and I use 6th a lot. I think 60 is plenty fast to run 6th. Load and grade are factors that enter in, but 6th is very useful. I could not see a real use for 6th on the standard GS, however, and that was only one reason I got the Adventure. On the standard it seemed to me that 6th was not able to be used unless you were doing 70.
I have to agree with BigSnowDog. I use 6th from 60mph on. But 60 is the lower limit, 80 is MUCH better...
My 01 1150 Gs Will Pull Like A Tractor In Sixth Gear On Flat Surface Fron 2500 On Up Without Pinging. I Don't Do It Much. My General Rule Is Anything Less Than 55mph Use 5th.
I would love that-- the Adv 6th is too busy at the speeds necessary on these long, boring, sleep-inducing highways around here. - Chris