A question for the more exerienced XJ riders

When I'm riding on the open road it really seems like there should be a sixth gear. My RPM's are hitting right around 4000 when I'm doing 50-55 mph. It just seems kind of high for a street bike. Am I wrong?

I guess I'm just looking to set my mind at ease that there's nothing wrong with the bike and this is normal.

 

Which XJ are you on?
These engines are designed to rev high. With a redline of 8500 and up it is normal to see 4000 rpm at 55. My XJ11 turns 4000 at 55 and I run it all day long at 70mph and the tach is at 5000rpm. The 550 , 650 and 750 turn a little faster at crusing speed but their redline is higher.

 

Depends on what the word "should" means.

 

It's an 82 650 XJ.

 

Just a little concerned about motors blowing up or pieces of the bike flying off!

 

Coming from a honda sabre V4, a Bike that had 6 gears I understand where your coming from, but they are right the red line is much higher on these bikes I get the same RPM out of my XJ650.

 

I really appreciate the responses guys. I was just a little worried that's all.

 

4000? Dude, you're not even getting close to the powerband yet. You'll feel that pull start to kick in around 6500.

Your rpm's are correct, nothing to worry about. At 4500rpm on the highway, you can drop down to 4th gear to pass, and you'll wind to around 6500-7000 or so, and STILL not be a problem. When you get to around 8000 you'll be screaming like a banshee.........and so will the bike, but you're STILL in no danger.

Enjoy it!

dave

 

Heck yes; I regularly run my 550s right up to 10K in 3rd or 4th gear; and I prefer to cruise at about 5300rpm because the bike is dead smooth and can hold that speed with almost zero throttle opening.

But then again the 550s have 6 speed gearboxes...

 

My 650 red lines at 9500 RPM. It runs abour 4500 @ 55 MPH and 5500 @ 70 MPH. The true power band for my bike seems to be between 6 and 7K RPM. My bike will run all day long (or as long as 2.5 gallons of gas will take me) at 70 and not even blink...

 

i love the 2.5 gallon remark , classic

 

Why thank you 213chrisp!

 

I enjoy the heck out of my sixth gear

 

True "power band" is the range from Peak Torque to Peak Horsepower, and if you look at the specs, peak torque is at 7500 rpm and peak horsepower is at 9400 rpm. That's your "powerband," and it's kinda narrow and peaky.

To compare, my V-star hits peak torque at 2500, and rev-limits at 6400, that's a WIDE, flat powerband...and is no-where near as much fun.

If you don't drive in it regularly, take your bike up to redline in 2nd with a nice straight-a-way (you'll get above 60mph). 3000-5000, you'll chug along, 5000-7000, you'll really feel the pull, and 7000-9000, will happen so fast you're likely to change gears just to slow down :lol: . Do it in third, and you'll be going 90mph in a hurry.

Of course, this performance is only seen if the bike is tuned up properly and happy.

 

When someone makes a 6th gear kit i'll get one ..it's there somewhere.

 

200 kph not enough for ya Bushy?

hell I cruise freeway speeds in 4th.
A lot of the comments I see on this subject are cruiser guys accustomed to V twins that come to maxims are shy away from 6 grand. that's when these straight 4's just starting coming to life. rap it out, she loves it.

 

These guys are all correct. Cruising at 60mph, you can knock it down into 3rd and the thing flies! I love my 650 Seca and starting at 7500 rpm or so, it loves me back!

 

Just the opposite for me. Been on inline fours forever, my v-twin hates me sometimes. I run my '82 650 at 7000+ all the time and it loves me for it.

 

That's something. I figured it was bad for the bike or something. I'm glad for all the replies.

 

I get the better gas mileage at 6000 rpm too...you should be cautious about the other extreme...it really should not be run below 3000 any more than absolutely necessary!

Manbot--do you have the torque/hp curve chart? You can't say it's "peaky" unless you do. For all you know from those numbers it's flat as a pancake, except for a 1 ft-lb jump at 7500 rpm...

In fact, the fact the the hp peak is at redline indicates that the torque curve is relatively flat from the torque peak all the way to redline..

Mine pulls pretty steady from 4000 to redline, that's smooth for over half the entire range!

There's a chart online somewhere though...

 

Yeah like the XS750/850 swap for the 1100!
4000RPM @ 70MPH!
Love it!

 

I drive to work for 20 miles everyday at 6k... Feels good man...

 

i ride bout 17 miles to work at 6k its freeking awesome. feels great. Especially at 5am with no one else on the road. i do notice if i putt around town i have to fill up more often.

 

When I approach 6k I can feel it just starting to pull, like it's anticipating it. then once I get above 6, hang on, cuz she gonna GO, and from the time she starts pullin' I'm at 90+ real quick.

These bikes just LOVE to clear the throats..........

I do like my VL1500, too, but that's more for an nice lumbering cruise, and it's REALLY nice on a ride like "Ride for Kids" and things like that because the weight is SO low that I can putt along at 5mph or less and not have to twitch the wheel. The torque is so great that I can pull out w/o touching the throttle, either, on relatively flat ground. OF course, it's also FUN with the shotgun pipes on it--the harley's start barking and then I shut 'em up. The rest of the time I don't like loud pipes. Only there.

Dave

 

I was shifting way too early when I first rode my XJ. I was trying to shift at appropriate spped limits. (I don't have a tach on my bike so I can't tell you the revs I run it in). Its much more fun to let it scream a little and its cooler too.

 

I'd love a 6th gear for my 750RL as well 8)