How high do you rev?

Ok, so reading another post made me curious. How high do most of you rev your bike? For me, just cruising around, normal revs and all... but I like to bury that needle sometimes too! For a 26y/o bike, she can really move! I'm not asking for the normal, everyday type of ride to work here. If/when you get on it, what do you hit?

 

Haha! Good question for a poll! Normal cruising form me is 2-4k with acceleration 'squirts' to about 6. When I'm running with my tupperware techno-rocket buddies or just feelin wrangy I've gotta keep an eye on the tach to stay outta the red.

 

My trip to work doesn't usually take me over 4.5 - 5k but if I'm out on the road just for the sheer enjoyment of it or making a longer haul I'll take it up into 5.5-6k.

 

I think that perhaps there are a few more natural breaks.

From idle to 4500 not much happens. At about 4500 is a funny place...

From 4500 to 6000 is nice cruising speed.

from 6-7.5 is a nice wide usable amount of power...

from 7.5 up to redline it's nice sporty riding.

I used all of it... don't be afraid to rev it out a bit more - these bikes have the heart of a sportbike. It won't hurt them.

 

They really do love high revs. I rode the two that I had on the high side. Good power, great sound.
I didn't really have a choice after replacing the stock Seca rear wheel with a 16" Virago rim. 0-60 runs were a Blast!

 

I have a need for speed, which is why I do not own a crotch rocket. I know me well enough to know that I am not mature enough to have one.

I have always ridden my 550 wide open, as fast as it will go, I take it. My 1100 is a different story. A mind game really. 100 is 100 whether you are on the 550 or the 1100, but for some reason I tend to back off the 1100. Doubt I have ever gone over a 100 with it.

 

as of late i have had the tendency to do leave darkies at every light when it turns green.... Needless to say i abuse my bike.

 

So, just for kicks, I took her to 5k-6k before shifting last night...

Wow! There's more power buried in there then it looks! 1st gears a trip with the shaft drive when you peak over 3.5k, if your not ready for it! It feels like the bikes trying to buck you off and just go on its own

 

I found the first gear was a bit short - I shifted alot earlier for first. Try run second or third gear out... she'll scream. Don't worry that's her happy sounds.

I found sporty ridding shifting near 8 was alright, 7 was easier... anything over 8 meant you had to be accurate and firm with your shifts. The transmission is not as rev happy as the engine it seems. Riding the CBR I have found the opposite to be true - it revs happily and shifts most easily at much higher revs... redlines at 13.5k and shifts very happily at the red zone (got to watch the nose stays down! )

 

* anyone else ride a sportbike lately? high rev shifts mean that the next gear with a bit too much exhuberance lifts the front tire... I don't mean the high stunter wheelie - I mean the low charging out of a turn wheelie... gut twisting power. It's terrible - but I like those track moments.

<-- not a squid... really...

 

I've got to wonder why the speedo on my XJ caps at 80...

I had it buried on my way home last night and she seemed to be loving it!

 

I can't do first either, not without panic. I have stretched 2nd and 3rd and Frog is good go. In fact as I write this I realize this is probably my first discussion about my bike that I have. I can't tell you the rev specific or the speed I am going when I have to shift out of 1st, but it seems waaaaaay to short. Could that be indication of a problem?

 

It caps out at that speed because you should't go faster in the states

I had my 650 north of 180km... probably 200km/h. Works out to a top speed around 120mph. Tucked in with a bullet fairing you might push a bit more. The problem is wind resistance and redline.

I doubt anything is wrong EmeraldPrincess... the short first is really nice in traffic... but I went for second as soon as possible. It revs out really quickly with relatively very little increase in speed.

 

Personal top speed... 240-250km/h. In recent years? Hardly over the limit significantly.... On an open road that I know the only reason I don't travel faster is for fear of speeding tickets. The bike was built to go supersonic... it is a completely different experience than in a car. Travelling the speedlimit in a cheaper car is significantly more dangerous in my mind...

Leaned over hard in a wide highspeed sweeper is an absolutely awesome experience... sensory input is awesome... you can actually start to feel the bike work properly... and the tires.

 

Thanks Woot, I was a little concerned.

I have just basic tires on my bike (please don't ask what 'cause I have "no eye deer", but at some point I hope to ask the groups opinion and get sporty tirs that will hug the curves so I can feel more comfortable in the twisties and get to feel what the bike can actually do. I want to "know" that I can go in hot on a curve and come out clean. I read about it, but thus far, haven't challenged it.

 

When you get a chance have a look at your tires.

If they are really old or a particularily hard variety then hard leans might not be a good idea.

Otherwise - so long as the road surface is clean and you keep your brake/throttle inputs to a minimum you should be fine at all speed limit friendly speeds

The GT501 was my maxim tire of choice. They'd warm nicely - when ridden really hard I could get them to melt. Rear tire was good to the outside edge... front you'll never get to the outside edge due to the shape of the rim - tall and narrow.

