Thread: Newbie Honda Wave 125i RPM/Gear Question

I have a newbie question about my Honda Wave 125i

If anyone has new honda wave they probably know what i am talking about..

I usually only use my Wave for going outside of town.. and on my Speedometer, i have numbers for gears. they go like this

1 (30)
2 (60)
3 (90)
4 (120)

I usually go somewhere between 50 to 80, depending on roads.
If I use the above numbers from the speedometer, I tend to use the 3rd gear mostly.

but before anyone asks, yes i do shift.. it just seems that those numbers are quite a bit off and I would think that I should shift earlier

in theory from the little diagram that I have on my speedo, I would never use 4th gear since i never go over 80.. however, If I go 50 on 2nd gear, it seems to be very demanding for the engine (by sound) and same as if i do 80 on 3rd gear.

I've noticed that even tho they are going like 40 to 50, the motorbike taxis usually always drive in 3rd and 4th.. I never had one taxi guy go over 60 (as far as i can tell)..

If I am not mistaken, from my general knowledge is that it should be easier on gas and the engine to run at low rpm than running one gear lower in high rpm?

would going by ear be easier than by speed since the wind resistance would probably make me shift in the wrong places to begin with?

Max speed in any given gear, not cruising speed I would think. But to be honest, they're probably just there to look 'cool'.

bah, I am guessing wind factor makes those static guidelines pretty useless

the speedometer up to 160 is for the cool factor too cause I am light and I tried two times to see how fast it would go and wouldn't break much higher than 105 or so.

I am planning on quite a long trip to the Kanchanaburi border (500km total from Cha-am) and would rather run the correct gears to save gas instead of doing the opposite.. waste gas. it would be good to know before i leave hah.

when the engine feels like its about to blow up,only then is it time to change up.

It is a rental right ?

haha no, it's mine. i know better than to "red line" it even tho there aren't any RPM meters..

was mostly wondering why all the motorbike taxis were running 3rd and 4th gear 24/7 while going quite slow (50 or so)

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Max speed in any given gear, not cruising speed I would think. But to be honest, they're probably just there to look 'cool'.

Have to agree with Marmite ; just there to look cool.

Here's the gear ratios for your bike:

• 1st Gear - 2.500 (35/14)
• 2nd Gear - 1.550 (31/20)
• 3rd Gear - 1.150 (23/20)
• 4th Gear - 0.923 (24/26)

It is not a linear [like speedo 30/60/90/120] step between gears. The difference in gearing reduces as you change up. So ride in 4th more. Change by ear. You'll save fuel.

Originally Posted by bobfish

Change by ear. You'll save fuel.

How?

Changing gear by ear makes you a lot less aerodynamic.
Stick to using your foot until you're confident.

^Maybe he will save face, if not fuel?...

If you would like to ride like a KWAI then use theses gear steps 30/60/90/120]

My 125 top end 100kph -110kph with a tail wind.

My speedometre shows 1 (45) 2 (70) 3 (100) 4 (130)

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Originally Posted by bobfish

Change by ear. You'll save fuel.

How?

Changing gear by ear makes you a lot less aerodynamic.
Stick to using your foot until you're confident.

A fair point.

Originally Posted by bobfish

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Max speed in any given gear, not cruising speed I would think. But to be honest, they're probably just there to look 'cool'.

Have to agree with Marmite ; just there to look cool.

Here's the gear ratios for your bike:

• 1st Gear - 2.500 (35/14)
• 2nd Gear - 1.550 (31/20)
• 3rd Gear - 1.150 (23/20)
• 4th Gear - 0.923 (24/26)

It is not a linear [like speedo 30/60/90/120] step between gears. The difference in gearing reduces as you change up. So ride in 4th more. Change by ear. You'll save fuel.

there you go, that is exactly what i was looking for, thanks.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Originally Posted by bobfish

Change by ear. You'll save fuel.

How?

Changing gear by ear makes you a lot less aerodynamic.
Stick to using your foot until you're confident.

haha that is the funniest thing i have heard today

but I reckon that my chances of literally saving face would be better if I changed by foot, I have to agree.

Accelerate to the speed you want using the gears, then change into 4th and cruise at that speed.

Sorted

Another living life on the edge thread..

A wave 125 will cruise nicely at 50 to 60KPH in top gear 4 only change down if you want to overtake someone quickly

Originally Posted by kekalot

was mostly wondering why all the motorbike taxis were running 3rd and 4th gear 24/7 while going quite slow (50 or so)

torque .

Originally Posted by nedkellylives

A wave 125 will cruise nicely at 50 to 60KPH in top gear 4 only change down if you want to overtake someone quickly

cool, well few posts gave me plenty of confirmation of what i was expecting for answers. just wanted to make sure i wasn't going to "somehow" kill my bike early or spend twice as much on gas.

thanks for all the input guys

Originally Posted by kekalot

thanks for all the input guys

Ride safely.

Originally Posted by kekalot

Originally Posted by nedkellylives

A wave 125 will cruise nicely at 50 to 60KPH in top gear 4 only change down if you want to overtake someone quickly

cool, well few posts gave me plenty of confirmation of what i was expecting for answers. just wanted to make sure i wasn't going to "somehow" kill my bike early or spend twice as much on gas.

thanks for all the input guys

The Wave and the previous model called the dream are tough little bikes and rarely have mechanical problems unlike the Automatic bikes they sell
Last time we were at the honda dealer to pick up my wifes new wave there were 8 auto bikes the with auto problems and 1 wave having its oil changed

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

Another living life on the edge thread..

Have a look at why forums are dying thread