Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[CHiZ_65]

How fast is everyone going when they shift through the gears? What RPMs do you cruise at in each gear? When do YOU shift?

I've always gone off feel. I have the SE 110 w/ 585 cams + 6spd

1-2 @ 15'ish mph
2-3 @ 27'ish
3-4 @ 43'ish
4-5 @ 55+
5-6 - I haven't had the chance yet. 

According to my tac, I cruise in each gear at around 2500 RPM. When i "hear" it strain a bit I upshift (normally around the points above). But its never over 3000 when I shift. I wonder if I can push it more? hmmm

[Jswerve]

But its never over 3000 when I shift. I wonder if I can push it more? hmmm

Seriously? I've had mine rapped over 5k several times. 

[ultrafxr]

If I am on a leisurely ride I normally shift around 3k sometimes a little less or a little more.  If I need to accelerate a little faster due to traffic / conditions I wind it to 4k or a little above.  I have been known to twist it a little harder but not with the Queen on board.  She is my govenor, lol. 

[Jswerve]

If I am on a leisurely ride I normally shift around 3k sometimes a little less or a little more.  If I need to accelerate a little faster due to traffic / conditions I wind it to 4k or a little above.  I have been known to twist it a little harder but not with the Queen on board.  She is my govenor, lol.

Haha I rarely get above 3k with the wife on board. But flying solo, well that's a whole different story! 

[twinotter]

IMO leisurely riding, 3K is a good shift point. 2500 is also a good low end rpm for general running. With the tall gearing now on the newer bikes, anything below that I'd consider lugging. Of course, light cruising and downhill you can have far less, as long as you downshift before trying to accelerate.
Feel free to use the transmission as required.
It sounds like your treating your bike gently, I will run around shifting all day at 3K, then pound her thru 4-5 gears to 6K as the mood changes or I get bores with going slow.
Imo you should run the engine up over at least 5K thru a couple of gears on a regular basis, gets everything circulating and can decrease combustion chamber buildup. Ride hard, ride safe! twinotter

[fastfreddy]

mine sees 6200rpm on a regular basis, for the most part i shift around  3500, and cruse in the 2800 to3200 rpm range. you know we put them loud pipes on for a reason...to make some noise 

[Jswerve]

mine sees 6200rpm on a regular basis, for the most part i shift around  3500, and cruse in the 2800 to3200 rpm range. you know we put them loud pipes on for a reason...to make some noise 

Haha Freddy. True! I've been known to hit 6200 just didn't want to be first to say it!

[SDCVO]

mine sees 6200rpm on a regular basis, for the most part i shift around  3500, and cruse in the 2800 to3200 rpm range. you know we put them loud pipes on for a reason...to make some noise 

X2

[SDCVO]

But to be fair, I blew up my 120r a few weeks ago. I might not be the guy to listen to

[Jswerve]

But to be fair, I blew up my 120r a few weeks ago. I might not be the guy to listen to

Haha! 

[fastfreddy]

But to be fair, I blew up my 120r a few weeks ago. I might not be the guy to listen to

ouch!! so what are in the plans to get her back together?? hope its going back together...soon

[SDCVO]

ouch!! so what are the in the plans to get her back together?? hope its going back together...soon

Waiting for my new blacked out 124 to arrive. Wait is killing me!

[Ridgerunr]

Waiting for my new blacked out 124 to arrive. Wait is killing me!

Is it a S&S? Can you get black rocker covers etc., from S&S?

[fastfreddy]

Waiting for my new blacked out 124 to arrive. Wait is killing me!

  nice go big or stay home, are you getting the HC or??

[CHiZ_65]

lol you guys are hilarious. 

I think I'll squeeze a lil' more out her before my shifts. Super strong engine..Shift points are a bit different than the Honda I came from. Haaaa!! 

[SDCVO]

  nice go big or stay home, are you getting the HC or??

