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Does my 81 GS750l like high revs/ when to shift?

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    Does my 81 GS750l like high revs/ when to shift?

    The title pretty much says it all. When i get above 5000 rpms my bike seems to respond a lot better to the throttle (power band) but it also doesnt always sound that good. I've never even gotten anywhere near the red line because the bike just vibrates a lot and sounds unusual. This is my first road bike and Im used to dirtbikes so this may be totally normal. The manual says that I should be in 5th gear by 35 mph but that seems so low when Im in the lower gears. 10 mph in second gear the bike is really struggling but if I throw it into 1st the revs sound way too high.

    #2
    I would red line mine all the time without problems.
    If it sounds weird and vibrates a lot then you likely have problems that need taken care of before you push it much.

    Comment


      #3
      careful...
      80-82 GS750's eat rod bearings when abused...sometimes when not abused.
      if you think you hear a loose valve..tick tick tick...most the time it has spun a rod bearing instead.

      Comment


        #4
        there IS a VERY light ticking when I first start it up, but besides that it sounds good.

        Comment


          #5
          Your carbs could be way out of sync too, running on 2 cylinders or the timing might be off as well. Is the bike new to you? You likely have some work ahead of you as most of these bikes haven't had the maintenance they should have had for ~35 year old machines and while they can take a lot of neglect, abuse + neglect = bad news.
          ----------------------------------------------------------------
          2014 BMW F800GSA | 1981 GS850GX | 1982 GS750T (now the son-in-laws) | 1983 GS750ES | 1983 Honda V45 Magna (needs some love) | 1980 Yamaha GT80 and LB80 "Chappy" | 1973 and 1975 Honda XL250 projects

          Comment


            #6
            In 45 yrs Ive never used a tach to shift, besides for on drags raceing cars....even then.....I always just did it by "feel"....hard to explain, need to experience it......but i rarely even use my clutch when upshifting because i can "feel" the engine.......some of you will bash me for that and not believe me....but go for a ride with me....I'll go from 1st to 5th w/o ever using the clutch, and oft I can even downshift the same way...although its tougher....plus, I use engine braking more than the mechanical brakes.....but ya just need to learn a "feel" your engine....it should "tell" you when to shift.....
            And all engines and setups are different, so its tough to state ONE SINGLE way to do it....you just gotta learn and feel the motor....many will argue with me....but try wearing a halfshell helmet....youre more "one" with the bike then, and can hear every single thing it does....revs, valves, exhaust....once you learn thos points, you can go back to whatever helmet....

            Comment


              #7
              I do understand the upshifting with no clutch: rapid acceleration, pull lightly up on the shift pedal but dont shift yet, slow the acceleration, and the bike just drops into the next gear perfectly

              Comment


                #8
                The power band for these engines seem to kick in around 4,800 rpms. 5,500 through about 7,000 rpms seems to be the sweet spot for shifting. That's where I tend to do a majority of my shifting. Now and then I'll run it up to 8,500 + with no problems. Oh yeah my bike has 62,000 miles on the engine and no problems to date.
                sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
                1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
                2015 CAN AM RTS


                Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Mr. Bill's bike is the exception to the rule.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Likely because he is the original owner and more importantly, does the maintenance.
                    ----------------------------------------------------------------
                    2014 BMW F800GSA | 1981 GS850GX | 1982 GS750T (now the son-in-laws) | 1983 GS750ES | 1983 Honda V45 Magna (needs some love) | 1980 Yamaha GT80 and LB80 "Chappy" | 1973 and 1975 Honda XL250 projects

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by blowerbike View Post
                      careful...
                      80-82 GS750's eat rod bearings when abused...sometimes when not abused.
                      Running them into the normal RPM of 6,000 - 9,000 or so range is not abuse.
                      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                      Life is too short to ride an L.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I had a 1981 GS750E and it ran smooth as a sewing machine in any gear and RPM. Which manual says 5th gear at 35mph? The service manual for your bike is invaluable but the owner's manual is going to be next to useless. (Especially where it talks about tire pressures.)

                        When to shift varies mightily by conditions, riding style, where you're going, etc. On my commute to and from work, my very rough (the emphasis) rule of thumb was 3rd gear: 30-39, 4th gear: 40-49, 5th gear: 50 and up. Of course when pleasure riding, the RPMs go up... just a little bit.

                        If you were closer to me, I'd offer to ride your bike and tell you if is behaving normally or not. Have you cleaned your carbs per the GSR Forums Officially Sanctioned Procedure? Are they adjusted and sync'd properly? Are you airbox and exhaust stock/modified/missing?
                        Charles
                        --
                        1979 Suzuki GS850G

                        Read BassCliff's GSR Greeting and Mega-Welcome!

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by eil View Post
                          Which manual says 5th gear at 35mph? The service manual for your bike is invaluable but the owner's manual is going to be next to useless. (Especially where it talks about tire pressures.)
                          I'm sure there's a guy at Suzuki that is rolling on the floor whenever he hears about how we are lugging our bikes when we try and change gears where they suggest.

                          The manual for my Intruder says to change into 5th gear at 29mph. Seriously?

                          And it says to run 29psi in the front tyre - which makes it wallow like a pig (OK - a bigger pig....)
                          Current:
                          Z1300A5 Locomotive (swapped my Intruder for it), GS450 Cafe Project (might never finish it....), XT500 Commuter (I know - it's a Yamaha :eek:)

                          Past:
                          VL1500 Intruder (swapped for Z1300), ZX9R Streetfighter (lets face it - too fast....), 1984 GSX750EF, 1984 GSX1100EF (AKA GS1150)
                          And a bunch of other crap Yamahas....

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                            Running them into the normal RPM of 6,000 - 9,000 or so range is not abuse.
                            nope...
                            never said HE was...just saying these engines are FRAGILE...HEHE

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by mikerophone View Post
                              Likely because he is the original owner and more importantly, does the maintenance.
                              I would like to think my regular oil changes and using a good quality synic oil helped in my 62,000 miles. And yes to the maintenance, my bike has only seen the inside of a dealer shop twice in its life. Once for a warranty fix and the other time for some parts replacement from an accident (insurance required that a dealer do the repairs) and those were in the first year when I bought the bike.
                              sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
                              1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
                              2015 CAN AM RTS


                              Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

                              Comment

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