| Author | Message | ||
     Xbniner |
I have a little under 1k miles on my xb9r since I got it a month ago. Just curious what RPM you usually shift at when just cruising around town. I usually shift around 3-3500, but I can tell that's where the power band is starting for this bike. It's just so loud above that, I'm used to big v8s and cruising at <2200 rpm. All my friends ride I4s so they can't help. So what is the best rpm range to run in around town? | ||
| Northernyankee |
I usually hang around 4K. | ||
| Mnbueller |
I shift at 3-3.5 too. It's a nice casual pace, and it helps keep the fuel milage up there. I shift at 4.5-5 for a more spirited ride, but when I do this I typically drop in fuel milage. | ||
| Ekass13 |
Do your 1000 mile tune up then start to really ride the bike. There is a little dip in power with the 9's from 3.6 - 4.4. If you have the race kit its even worse. For cruising 2.5 - 4 depending on your ridding. It has been proven on here that the best RPM to run for gas mileage is 4k. | ||
| Xbniner |
Thanks for all the tips, the bike already has almost 6k, I bought it used and all the maintenance has already been done. I do have the race kit too. I'll try that out. | ||
| Srwitt |
Hehehe I'm at almost 7k on my 12R, if I hit the limiter, I shift. | ||
| Froggy |
I usually shift at about 2k, depending on my pace. | ||
| Moosestang |
It has been proven on here that the best RPM to run for gas mileage is 4k. Proven how? link? Why would 4k be better than 3k or 3.5k? | ||
| Northernyankee |
There have been many threads discussing this and it does seem to be the consensus. Just do a search. | ||
| Starter |
Yep 4000rpm = ~120km/h and I get 10-15% better economy then 3500rpm = 100km/h. | ||
| Boney95 |
This doesn't make sense to me. The higher the RPM (throttle is cracked open), the more piston revolutions, thus more fuel. So are you telling me that you burn less fuel at 4000RPM than at idle? Seems to me that at lower RPM's you'd get better gas mileage, as long as you're not having to bogg down the engine by opening the throttle; to climb a hill for example. | ||
| Lighting |
Around town I usually keep it 2500 to 3200 rpm, plenty torque to spare and personally don't see a need to rev higher unless you're riding faster. The flat spot that been mention can be eliminated with ecmspy, even if you have custom exhaust and you don't have to purchase anything besides a interface cable that paid for itself the first time you reset your TPS. | ||
| Mr2shim |
Redline every gear = win | ||
| Froggy |
Boney, I never understood it either. My bike does better at lower RPM's for MPG. 60mph, 3k RPM in 5th gives in the 50s. 60mph, about 4k RPM in 4th gives in the 40s. Beats the hell out of me how others get the opposite, as both my Buells are the same way, and even M2nc recently posted a list of logged fuel economies that is similar to what I experience when he rides at the same speed and rpm as me. | ||
| Slaughter |
My thing is to ride it NOT like I stole it but ride it like I want it to last - even if I'm sacrificing some mileage. Face it, metal fatigues on the basis of the number of load "cycles" it sees. If you shift at 6500+RPM every time, you're going to see a significantly shorter "life" than a motor consistently shifted at 3500 RPM. Sure, when you're having FUN - then let 'er rip!!! But really, I can't help but think for the typical around town ride, it's just much better to take it easy on the machine. More HP = More Heat (more heat = bad), More RPM = More Metal Fatigue (more fatigue = shorter life) but that's just me and an unscientific opinion. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
The argument with higher RPM = better MPG is that the motor is doing less work. It may be running faster, but it's not pushing near as hard. Think about how hard you have to push a bicycle pedal in high gear, versus how easy it spins in low gear. You may have to spin the pedal twice as many times, but it's a hell of a lot easier than one spin with all your effort. Same idea with a motor. | ||
| Glitch |
Gear selection is also crucial, you can't simply run around at 4K to save gas. That being said y'all are right. I get just as good gas mileage on the interstate as I do ripping it up in the twisties. I get better gas mileage running 80MPH in top gear than I do 50MPH in top gear. | ||
| Ekass13 |
I agree that lower RPM is better for motor life. In fact I agree with everything slaughter said. I feel the way some people ride is straight abusive. I love my bike to much to beat on her but there are times she's asking to be ridin hard. | ||
| Ekass13 |
Glitch, whats weird is that sometimes I get better MPG in the twisties then I do on the highway. |
