High RPM

[Crabbypants15]

Hello! A few days ago my girlfriend dropped my '78 GS750 and although nothing seems to be wrong with it, the bike has been getting higher RPMs when riding at speed. When idling there's no difference, just higher RPMs when riding. I'm still pretty new when it comes to maintenance and diagnosing problems. Can anyone help me out? Thank you!

[Rob S.]

Intake air leak? What you're describing sounds like a change of gearing (larger rear or smaller front sprocket), so a more detailed description is in order.

Count your lucky stars that the woman walked away.

[Crabbypants15]

Thanks for the fast response! My dad said to check the air filter so I'm planning on doing that. Just to clarify, I was trying to teach her on my bike(def gonna start out on a much slower and lighter bike now lol) so she was only going about 5 mph max when it fell on the right side.

[rphillips]

I'm confused about what you are saying. Do you mean, before it ran 4,000 @ 60mph. & since the drop, it now runs 4500 rpm @ 60mph? Or when riding at 60mph, the rpm & speed just increases without giving more throttle? Also start a beginner on a smaller bike, nothing against women, but for sure start a female on something smaller. Duhhh.

[Crabbypants15]

Should've clarified the issue sorry. Yes, the first scenario. I would get about 3.5-4k rpm at 50mph and now I get 4rpm at 45. Not a huge difference but still noticeable.

[Nessism]

Clutch cable issue causing slippage?

[salty_monk]

Yeah the only thing that can cause that is either the clutch slipping or the rev counter being screwed up somehow... otherwise the relation of RPM is fixed.

to diagnose the clutch, hit 2nd gear and open the throttle full and hard, if the revs climb without any speed increase as the power comes in then the clutch is slipping.

quite common unless the springs have been replaced and I suspect trying to teach your bird involved a bunch of clutch work...

TW200 (if she’s tall) or a shadow 125/250 type bike would be an ideal learner. Lots of those types of bikes around cheap enough.

[Crabbypants15]

Thank you so much! I'll test the clutch slippage today. If that's the issue, do you know the best way to fix it? Also thanks for the new learner bike recommendations

[Redman]

Welcome to TheGSR.

I too will suggest the clutch slippage idea.
Either the tip over messed up the clutch cable adjustment, or it just started to slip, due to age and use, and now you notice it after more cautious examinations.
If cable adjusted okay, and is still slipping: Replace the clutch fiber plates and clutch springs (stock springs not heavy duty) and you will find had been slipping more than you knew.

And my recommendation (and about any training expert) for training a newbie: need to work on stopping before they get going much. So work on barley going just rocking with feet still in place on the ground and stopping, barely going and then stopp, barley go and stop, so they learn clutch and stopping before get going much at all.

And relative to you teaching someone:
Let us ask you...... when going down road and want bike to turn, say, left, what do you do to turn bike to left??

[Rob S.]

Let us ask you...... when going down road and want bike to turn, say, left, what do you do to turn bike to left??

Lean left, steer right.

[ddaniels]

Since it fell on the right side, check where the clutch cable attaches down there on the right side of the engine.

[Redman]

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Rob, Good to see you are being sociable during your recovery.

But, I wasnt asking cuz I needed to know. Was asking to see what Mr CrabbyPants would say without any prompting.

[Rob S.]

Rob, Good to see you are being sociable during your recovery.

But, I wasnt asking cuz I needed to know. Was asking to see what Mr CrabbyPants would say without any prompting.

Sorry I ruined your test. Hey, you forgot to give us homework!

If I don't laugh, I'll cry. And laughing is so much more subtle.

[Crabbypants15]

Haha yeah I do know about the lean the opposite way you want to turn. Thanks for the test

Rob, Good to see you are being sociable during your recovery.

But, I wasnt asking cuz I needed to know. Was asking to see what Mr CrabbyPants would say without any prompting.

[Big T]

The #1 way to train someone is to have them sign up for a riding course and you stay out of it.