RPM at higher speeds

I have an 82 xj750 maxim that i really took out for the first time today and there was something that kind of bothered me. I noticed that at 45 mph my bike was doing about 3500 rpm. I kept thinking maybe i wasnt in 5th gear but i was. Nothing souded wrong and the ride was a blast, so i was just wondering is this a high RPM or normal for this bike. If so what kind of RPM can i expect when i got faster...say like 70mph. Thanks for any insight.

 

Its normal. 5th gear on these bikes goes on..and on...and on...Mine does about 5000 at 60-65.

 

5th Gear ... 6,000 Rpm's ... 79~80 Miles per Hour. Cruising. Chillin'
Still plenty of Black left on the Tach.
You be in "The Fun-zone"
Cranked-up tight.
Ticket-time truckin'!
Wristed-open.
Zoom-o-rama.
Flyin' low.
Zippin'
Fast
OK

 

Yeah I was gonna say, look how much more room you've got on the tach. These motors like to REV; the factory considers "cruise" to be 5K. You can run 6K-7K all day and not crack a sweat.

 

At 3500 you're just tickling the low end of the power band. Try 6500 for awhile - that's where the fun starts.

 

It does get buzzy , great on the twisties but can be tiring. They're
not really meant for open road touring.

---

 

I disagree. My 550 Seca pulls a sedate 5K at 60mph; and I regularly commute with it at 75+mph, 60+ miles one way. The better tuned these bikes are, the smoother they can be. Long distance riding isn't a problem, even with "only" a 550.

 

I do 75+ 20 miles down to work every day...

6 to 6 1/2 grand 15 of the 20 miles.

 

Yep, common thread to new to the bike. (Especially if new to bikes or non v-twin cruisers). These are getting good when cars and lopers are closing in on the red.

I'm usually not in 5th gear at 45. 3rd on an acceleration, 4th in town incase I need the power to "escape" a wayward cage.

 

when I hit 6k in 5th gear for the first time, I thought I was going to torch something. then I realized that these bikes are made to turn high RPM's and are very very happy pulling to 9k

 

when cruising, I can stay at 70 and barely go a hair over 5k. Even had her pegged at 85mpg and was barely over 5.75k after initial surge to get to that speed (grin)