I'm not suggesting that getting to the outside of the tire is a good measure of skill - rather - that the tire fit the bike properly so that when leaned over as far as I felt comfortable I used the full ammount of rubber available - ie - biggest contact patch was afforded by the profile of the tire. If the tire had of been more round I could have leaned more if the bike could have leaned more. I don't think I could have leaned the bike much further so the profile was right IMHO.

On the sportbikes - track tires melt when you're commuting - it's not a good feature... the diablo supercorsas stick like glue but are worn out in a few thousand miles.

I found that the maxim was good on tires - the GT501 lasted me 10,000km... I think it would be possible to get 10,000 miles on the rear tire. They start with very deep tread patterns... speedo error at the wearbars could be significant. I find that for every front I used two rear tires.

 

Mine are just a few months old. Nothing fancy at all, just a mid-price ranged Dunlop.

I tend to never go over 60-65 so they've suited me well thus far.

 

Okay....I will look at the tires. Thanks for your post. I appreciate the detail. It made me feel better less aprehensive about what my bike can do in a pinch. I wish I could see someone with experience on my bike lean it over, so I know how much I have to work with. I have the desire to scrape pegs, but I don't think I have the ^#$#%^$^.

 

I didn't find the maxim 650 with the GT501 really scraped... it cleared pretty well even with me on it.

I did grind her a few times with a set of challengers... I think that was more tire profile than anything.

I wouldn't look to grid either if you do really start riding like that then it's time to upgrade suspension. The problem with grinding is that if you really grind hard and happen to catch a ripple on the road you can lever the rear tire off the ground... and then you quickly end up in a bad place.

The footpegs will bend up - the centerstand won't. I've got a few pairs of boots where the outside of the toe is worn to a 45 degree angle. Big feet and hard lean angles mean you should move your feet back... I didn't and wore them off.

Some day when we get some good tours in maybe we can do a mid/east America rally. I've made it to PA a few times... give me another day or two and I'd be in the area.

 

I was actually thinking about the Pelee butterfly run they are doing. I can't because I would need more than a month to prepare for a trip of that nature, but it did cross my mind. The countryside in your neck of the woods is breathtaking. I suppose Texas is breathtaking too to people who haven't seen it, but YUCK! Dry, brown and uneventful.

I want to take long trips on my bike, but I need to wait at least three more years til the last one is out of the house. Then......oh my goodness, watch out world....here I come.

 

With fall coming I'd suggest a trip to Northern Minnesota for the fall colors.

I've seen it at least 500 times and I still find it breathtaking.

Once you get north of Duluth you can see clear into Canada and it's nothing but a sea of greens, yellows, reds and oranges rolling across the hills. Then to your right you see Lake Superior, and on a clear day you can see the upper peninsula of Michigan just on the edge of the horizon...amazing stuff.

Mark Twain once said, "The coldest winter I've ever experienced was a summer in Duluth"...he's not too far off either

 

I have yet to burry the tach, but I did hit 10,500 the other day. Normaly I don't over rev but sometimes it's just fun.

 

I have DYNA Rev-limiter on my 900. She's got 58,000 on her. I limit her wind-out to 87-50.

I've been tachin'-up the 750 Max. It ain't all tweaked yet. But, with the clutch a bit too loose on the grab ... I've still managed a few 75-hundred and an 8-grand or two.

I figure ... having just putting on the 12,000th Original mile on her, the other day ... she's still young-at-heart ... and wants to play. But, her DYNA limiter is here, in the package -- I plan on limiting her to 74-50 when I put it on.

 

Yea, I've buried both the needles on my bike. Don't know how fast I was going, but it was north of 85! Wasn't revved out though. But she gets to scream almost everytime I ride, usually in 2nd. You get to 70 pretty fast if you wind out 2nd gear!

 

I had my 97 yzf 1000 r pinned at 170mph afew times on a nice stretch of interstate. The bike was rock solid all the way to the top till the rev limiter started cutting power.

 

Somewhere in the red. I shift when it quits pulling.

 

the speedos only go to 85 because in the 80's the feds thought they were easier to read with less numbers on them. cars were the same way.

 

On a normal run to work I usually run about 5500 rpm @ 75 mph (cant remember the exact #'s)
But I've found a power band that starts to open up at about 6k and I've never taken it over 8k (remember this engine sat for 10 yrs and I'm trying to loosen it up slowly)
When someone asks my bike, size theyre usually surprised to find out it's only a 700 cc, because it runs out so strong and that engine jus looks bigger.
I also love the curves and laying her over in a tight turn, and coming out fast and smoooooth.
What I dont like is riding with my feet on my cruise peggs for any extended time at all (30 min max) seems my seat isn't built right......... or maybe I'm not built right any more. :evil:
My speedo goes up to 135 mph and I bet she'll do it too! :twisted:
These bikes are built to run and I can see the great affinity people have for them!! In fact when I first insured mine I was afraid the insurance man was going to charge me for a sport bike...... DONT TELL him!! :roll:

 

I have flirted with the redline in fifth gear while following my friend on his FJ1300 at around 135mph on a closed road not really shure how fast it was going too busy to look

 

These bikes have so much heart, it's a good thing that there isn't another gear or the speedometer would have had to go to 180!!!!

