What RPM should I be at?

BinDerSmokDat

.040 Over
Joined
Jul 9, 2007
Messages
94
Location
Southern NJ
OK, a noob question...

Once I reach my given speed, 45, 55, 65mph, where should I be keeping my RPM's? I find that I am selecting gears that at a given speed keep my RPM's between 2000-2500rpm. Since that is near the top of the torque curve, it just "feels" right. The motor isn't lugging but I don't feel like I am over revving. Sometimes at 50-55mph I feel like I am lugging in 5th gear and kick it down to 4th.

Any tips, suggestions on this?
 
Given the amount of torque we have to call on, the rev range you select is not as critical as on, for instance, a high revving Jap or Italian bike.

The only answer is that you should be in the right gear at the right speed at any time, for the situation you are riding in.

Just don't let the motor struggle with a low speed in a high gear, and you'll be OK.

Sounds like you're doing fine, and I must say I have an admiration by the amount of thought and practise you're putting in to this.
 
I like to keep my RPMs between 3000-4000 so that I can use the engine braking to set up corner entry speeds...little trick DHarvey taught me (you'll never see his brake lights go on going into a corner).
 
One of the things that I have noticed is that I get better fuel mileage above 3,500 rpm, up to a point. I ride with some ballsie riders and keeping the Rock torqued up in the mountains, I get better mileage than just putting along on the highway at around 2,000 to 2,500 rpm. It may be that the engines is not working as hard at higher RPM or it may be that I am too rich at those RPM's. IDK
 

The key is throttle position.
 
owl said:
Sounds like you're doing fine, and I must say I have an admiration by the amount of thought and practise you're putting in to this.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am just trying to stay alive. I'm not just learning how to ride a Rocket, I'm learning how to ride in general.

I am getting about 33-34 mpg on the last 2 tankfulls, which is decent and not far off the estimated 34.9mpg I've read about in reviews. This tells me I must be in the ballpark for the proper revs.
 
If you are riding mostly in town, you should see around 32-34 mpg. On the highway at 65 mph, I normally see 40-42 mpg. 2000 rpm ~ 55 mph with my set up.
 
At 70 mph highway Texas speeds with, PC III, Jardines, I'm at 2900 rpm's. 75 - 80 I'm at 3000 to 3200 rpm's. Greg and my riding speeds, hmmmm, I couldn't see the tach!

Native One
 
Thanks guys. Yes, forgot to mention, my driving has been a mix of back roads and divided stop-n-go state highway. So 33mpg sounds about right for me.

I have TOR's and I'm around 2500 at 55mph in 5th.

Forgot to mention, revved the bike out to 6000rpms this weekend, teh highest I have taken it yet. It does sound nice, but I ran out of road shortly and had to upshift and pull it all in. I'll just keep on working on my skills until I can let it all out to hit the Ton Club.
 
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