What RPM do you ride at?

[Guest]

I am just curious because I am just getting started on my GS and have nothing to compare it to. I have heard people say that you shouldn't ride the bike below 4,000 because it wasn't designed for that, but I feel that if I am riding around at 55 mph around my house, 3500 is the sweet spot where the motor seems to just cruise along, so I will usually ride in 4th gear or maybe even 5th if I am closer to 60mph.

I like to be nice to my GS because I want it to last me a while, and when I am riding at 4,000 plus, I feel like the bike is at the start of its power range, and I don't find it necessary to ride it right there all the time. Thoughts?

[Steve]

3500 isn't going to hurt the engine, as long as it's cruising or just loafing along. If you were riding two-up in the hills, asking for some get-up-and-GO, you would have to downshift a couple of times to be at the proper speed.

Although these engines do thrive on elevated speeds, they don't demand them.

.

[cowboyup3371]

Get it above 4000, you'll love it.

[Rob S.]

3500 is the sweet spot where the motor seems to just cruise along

4,000 plus, I feel like the bike is at the start of its power range, and I don't find it necessary to ride it right there all the time. Thoughts?

Agree 100%

[dorkburger]

Depends on where im riding...ive buzzed the 1150 at around 5500to 6000 for hours when on the highway...it a lovely sound.

[rustybronco]

Mostly at 4,400

[motokid837]

Depends on where im riding...ive buzzed the 1150 at around 5500to 6000 for hours when on the highway...it a lovely sound.

6000 RPM for hours!?! Gosh I must be babying the thing then, It was my first time on the freeway with bike a few days ago and I was a little worried running it at 65 in 5th gear at around 4500 RPM for a few miles...I don't run a faring so it feels pretty fast and windy, but still, I guess I need to get more used to riding at higher speeds for a longer period of time

[bwringer]

6,000 to 9,000 rpm.

Quit pottering around below 6,000 like some little old lady. We'll have to take your keys away and sign you up for a quilting circle.

Spin and grin!

[GS1150Pilot]

4K-9K is a general rule of thumb.

[Rob S.]

6,000 to 9,000 rpm.

Usually only when the police are chasing me. Or I'm "racing." Or I just feel like it (at least once every ride).

Almost time for my midnight prowl.

[tkent02]

Wind it out, or turn in your man card ASAP.

[bbjumper]

Around 5k @ 80mph on the freeway on my 850. Get yourself some lower bars so you can lean into it at speed, it makes it much more comfortable.

Cheers

[trevor]

Around 5k @ 80mph on the freeway on my 850. Get yourself some lower bars so you can lean into it at speed, it makes it much more comfortable.

Cheers

5k at 80mph on an 850??? really?

[Rob S.]

At 80 mph I'm doing a bit, not too much more than 5,000 rpm on my 1100EZ (4,650 rpm at indicated 70 mph).

I'll let you know in about an hour. Time for a quick (and I do mean quick) ride.

[tkent02]

The 550 is pretty much doing 6,500 - 7,000 on the highway, unless I want to accelerate. Then got to kick it down a couple gears to get it to do anything. My old 550 lasted way past 120,000 miles doing this, and on that one I was young and foolish, raced it all the time too, mostly against bigger bikes. It spent a lot of time going as fast as I could possibly could make it go, crossed many states with the throttle pinned, probably never went a whole hour without redlining at least once unless it was snowing or I was too drunk to ride fast. (not often) When we finally took it apart to fix all the leaky gaskets, all of the metal parts in the engine were well within service limits, didn't have to buy any rings or bearings or anything. You could still see the hone marks in the cylinders, almost all the way around.

These engines are designed for high RPM.