.png "Powered by vBulletin")
I get what you are saying about the bike not sounding too good at higher revs. Up to about 4,750 rpm my 1100 shafties sound as sweet as a nut (whatever that means!) and after that it sounds as if all hell is breaking lose and that the noise is one of complaint. I have never liked revving over 6,000 rpm around town (in the lower gears) for that reason - it just doesn't feel so good.
Now you go and ride a 4 valve GS1150/GSX1100 and boy there is a huge difference. These bikes are turbine smooth and just feel better and better the faster you ride and the higher you rev. Climb back on the older 750 and 1100 bikes and the issue is even more apparent (I have both models).
Here's my view; the older 2 valve 750s and 1100s were never supposed to be high performance racing machines. Although in my experience the 750 was always smoother than the 1100, they were touring type equipment. I remember riding my GS750 to the South of France with my girl friend (round trip of 2,000 miles) circa 1980 and it was great tacking along around 75 mph all day. But start racing it and it started to sound stressed. I'm pretty sure it isn't stressed - just sounds that way.
On previous threads you will see riders who swear that they take their machines up to the red line in every gear all the time. I would call that racing.
Try this: make sure you have a smooth tickover (correctly adjusted carbs) and they are synchronized (this can make a big difference). Take you bike onto the highway and find the vibration spot. This is usually around 4,500 to 4,750 rpm where it fells horrible and there is a significant buzz in the bars. Get to feel how smooth it is below that and then also above it (you might start to break your own speed limit - take care). They usually smooth out considerably above 5,000. Great for cruising around that level. But back in town you are constantly hitting that vibration spot and it's off-putting.
I'm used to it now and after thousands of miles cruising these bikes, I've just learned that it's part of their character.
This is the perfect cruising for me: open highway at 5,000. Don't do this at home:
Now you go and ride a 4 valve GS1150/GSX1100 and boy there is a huge difference. These bikes are turbine smooth and just feel better and better the faster you ride and the higher you rev. Climb back on the older 750 and 1100 bikes and the issue is even more apparent (I have both models).
Here's my view; the older 2 valve 750s and 1100s were never supposed to be high performance racing machines. Although in my experience the 750 was always smoother than the 1100, they were touring type equipment. I remember riding my GS750 to the South of France with my girl friend (round trip of 2,000 miles) circa 1980 and it was great tacking along around 75 mph all day. But start racing it and it started to sound stressed. I'm pretty sure it isn't stressed - just sounds that way.
On previous threads you will see riders who swear that they take their machines up to the red line in every gear all the time. I would call that racing.
Try this: make sure you have a smooth tickover (correctly adjusted carbs) and they are synchronized (this can make a big difference). Take you bike onto the highway and find the vibration spot. This is usually around 4,500 to 4,750 rpm where it fells horrible and there is a significant buzz in the bars. Get to feel how smooth it is below that and then also above it (you might start to break your own speed limit - take care). They usually smooth out considerably above 5,000. Great for cruising around that level. But back in town you are constantly hitting that vibration spot and it's off-putting.
I'm used to it now and after thousands of miles cruising these bikes, I've just learned that it's part of their character.
This is the perfect cruising for me: open highway at 5,000. Don't do this at home:
Comment