Cruising RPM/Shifting RPM

This pertains to my girlfriends FJ600 but since the engines are so similar I thought I'd ask anyway....
Being used to riding the twin XS650's, I tend to keep it around 3K under normal conditions. Her FJ, obviously, isn't even breathing hard until after 5K. While it has the power to lope around at 4K or 3K or even less, what's the best cruising RPM and shift point?
I'm talking normal, around town in traffic, touring backroads, "average" riding....not stomping on it or blowing out the carbon.

BTW, that bike scares the bejeesus out of me! I went on a ~50 miles ride today with my Dad and took her FJ since I'm waiting on a caliper rebuild kit. Whereas the XS is about all done by 5500, the FJ takes a deep breath, makes this wicked sound and gets light in the front end at 5500! And it's still got another %K to go 'til redline! Wicked, wicked bike...

 

Well Scott, seems to me like you need to ride around on the FJ some more and pop some wheelies. :lol:

Rule of thumb is cruising speed around town is usually in the range of 3,000 to 5,500 rpm. Depending on your gearing.

In all honesty though there is no set "cruising" speed or rpm. Compared to cars, which do have a set speed you want to keep the rpm range in for overall health, motorcycles tend to be happy far beyond the working limits of a car.

For example, my XJ700 loves cruising at 60 mph in the 6,000-8,000 rpm range, depending on if I'm in 4th or 5th gear. My friend's FZ6 sits happily going 60 in 5th at 4,000 rpm. When it comes down to it, cruising speed and rpm seem to only really matter for fuel efficiency.

However, motorcycle engines love to be road hard every now and then. It cleans the cylinders a little.


If someone has more input or a little more book smarts on the subject, please chime in.

 

The 600, like the 550 before it, is a 2-stage rocket. Up to 6000rpm, it's a very nice little bike. From 6000-9500rpm, you had better be pointed in the right direction because you're gonna get there quick.

My 550 is perfectly happy to troll thru town at 25mph in 3rd or even 4th gear, and it will also cruise at 85mph all day if asked. Highway cruising speed on the 6-speed 550 is around 5K at 60mph; but it can also cruise at 6500 or 7000rpm (80-85mph.)

These little XJ motors love to REV, even moreso than the bigger ones I suspect. I get the feeling they geared the 550 Seca for California freeways because it's so happy at 80.

The other thing that I find truly amazing with these motors is that they will continue to pull right on PAST redline even in top gear if you let them. My 550 pulls just as hard above 6000 in 6th as it does in third.

(Isn't that growl (honk?) that accompanies the upper powerband cool?)

One last thought: The small-bore XJs and large-cylinder vertical twins are about as far apart as you can get, engine-wise. I've got a Norton (850 twin) the XJ took some getting used to.