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What gear pulls the hardest?

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#42
4th gear is actually the gear ratio (1 to 1) where the most power/torque is applied to the road surface. The engine load is highest and the boost output is maximum for several seconds. The is is why (least drive losses occur at 1 to 1 trans ratio) the car (any car) is dynoed in ~4th. Thusly the engine/drive output and acceleration is strongest for the longest in 4th.
That's only true for a direct drive.
In most gear boxes, 4th gear is a gear like any other; and has losses.
If you want the least losses, it'd be 6th gear.
Unless you have a direct drive (basically the engine driving a shaft driving the differential, without gears in between; but almost no cars have them anymore).
 


XR650R

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#43
4th is the closest to a 1:1 ratio, and what you should do on a dyno. 5th and 6th are both overdrives. Thank modern tech and 200hp out of a 1.6 liter production engine.

That said, 3rd takes you from 40 to 80 very quickly. Best gear for an onramp.
 




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