newb question about RPM...

Hey...i have a 550 maxim.... I ride around mainly on city streets, rarely above 45mph.... the bike has decent torque down low (starting around 3k rpms....) what is a good cruising rpm. i'm new to bikes, but sometimes cruising at certain speeds seems like i'm revving the engine hard.... but then I know that bike engines are meant to be higher revving then car engines.... so my question is, should i be in a gear that keeps me cruising at 3.5k or 5k... in other words, what is better for the engine life, fuel economy, etc....

thanks

kellen

 

well shift when appropriate
but dont shift to early to lug the engine.
If the bike gets up to 65 it will be, more than likely, in 5th
cant shift higher and rpms get higher
YOU will know if you are over reving

 

i believe 81 maxim has 6 gears..... i'm not concerned about overrevving.... more underrevving. I get plenty of power to get me around between 2500 and 4500 rpms, but is this too low....am i fouling plugs, etc.... i'm not an idiot, just new to motorcycle engines...

k

 

sounds about right
as long as the engine is not lugging then you are hitting the shift points right on.
I think you are right about the six gears, my bad.

 

Your Tach has a redline? Power peak is usually about 1000 rpms below redline.
IF your engine is like the other Yamas using that basic design you won't be into the things' powerband untill at least 5000rpms.
Try shifting at 78 or 9000.. A whole new world.
IMO 4k IS lugging it.

 

Do what feels good for you, personally I like the 4,000 and up range!

Don't forget that if you need to get out of someones way in a hurry and your putzing around 2,500 rpm you won't get much response from the engine! Be alert and have the power at your ready!

 

If you had a Vtwin then loafing around at low rpms is ok. They make their power off the torque at low rpms (by design)

In line 4's work differently the make the horse power on the top end.
I tend to like 4k- 8K for performance but have like to cruise around at 3500 to 4k rpm.

Wait till you get over 6K youll swear that bike changed into a different bike.

Hi revs can kill an engine, especially if you do sloppy maintenance.

Biggest thing here is Lugging any engine is bad for it! (if it jerks and cant climb out of the hole)

 

Don't let it chug.
No lugging; ever.
That's the Express Lane to a Breakdown.

38-hundred is a nice number.
Wind-it-up every now and then. They put the tachometer on it for a reason.
Use the Force; Kellen.
Learn to roll-on the Power and control the revs and match the shifting.

 

May the force be with you!!!

 

My Seca 550 loves to run above 5K rpm.

I try to keep the revs up above 5K when I'm riding in the mountains, that's where the power band really starts.

My 550 doesn't like to run below 4K rpm.

 

Try it out at the higher rpm's, you will love it!

I do tend to cruise in a similar range as you do, but it's more out of habit than anything. Gas mileage is better for me at lower rpm's, but as mentioned you don't have much response if the SHTF, so be cautious about where you do this. I also find that overall performance drops with too much driving at these rpm's, so get out and let her sing at higher rpm from time to time.