Gear vs RMP vs MPH

[Guest]

Howdie Folks;

Just a general question...
Is there a maximum RPM you should be in for any particular gear ?
Ex. 1st gear-30/40 MPH- 6K-8K (is more OK ?)
Is it OK to redline in every gear ? I'm thinking you would want to push more air over the motor at higher RPMs, which implies higher gear and speed.
..of course assuming bike is tuned and in good working order.

Just curious
Thanks

[mrbill5491]

"I'm thinking you would want to push more air over the motor at higher RPMs," Not sure what you saying here, the engine doesn't really start cooling until about 30 mph from some of the articles I've read on air cooled bikes. I rarely redline my bike in every day riding, really no need too unless one is in a hurry or showing off (which is stupid). Only times I even come close to redline is on the open highway. Redlining on busy city streets is just asking for trouble.

Just listen to the engine, it will tell you when it wants to be shifted.

[Nessism]

The engine is designed to tolerate redline in any gear, but running the engine needlessly hard isn't advised.

[Steel Toed Tank]

I go to redline often enough. If the bike is giving you power, keep going. Below 7,000 and the bike 'accelerates' but between 7,500 and 10,000 it TAKES OFF.
Where I live there are no access ramps or on/off ramps.
So I am constantly going from sitting stopped at a corner, to accelerating into 100kmh+ traffic, usually oil tankers or grain trucks.
By the time I'm shifting to 2nd, there is more than enough airflow to keep things right. Hell my headers are original and they have no color to them other than chrome.
I don't really HAVE to make the rpms climb that high, but it is a great feeling, and the bike does it easily, and seems to enjoy it.
Plus the truckers have a better chance of seeing me if they hear the pipes roaring.

My bike sings an angry song at 7,500 - 10,000 though, so if yours sounds like it's screaming in agony then don't push it so much.


Tank

[sebby110]

"Sound" advise.
If she sounds like she's not puttin out any more (), best back-off and go eazy !!
Maximum air-flow at higher RPMs= happier engine

Thanks

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. sebby110,

If you can find a contemporary magazine review of your bike the reviewers usually list top speed at redline in each gear. What bike are we talking about? Around town I usually shift at 4000 rpm - 5000 rpm, not enough to draw attention to myself but enough to quickly scoot through or ahead of traffic. (Note: At 4000 rpm in 3rd gear I'm going 40mph.) I rev it out higher only when necessary, or on some back mountain road to have some fun.

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[spyug]

I'm a big fan of ex racer and now riding coach Reg Pridmore. He advocates keeping the revs up to around 5/6000 rpm in the lower gears for street riding which he says keeps the bike in the powerband and helps set the suspension. I'm not sure about that myself as 3/4000 seems more comfortable to me. Getting past that and the bike wants to take off with after burners it feels like.

The highest I've shifted at is probably 8000 rpm and while she could go & would go higher, she was screaming and I would have been aiming for triple digits coming out of 3rd. That could have turned out to be expensive in a 60kmph zone.

I think mr. bill has it right, just let the bike tell you when to shift unless you're being chased by a pack of vampires then bury that needle and get outta Dodge.

Enjoy but ride safely friends.
Spyug

[mrbill5491]

Now that is funny

Ie.

I think mr. bill has it right, just let the bike tell you when to shift unless you're being chased by a pack of vampires then bury that needle and get outta Dodge.

Enjoy but ride safely friends.
Spyug