I'm new to ATV's, and unaccustomed to not having a tachometer on my ride. I feel pretty comfortable knowing when to shift by the sound, power delivery, and feel of back-pressure of the engine when I let off the throttle, but I'm also curious about what speed ranges you guys run in various gears. FYI, I have a 2015 Foreman with Electric Shift (TRX500FE2 - solid rear axle) and I ride at pretty casual speeds due to the nature of Colorado's trails (rocky, snowy) and my purpose for being out in the woods (hunting, scouting, and exploring, not racing or trying to push the limits).
Here's what I've been generally running:
1st gear: never more than 5 mph, using it mostly like a "low" gear when rock crawling, starting up a hill, or plowing snow
2nd: 0-2 mph to 10 mph, frequently using it as a starting gear if on level ground or downhill start, and for slow, rugged/technical downhills (1st feels quite low, and I have to use the throttle to keep moving forward if I'm in 1st
3rd: 10 mph to 15 mph, though I've really lugged the machine in 3rd gear at too-slow speed a time or two when climbing up an icy hill and I forget to shift because of the rugged terrain
4th: 15 mph to 20 mph
5th: 20+ mph, but I've only been in 5th gear a time or two because I haven't gotten the machine above 25 mph yet (haven't even done the break-in service)
For comparison, I also ride a 2007 Kawasaki KLR; that engine really "tractors" well when you lug the engine, and doesn't need high rpm's unless your really gettin' after it! My new Foreman provides that same tractor-like feel, so I don't feel the need to wind it up.