Does a 5 speed box give any advantage on a road Cdo

acotrel said:

The Phil Pick modification for that Triumph box looks very good. It is two pairs of gears which move the upper ratios to a better level. I haven't heard of anyone using it here.

http://www.triples.co.uk/products/gearbox/index.htm

Thanks for the info about the Dave Nourish gearbox shell.

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I have, it worked very well.

In my opinion it does not make any difference how much torque an engine makes. Be it a 5 litre V8 or a Commando, a 5 speed 'box will always give the engine an easier time, i.e. when changing down for a corner. Sometimes third is too high & second is too low. My airhead BMW 1000cc bikes both have 5 speeds. BMW did not fit these very torquey bikes with 5 speeds for no reason. Contrary to some peoples opinion they are not a fashion accessory. Norton boasted that Commandos did not need the complication & expense of a 5 speed 'box. What they really meant to say was , they couldn't afford to fit one. If you ride your bike gently 3 speeds should be fine, otherwise a close ratio 4 speed (bit of a pain in town) or a 5 speeder is best. Again, this is just my opinion.
Martyn.

acotrel said:

What make was the 5 speed cluster for $450 - sounds very cheap ? I paid $700 in about 2004 for a 4 speed CR cluster.
If you are building a bike, always begin at the gearbox, if you haven't got that you are beaten before you start. You can have the best motor yet can't do anything with it.

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It's a Quaife. Just for entertainment, I checked my 1971 Dunsatll catalog...$325

I rode my Production Racer on the street regularly back in 1972 right after I bought it, and liked the 5-speed in it for street use. Much nicer when riding briskly in the canyons, or even not so briskly, than the 4-speed. The only drawback to the original Quaifes back then was that the version with the kick start tended to break the first gear. Cutting the ratchet teeth into it for the kick starter left it pretty thin. I broke two of them while starting it, one while it was still a road bike, and one after I started racing it, and then switched to the racing first gear set. The racing gear sets had a solid first gear, which was much more robust (if you can apply that adjective to a Quaife in a Commando). I'm considering putting the heavy duty Quaife 5-speed that I used in the streamliner into my MK III when I rebuild it. It doesn't have a kick starter, but with a functional electric starter, I don't really need it. In a pinch, I can still bump start it.

Ken

For a street bike I would say the only advantage would be if you lived in an area where there are a lot of winding roads and you are spending a lot of time in second and third. If you are just using the box to row up to high gear and stay there the stock 4 speed is fine. I switch back and forth between my Commando with 4 and a 750 Bonneville with 5 and I can't say I have a strong preference for the 5. Just very rarely does the 5 seem to have a little better gearing for going around a corner or something. There are other things I would spend my money on.

Matchless said:

In my opinion it does not make any difference how much torque an engine makes. Be it a 5 litre V8 or a Commando, a 5 speed 'box will always give the engine an easier time, i.e. when changing down for a corner. Sometimes third is too high & second is too low. My airhead BMW 1000cc bikes both have 5 speeds. BMW did not fit these very torquey bikes with 5 speeds for no reason. Contrary to some peoples opinion they are not a fashion accessory. Norton boasted that Commandos did not need the complication & expense of a 5 speed 'box. What they really meant to say was , they couldn't afford to fit one. If you ride your bike gently 3 speeds should be fine, otherwise a close ratio 4 speed (bit of a pain in town) or a 5 speeder is best. Again, this is just my opinion.
Martyn.

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I've had people tell me that you don't need a close box with a torquey motor. I think that anyone who believes that has not ever used a close box. Behind a Commando motor they are excellent. If you try to race with the standard box, it is revolting - however I'm from the era where we used to race on rock hard tyres, so my expectations are probably different to those of many other riders.

Hi

Done this thread before. TTI, Quaife, Petty, etc, 5 speed, 6 speed, Nourish Triumph 5 speed. All better than standard ( including my close ratio 4 speed)
It only comes down to cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't need to don't. The 850 with a 4 speed is ok on the road. Its only when you have run a 5 speed & closed up the change from 3rd down to 2nd you appreciate the benefits,

Chris

I wonder why anyone would spend $5000 for a gearbox for a road going Commando ? You can buy a whole Japanese bike already fitted with a six speed box for that. Is somebody really going to start doing race changes on public roads ? My own Seeley has some look of authenticity about it, the six speed box stands out like dog's balls - it is obviously not period. I suppose that is OK if you don't know what you are looking at. I suggest the beauty and value of a good commando lie in it's originality.

If a 5 speed box was $350, we'd all have one and no one would be talking about it.
That truth belies all the talk about "Nortons have torque, they don't need 5 speeds, 4 speeds are fine."

Further, if our torque was really so wonderful that 4 speeds are fine, then why aren't we all crying for 3 speeds!

There isnt anything to do with motorbikes today that has much to do with commonsense or practicality.
Most of us Commando owners are old and we have some spare toy money.
I got a five speed because so much of my time is in on Tridents so I just am used to having one.
You certainly dont need a fiver on a Commando but it doesnt hurt.

I think that if I had a commando road bike, I'd keep it near standard, and I'd still have a commando based racer in the background with the trick bits on which to waste money, if I had any. To me , I can think of a lot of good things to use a 5 speed (Norton) box for, besides rumbling down public roads. The standard Norton box is good enough for that.
I raced for 12 years continuously back in the old days, and I really needed a 5 or 6 speed box for my 500cc SS Triumph - it would have made me a winner. I would never have spent money to buy it while I was with my Ex and 3 kids. So I sort of cry a bit when people talk of fitting TTI box to a road bike these days.