new rider, how high should you rev your engine?

May seem like a stupid question but do you want to rev a bikes engine the same as a car's or higher? I have a 94 xj600s and I see the rpm's max out much higher then say my 89' ford truck. When I am riding it around town what gear/rpm range do I want it in for say 25-30 mph? Higher speeds?

 

well marine i have a 650 maxim and around town I like crusing about 3 or 4k or so. What ever gear I need to be in depends on the speed limit I guess or how fast i need to get out of the town :lol:

 

Good rule of thumb when you are cruising no matter what gear or speed you are in I think 2,500-3,500 is about right.

 

does yours have a 6-speed on it?
typically, these bikes arent happy until 6k or higher. redline on most of these is 9.5k and cruising around is about 3-4k for me

I like to ride in 3rd or 4th just in case I need to pull away from a wayward cage behind me

on the highway, 65mph is about 5k rpm for me.

 

These engines are designed to run at high rpm's , crusing around town 3 to 4k rpm is normal. Get on the highway and crank it up to 4 to 5k rpm. Get ready for fun and get it up to 8 to 9k,,,,, hold on tight.

 

I always listen to my bike it will tell me when it has enough. Highway is a good example. At about 5100 my bike settles down. the valve train quiets up the exaust mellows out and the bike just feels like it is taking a big sigh of realf. Zen...mind, body, and bike are one.

One of the reasons that little 650 is such a great tourer. minus the small gas tank.

 

dear lord... if it ain't red, it ain't dead

There was a bit of buzz around 5500 but 6000+ was very nice

4500 was about as low as I enjoyed.

Current riding on a sport bike... on the track - hardly ever below 10,000 rpm

 

I think it depends on just how you like to ride. When I'm just putting around town bike and I are both happy with anything over 2500. Easy country cruising I'll probably shift around 4K. Occasionally the old girl likes to get frisky and you can tell she really starts to enjoy herself as the tach passes 6K and you'd better be holding on tight.

 

I found that after returning to bikes, if I rode it like it was a car, the engine would just fall asleep.

My owners manual suggests you can ride in 6th gear down at 35mph, but dont expect to get away quickly.

Mine has a definate kick at 7000. I think 3-4000 is about right for normal riding.

 

I rarely get out of 3rd gear.
I'm good to at least 80mph.
45mph is harsh for me 2nd is starting to wind up but shifting to third drops it to 4500rpm, to low for my liking.
So I usually just stay in 2nd, under 55mph and listen to it roar.
I do most riding above 6000rpm.

 

My XJ is not liquid cooled so i like to keep my rpm's as low as possible when im going through town becuase the air isnt as clean which makes the bike run hotter. Out on the open road though feel free to abuse it. Especially if it is liquid cooled. Mine isnt and when i wanna go fast out of town ill rev out the engine from 1st through 6th gear

 

No but your 550 IS "oil cooled." Keeping the revs down won't help keep it cooler.

These bikes like RPMs especially the smaller displacement engines. I try to keep at least 4K on the clock, although it will trickle along at 2500rpm but won't pull quickly from there.