1st gear acceleration

[MDGeorge]

I have had the GL1800 CSC trike for 6 weeks. My wife and I have really enjoyed it.
I have done a lot of work to fine tune a number of issues... Super Brace, Fork extension, weld drive shaft, brake pedal, etc.

I find that acceleration out of first gear is not very good. In fact, If I am by myself, I will just start in 2nd gear, unless it is an uphill.

Are there any power, or performance enhancements that are efficient and worth the money?

[cscsonny]

To me 1st gear has always just been to get the bike rolling.Power starts comming in 2nd gear and above.GL1800 is already one of the highest horse-power rated bikes in production.
To answer the question,the only performance mod I ever heard of was to the exhaust system by changing the expansion chamber.There is a company out there that sells the system.Says it will increase horse power and gas milage.
Don't know that for sure.

[Bill Reber]

My wing will jerk you head off in 1st gear not to mention laying rubber. My unit is a Champion SA

[rmrc51]

My wing will jerk you head off in 1st gear not to mention laying rubber. My unit is a Champion SA

Ditto! 1st gear can really catapult you with enough throttle and a fast clutch release, lol

[aquariusbabe]

Wow, I'm new to trikeing and I thought it was just me. 1st gear has scared me on several occassions

[MDGeorge]

I need to state it better.
I get the 6000 rpm, and 40 mph. If you lay into it, it will move out very quickly.
If, however you start at red light, traffic speed, by the time you get to 20mph your at 3000 rpm and screaming to shift to 2nd.
Is that just the nature of the GL1800?

[Gold Rush]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>MDGeorge</strong>
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<div class="message">I need to state it better.<br />
I get the 6000 rpm, and 40 mph. If you lay into it, it will move out very quickly. <br />
If, however you start at red light, traffic speed, by the time you get to 20mph your at 3000 rpm and screaming to shift to 2nd.<br />
Is that just the nature of the GL1800?</div>

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</div>Yup, pretty much the way it is. If you pull a trailer that low gear torque is appreciated. If not then it would be nice to have a bit taller gear so it didn't rev so high. <br />
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Soon as I get rolling I shift up to second and then get into the gas.... <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" /> When I'm hooked onto that 450 pounds of trailer then it's a different story all together.

[mtrvl]

What I wonder is why doesn't Honda put a sixthgear in the Goldwing GL1800 ?

[Shimpy]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>MDGeorge</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=177340#post177340" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">If, however you start at red light, traffic speed, by the time you get to 20mph your at 3000 rpm and screaming to shift to 2nd.<br />
Is that just the nature of the GL1800?</div>

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</div>Yes. You aren't going very far in first gear. It's geared very low to get you started with a load or uphill while taking it easy on your clutch.

[MDGeorge]

So, it sounds like everything is as it should be.
That's always good to know.

[JaysGone]

Ive had the trike for awhile now 8 or 9 months.
I felt very much as most seem to about 1st gear.
To me its just to get you rolling.
If you nail it its got plenty of power.
But in normal situations.
Just accelerating from a stop and rolling the throttle.
Not very exciting.
Punch it.
A whole other beast. Your looking for 2nd as soon as you hit it.

[JaysGone]

What I wonder is why doesn't Honda put a sixthgear in the Goldwing GL1800 ?

Id imagine add a 6th gear and if you even tried to accelerate in it.
You couldn't get out of your own way.
I stay in 4th ALOT.
When Im in 5th and don't see the idiot light from glare or whatever.
I find Im always shifting looking for 6th.
5th isn't all that impressive but at least it can move you along.

[John Luciano]

If my rear wheels do not spin the front wheel leaves the ground. I have stock Goldwing gearing. I still have the original rear end. DFT still 100 feet in 1st is all she wrote. But when you hit 2nd and 3rd it is gone. 6th ? It will cruise at 100. All day.top end in the 135 range If they did a 6 speed they would just space the gears closer, possibly lower 1st and raise top end slightly. That is standard practice.

[skuuter]

Yep, first gear gets it moving, 2nd and 3rd gear gets You engine braking and throttle response for average cornered roads and twisties, 4th gear gets You highway cruising up to about 60-65 MPH, 5th gear cruises You at sustained speeds above 65 MPH.......except for the 2nd-3rd gear "semi-close ratio" switches back and forth, all of the other gears are pretty widely spaced for the seamless torque band of the GL1800 Engine....."First Gear, Shift Her Quick" and get on about Your Business.....

[mhgoldwing]

To accomplish a rapid acceleration from standstill, start by rolling on full throttle in first (not slamming it) to 4,000 rpm, then shift and slam throttle wide open and hold it. You will rapidly exceed any in-town speed limits. Shift out of second when you hit desired speed or get scared; whichever comes first. pepper

[Bill Reber]

The Gl 1800 triked is of course not as quick as it is as a two wheeler adding 300 plus pounds to the bike does things to even the mighty 1800. But it is still a top preformer in the conversion mc/trike , not to many other rigs will take it , but some surely can.

[bikerbillone]

I'm not interested in a 6th gear, but that's just me.

[Konrad]

Yes. You aren't going very far in first gear. It's geared very low to get you started with a load or uphill while taking it easy on your clutch.

Best explanation of the purpose of first gear I've ever read!

[Bill Reber]

Yes 1st has a lot of grunt, great for 1st to 2nd power shifting wheel stands LOL !

[kimber45]

1st gear is a stump puller