I am going HC with the Throttle Hog 66, 6.2 injectors and trust Bob at RC Cycles will tune it correctly. You can have S&S powder coat cam case and rocker boxes black. If they do it, they will not void the warranty. If you have it done they will. They were pricey on it but I really wanted the blacked out cases and it was worth it to me to not have to worry about voiding the warranty. What might be worse than the $500 they are charging me for the powder coat is the additional 2 weeks it takes..

[CannonBall]

I keep my rpms around 3000-3300 when cruising.

[cheeset202]

I shift between 3500 and 4000 Rpm and cruise at 3000 and above. I usually don't go into 6th gear unless I am going to cruise at 75 mph. Don't baby the engine you can cause more damage by running low RPM than higher RPM. Those are big Pistons and a heavy cam shaft keep them rotating in the 3000 RPM range.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CVOThunder]

I shift between 3500 and 4000 Rpm and cruise at 3000 and above. I usually don't go into 6th gear unless I am going to cruise at 75 mph. Don't baby the engine you can cause more damage by running low RPM than higher RPM. Those are big Pistons and a heavy cam shaft keep them rotating in the 3000 RPM range.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right about the same as well. Keeps the rpm's higher, better oil pressure, less loading on the crank pin than lugging. Don't see myself double shifting 2 gears unless on a big downhill and by then I'll already be in 5th or so.

[Ridgerunr]

"You can have S&S powder coat cam case and rocker boxes black."

Going to look great, S&S has good looking rocker covers. Hope you can post some pictures when it's buttoned up. 

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

With a 108" bike that's here, we'd drop it into 4th at about 122-123 mph...............in 660 ft.
Scott

[red ben59]

Wish I haven't had my rev limiter cut in as many times as it has. Could spell trouble for me down the road.  I'm trying to do better about winding it tight. But I get the need for SPEED 

[SDCVO]

"You can have S&S powder coat cam case and rocker boxes black."

Going to look great, S&S has good looking rocker covers. Hope you can post some pictures when it's buttoned up. 

Will do

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Wish I haven't had my rev limiter cut in as many times as it has. Could spell trouble for me down the road.  I'm trying to do better about winding it tight. But I get the need for SPEED 

Want big rpm out of a V-Twin?
G2 126" is the answer.
Scott

[HUBBARD]

All I know is, when Ol' Maudie hit the chip in 5th gear, (I think the chip was set on 5800 RPM), the GPS said 127 MPH.  The dip-stick shot out of her like a bottle-rocket, and then she came un-glued. KA-POW!!!!!!  Just glad she didn't lock-up!  Woulda' been sad singing and coffee drinking, then.    Just wudn't my day to check out!   Later--HUBBARD 

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

..........or a 143"............
Scott

[Cat Eye]

One thing I have noticed for me is that normal shifting RPM is tied to the loudness of my exhaust and hearing protection.

When I had my 113 with loud exhaust I always shifted at 2000....put with a full face helmet or earplugs...then around 2500.

Now with my 2015 SG with moderate exhaust shifting more around 3000

[jpswino]

Man, you guys really baby your bikes, which may not be a bad thing BTW.

When I get on it, my seat-o-pants tach tells me to shift just a few hundred past 4K. Its here where I feel the bike slowing down on pulling. That's with stock cams. These cams don't seem to pull hard much past there and I feel like I'm shifting just under peak. If you spend a few minutes looking at all the dyno sheets guys have posted around here, they pretty much confirm this. Those dyno runs tell all actually and clearly give you an idea where NOT to go. I also find when under load when I shift at about 4200K the down shift drops me right into the torque power band again near 2500k-3000k. Again perfect because I'm right where the motor can pull like gangbusters. I certainly don't want to drop below the power band when I upshift. Again, the dyno sheets confirm these motors really start pulling at around 2200K-2500K with all that glorious torque coming on full.

