[Arbiter]

Hello All,
What do you think about cruising with 3500-4000 rpm? Is it acceptable for our engines? Is it not to low revs?

I mean cruising on 6th gear with about 55kmh (tuck)

 

[TimP]

As long as you know the engine isn't lugging go for it. I try to not go below 4,000 personally. As long as I'm getting over 60 mpgs I'm happy. Only reason to keep the rpms that low is worrying about getting the most out of your fuel.

 

[pitchblack]

I tend to ride in the 6500-7000 range, not because I think its the correct way to cruise, but I enjoy being able to roll on the throttle and get a nice response. Down in the lower RPM's I just dont feel I get enough performance out of the bike. Im not too concerned with gas mileage, as I get about 60MPG more than my F-150. I could always just downshift and get the same response, but I must be lazy!

 

[Gordo]

I'd be much more comfortable in 4th or MAYBE 5th at that speed... In 6th, if you want to accelerate at all, you're going to have to downshift at LEAST one gear and more likely two.

As for being seen riding in a tuck at 55kph? you might as well just do your hair up in pigtails, pluck your eyebrows, put on lipstick and wear a Justin Bieber t-shirt and hot pants with a whale-tail thong..... because either way, it ain't a good look.

Gasoline must be VERY expensive in Warsaw.

 

[TBC]

When around town i always get to 6th gear and use lower rpms. My engine doesnt lug and i get great mpg.

 

[Matao87]

When I am in a line of traffic several miles long I'll cruise in 6th to save gas, if I am on the open road I'll keep the revvs much higher. I don't like to cruise in 6th at any lower than 40mph, sometimes my speed will dip to 35 or so, but I find that below 40 starts to lugg the engine. So I'd say I have a safe speed range in 6th gear of 40-101mph.

 

[MrShadow]

I also try to keep it above 4,000 most of the time and generally cruise at 5,000. Which means 6th gear comes in at 80 Kph or more. Well, not more at the moment as I'm restricted to 80 - until I get off my learners license.

I've found the gearing on this bike seems setup for just this kind of cruising in the city. 5th @ 5K = 70 Kph, 4th @5K = 60 Kph, 3rd @ 5K = 50 Kph. Makes it easy to know which gear I'm in!

 

[yachting1]

I never cruise, with traffic around me, lower than 6000 rpm for safety!!! If there is little or no traffic I will go as low as 5000 rpm since a prompt throttle response wont be needed.
Anytime I'm around traffic I want a responsive throttle so I keep the bike at 6000 to 85000 rpms. I care more about safety than gas milage(Yea I am nuts to sacrafice mpg's!).
My two cents!
Randy

 

[rrages]

The only time I hit 6th is at highway speeds. 55MPH or higher. And downshifting to 5th when slowing for an impending stop is almost unnoticeable. Much bigger jump down from 5th to 4th.

I do feel more in control when revs are higher - 5K and above - at any speed.

In my learning curve I have noticed that it's usually not necessary to shift down to 2nd to corner. 3rd is very forgiving of slowing enough to turn a corner and picking right back up.

 

[Matao87]

When cruising in a long line of traffic at 45mph there's no situation where a bit extra power is going to save you. With cars all around you, don't have anywhere to accelerate to and swerving will only help if you have the shoulder next to you. That's where keeping a watchful eye and predicting problems before you get to them can save your bacon. When literally hundreds of cars are all going the same speed, the ability to accelerate more quickly doesn't help you much. And if you need to accelerate faster than top gear allows, two quck down shifts puts you right in the power band.

 

[yachting1]

With cars all around you, don't have anywhere to accelerate to and swerving will only help if you have the shoulder next to you. That's where keeping a watchful eye and predicting problems before you get to them can save your bacon. When literally hundreds of cars are all going the same speed, And if you need to accelerate faster than top gear allows, two quck down shifts puts you right in the power band.

I totally dissagree with most of what you posted untill I noticed you contradicted yourself! Kinda a double negative. Make up your mind...

"When cruising in a long line of traffic at 45mph there's no situation where a bit extra power is going to save you."

"the ability to accelerate more quickly doesn't help you much."

The second sentence backs up what I posted about safety. I may need that "help you much" you mentioned to avoid an accident!!!!!!!!!!!!

Randy

 

[etiainen]

Oh noes! Not a downshift. That's so hard....may as well throw on automatic transmission onto my cbr as well. Shifting gears is so much brain hurt.

Just ride the bike the way you want it. Don't lug the engine and you'll be fine.

 

[Aufitt]

Hello All,
What do you think about cruising with 3500-4000 rpm? Is it acceptable for our engines? Is it not to low revs?

I mean cruising on 6th gear with about 55kmh (tuck)

Gearing Commander: Motorcycle Speed, RPM, Chain & Sprockets Calculator shows that @ 55kph
you will still only be doing 5500rpm in 3rd gear.

Dont lug.

tucking is not needed till 75mph or more.

 

[Steve_47]

Hello All,
What do you think about cruising with 3500-4000 rpm? Is it acceptable for our engines? Is it not to low revs?

I mean cruising on 6th gear with about 55kmh (tuck)

Experimented on the way home, at 40 mph (60 km/h) in 6th gear the motor is starting to suffer and needs to be down shifted. I would also agree with Randy in saying it's not safe to ride like that if you might need to accelerate to avoid a accident.

 

[etiainen]

The motor is fine at 40mph in 6th. You don't have a lot of power but can cruise fine, though a downshift or two for power.
I would stay in fifth for 55km/h, it's right around lugging in 6th.

 

[Jubis]

Yeah if I'm bored I'll sit in 6th doing 60 kph. Mind you this is at 2 am or at 7 am on weekends, on a hilly road that goes up and down and is empty. It's amazing how much control I've gotten on the throttle that I can adapt to the ups and downs on this particular road.

Plus, think of the fuel efficiency!

 

[Honda CBR 250 Rider]

If I want to ride slow in the sense of acceleration and speed. I slowly accelerate up like this.

Gear Shift\RPM MPH
1-2 =/ 3,500 = 10
2-3 =/ 3,500 = 15
3-4 =/ 3,500 = 20
4-5 =/ 3,500 = 25
5-6 =/ 4,000 = 35

Riding over 5 mph below listed mph in these gears will stress the engine. You will hear and feel it.

It is also a MUST to gently twist the throttle (25%) while doing this to avoid stressing the engine as it will be producing too few HP to effectively accelerate at those speeds in those gears.

This is my experience.

 

[GutEQ]

I used to be repeatedly told by engineers, that most wear and damage is done to the the engine when running it with too low revs... the crankshaft, bearings, connecting rod etc. are subject to strongest changes of forces when at low revs (at higher revs inertia smoothes the forces).

So, I'd rather spend the extra gulp of gas, shift down and rev the engine a bit higher (e.g. 6k) to reduce wear.

 

[Skyway6]

i at first thot you typed 55 mph not kph. That is way too low for 6th gear. i am barely out of 3rd at 55kph and in 4th at 60kph i am at ~5k rpm. you sure you didnt mean mph?

 

[Red_Ryder]

What do you think about cruising with 3500-4000 rpm? Is it acceptable for our engines? Is it not to low revs?

I mean cruising on 6th gear with about 55kmh (tuck)

NEVER!
Do a search of TX_Dj and the power curve.

Always keep my revs at 6k or 7k no matter what gear I'm in.
If you get into a situation and need to escape or evade you can.
Lower revs..........good luck!