I was thrown off by not having a gear indicator on my 500R when I got it...that lasted for about 5 minutes. When the head mechanic was going through the bike before I rode home from the dealership he said, "You don't need a gear indicator, it'll just be a distraction. Go by feel of the bike". He was right, what's the point of a gear indicator? Believe me when I say this, you're never going to use it. You know what you will use in the beginning? The tach...that's important; that's how you're going to learn what each 1k of rev feels like so that you'll know when to shift in any situation. It's like a fuel indicator--use the trip meter instead.

Think about it, do you use the gear indicator when you're shifting in a car? No, you go by feel of the stick and engine. You'll do the same on the bike except it'll be feel of the engine and to a smaller degree the throttle.

Save your money and buy some turn signals for the bike--smaller front signals will help prevent the front fairing from getting punctured by the signal if you drop the bike at a standstill.

 

So I agree that I should learn the feel of the bike and not rely on a gear indicator. While reading up on the gear indicators it made me wonder about the speedometer and tach. The speedometer on the 250 is obviously a cable speedometer and not digital...but what about the tach? Is that a digital pulse from the engine?

 

I was thrown off by not having a gear indicator on my 500R when I got it...that lasted for about 5 minutes. When the head mechanic was going through the bike before I rode home from the dealership he said, "You don't need a gear indicator, it'll just be a distraction. Go by feel of the bike". He was right, what's the point of a gear indicator? Believe me when I say this, you're never going to use it. You know what you will use in the beginning? The tach...that's important; that's how you're going to learn what each 1k of rev feels like so that you'll know when to shift in any situation. It's like a fuel indicator--use the trip meter instead.

Think about it, do you use the gear indicator when you're shifting in a car? No, you go by feel of the stick and engine. You'll do the same on the bike except it'll be feel of the engine and to a smaller degree the throttle.

Save your money and buy some turn signals for the bike--smaller front signals will help prevent the front fairing from getting punctured by the signal if you drop the bike at a standstill.

I don't remember looking for that elusive extra gear when I owned the 500 but I find myself trying to get one more gear on the 10. reading other forums, I'm not the only one though.

 

I've thought it would be a good thing, but going by sound or the feel, is actually all you need...maybe looking at what your rpms are is more important. If they're high shift up, too low shift down. Works along with speed.

 

You won't want to cruise at much less than 4k though. You won't have any power or engine braking. Other than that just have fun with it.