I come from the inline four world of old cb750s in choppers so I'm not afraid of the rpms most motors actually need to live free. I certainly am not a lugger either and have learned not to tool around at too low an rpm. For this motor that number seems to come into question just under 2500K but rears its ugly head if you drop below 2K. Not good. Again, that's where we see the torque coming on strong.
Sometime down the road I will most likely swap to the new TTS cam. That cam still produces torque at very low rpms (which is what most of us want to have and feel) while expanding the power band up to just over 5K somewhere. Seems like the ultimate street cam to me and kind of the best of both worlds. Usually you lose low end as you add to the top end. But the new TTS cam has Gobs of power down low for that off-the-line pull we all like during our stop light drags with buddies yet a little more expansion with power in each gear by giving us about 1K more rpms before needing to shift. I'm salivating just thinking about making the cam swap but will ride one whole season with the DX pipe and baffles just for good measure and not give in to my obsessive compulsive disorder to make this bike the best it can be in the very first riding season!
For gentle tooling around I seem to shift at 3K+ like most agree. Those in town traffic rides really don't offer the space you need to get on it anyways. But I do look for the opportunity whenever it presents itself. Throttle Jockey to the core!

[Ridgerunr]

" I'm not afraid of the rpms most motors actually need to live free."

I agree. These are not Shovelheads, spinning TC's past 5 grand is a leisurely stroll, IME.   

[Jswerve]

My power band is a bit further right. Highest torque is about 3500-4500. Let her rip.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

On a heavy touring machine the true trick is to establish peak torque asap and allow for it to carry out as far as possible.
Peak torque at 4500 on a heavy touring bike is absolutely absurd. One would have a hole worn in the toe of their boot from constantly working the gear shifter.........
Scott

[Jswerve]

It's not peaking at 4500, once it peaks it holds and 4500 is when it starts to decline. I appreciate your concern for my taste in riding though.

[Jswerve]

I'm also above 100 pounds of torque below 2500

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Hallelujah and pass the peas..........

[Jswerve]

Hallelujah and pass the peas..........

I don't eat peas, how about a nice tall glass of STFU? 

[jpswino]

I guess I should have been more clear. I was referring to where the torque starts coming on strong and then riding it through its band to shift. I'm a little reluctant to put a big cam in my bike. I know what a big cam in a Camaro does to stall speed and shift points for everyday streetability. I've run big cams in cb750s as well and that shift of moving the torque curve to the right can be tiring if you do a lot of in town riding. Not that it can't be done, and it is fun for sure, but for me and with this bike I will opt for all the torque I can get and that it come on just off idle if at all possible. Whatever the hp number becomes is second fiddle for me as I'm only good past 80 mph during quick passes and then it's back down under 80.
Referring back to the OP, I do like the idea of expanding the distance between shifts so if I can start low and hold out on the next shift because the motor is still making power then he'll yes I want that option. But to tell you the truth, I nearly never use 6th gear as it is right now and in town fifth gear kind of the red headed step child as well since this motor with just the full sac package runs strong and is still easily pulling in fourth at 60mph

[CVODON]

Why would anybody care what they shift at under normal conditions. I can not fathom looking at a tach in a normal have a good time ride, to determine it is time to shift. Very strange to me.
Also, the CVO bikes will pull 6th above 45/50  mph, why would you not use it until you were going 75? Just a strange thread.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

I don't eat peas, how about a nice tall glass of STFU? 

I'll have to try some when I put MY biker costume on, and pose.........

[Dr.D]

Why would anybody care what they shift at under normal conditions. I can not fathom looking at a tach in a normal have a good time ride, to determine it is time to shift. Very strange to me.

x2 When the thread came out I really could not remember what rpm I shifted at except to sixth where there has been quite a bit of discussion. I came from the world of dirt bikes and we shifted when the motor needed it based on the sum of many conditions. It is an instinctive thing after a while.

After I looked at it more analytically this last trip I found that I run the bike from 2200 to 3300 on average but I like to cruise on level road under light load at 2300ish. It just sounds leisurely and quiet. Running down the road in fifth gear at 3300rpm is loud and frenetic. Time to stomp the heal. On the flip side  I have no fear of revving the thing and will go to red line any time I feel the need so no babied bike here.