Really though I do wish there was another gear! :wink:

 

On my daily commute I try to keep it below 4500 - there is so much pull down there it's not hard at all. On the way home I try to work all the way up to 8000 before shifting - the noise is fun. ;')

Plus I have this theory that running a bit hard daily within the limits will keep both bike and rider young.

And it's better to blow a gasket at the end of the day on the way home than at the start of a Monday.

 

Top speed on XJ900F was two years ago travelling through Europe with missus on pillion and fully loaded Krauser panniers.

Topped 140mph in Germany, but needed to stop every 40mins for fuel.

Did 180 kmh last week on XJ750D before backing off at 7.5K revs (still tinkering with it).

My average revs before changing is approx 4-6K, with the occasional spurt up to redline (9.5K) when conditions allow.

Both are shaft drive with a smooth(ish) rev range usually.

 

with all this talk about the speedo only going up to 85, is it possible to put on a speedo that goes higher? it would kind of be nice to know how fast your actually going when above 85....

 

I think it is possible -

check http://home.netcom.com/~rvtucker/Seca.html - this guy has some speedo pics of the seca's

The UK speedo goes up to at least 150Mph, while my 750 (Jap import) has a digital readout which appears to be unrestricted (but does flash a warning light if you go over 83kmh).

 

Yep, Us Aussies have decent speedos as well.

My 550 speedo goes up to 240














KPH :wink:

 

Kaneson, If you find one for an 85/86 xj 700 it will go up to 135 mph.
I don't think I personally need more than that. But that's up to you of corse.

I've seem them on e-bay from time to time, they are usually sold as a set tach and speedo

Also have you been to Bob's used cycle parts in Phx yet?
They have parts galore!!
Bob's Used Motorcycle Parts
1325 E Elwood St
Phoenix, AZ 85040-1255
(602) 243-4241

I think the phone# has changed, and they arent too good with phone sales

 

I would LOVE to get a new speedo that goes up higher! Partly because it's getting hard to read higher than 55 at night now.. the red has faded to white, so it all blends together! But I always hated that 85mph speedo! I need that 150mph speedo!

 

Ok here it is and the price look spretty good too.
not chrome but what the heck

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-Yam ... enameZWDVW

 

Most of the time i don't get much higher then 6k, but when im feeling squirrely or im trying to keep up someone on a much larger bikie i'll take it up to 10k on every shift.

Winding out 1st gear is a blast but you have to watch that tach like a hawk, 10k comes up mighty fast.

 

Speedwagon - try to find a Speedo from a Canadian XJ - the 82 Seca 750 caps at 220 kph (140 mph). Of course, you'll have to put up with your primary display being in kph, but what the heck, 110 kph sounds so much better than 70mph.

Personal best on my bike was 175 kph (115mph) - she was willing to do more, but front end stability was rapidly declining due to a strong cross wind and a crappy front tire. I'm gonna try for more once I get the main jet dialed in now that I have a new skin up front.

 

L.D. do you know how many kph 45 mph is?
I would be lost to know how many mph 60 kph is... and if the sign says 55 mph I want to be sure I dont make a wrong guess here.

I am the worlds worst when it comes to converting metrics to sae
(or what ever the system of measures in the US is called)

 

Kilometer = ~ 0.62 Miles
Mile = ~ 1.61 Kilometers

45MPH = 72.4KPH
60KPH = 37.3MPH

http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm

 

Why mess with the conversion if you dont have to?

 

I assume they read MPH on the inside then? And does that mean you want to help me find one? 8O :lol:

 

Or in Google write: 45 mph in kph
Google converts anything convertible

 

Nope dont want to change, mine are analog and show both mph & kph
But if I had a digital I would prefer mph

 

Didn't you Americans change to the metric system sometime in the 1970's?
Or was it just suggested...

 

We changed - we just have a lot of harley riders to convince.

It's gonna take time...

;')

 

Too many people are hung up in the SAE system and there isn't nough support to make the big change.
It's like they started to do this slowly but it just stalled out.

 

Yeah, the Canuck ones show mph on the inside of the dial, you may be able to make out the numbering on the dash pic in my gallery - pretty tough to read at anything over 10 though (pick your own unit of measure...).

Try bike wreckers in the major centers - Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc. My favorite is a place called Recycle in Stony Plain, Alberta. I've yet to see a wrecker lot without at least one Seca in the pile, and I wouldn't expect demand for speedos to be huge. I can check the next time I'm out that way...