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7/21/2023
Location
Corvallis, OR
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Edited Date/Time
2/20/2026 7:37pm
Was listening to Jordan Smith's press day interview today and he was saying on the triumph 450 he's in first gear basically around the entire track. I get it, but it just seems ridiculous to me. Why have a bike so powerful that you don't even shift at this point plus nobody really uses a clutch anymore. Put it in 1st and go.
* Obviously I realize it's more to it than that but just curious on other people's thoughts on this and if they caught that and Jordan's interview
Wide Ratio transmissions are great if you have the power to pull them. Back in the day Tim Ferry would run a wide ratio 3 speed in his Yamaha 450's.
Is this to avoid the infamous triumph transmission issues??
First gear is to keep the dust down in the pits not to race. He must have a wild transmission.
Big freaking deal I do that all the time
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Heard that as well and was a little confused. Don't they always talk about shifting up to 4th for whoops? So in rhythm and corner prior he's in 1st and then shifts up several gears? And what gear is he starting in? If 1st is that tall it's no wonder they have such a hard time being consistent on starts.
Tomac confirmed this when barcia broke his shifter a few years back. But I assume they all run different gear ratios depending on the track. Rozcen just recently got his "factory" transmission.
That's what I thought too haha a commoner like me can't fathom doing anything in 1st gear
This actually made me laugh this morning, thank you 🫂
The first 4 strk to win an SX was Doug Henry's 1997 YZM 400, it apparently used a 2 spd. transmission.
🤣
If 2 years ago was recent.
I was hoping big Lew would ask him if he’s starting in first or second. I assume still 2nd but I was shocked he said most of the track was first.
My 495 Vertemati MX bike is a 3 speed. If they want to make it interesting , Triumph should give him a 3 speed with Neutral at the bottom. You only go too far down once LOL
I believe road race bikes are like this, but have a button you have to push to be able to go into neutral.
A yr or two ago ap7 talked about hitting laroccos leap outdoors in second on the pulp show....
I remember rc talking to js7 on some podcast saying how fun it was screaming around the track mostly in first....
Is he running a 30 tooth rear sprocket???
So.... on a "factory transmission"... is first completely removed thus making second gear into "first" gear?.. or is the factory first gear just really tall??
And it looks like on the line they all click up into second before the gate drops... just how tall is the factory second gear?
I think they change the primary gear ratio, between the crank and the clutch, too so whatever 1st great means, it probably isn't what we're thinking.
As an interesting aside when my son had a KTM 50 with the centrifugal clutch and no transmission, surprisingly it would do 45mph.
Pit Row
Yeah, front sprocket
450s need to go. It’s that simple.
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