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Buell Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through September 30, 2008 » 80 mph = 4200 rpm ?? « Previous Next »

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Punkrider99
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I recently moved to So Cal and my '03 XB9S is now my daily rider/freeway flyer. I have about a 100 mile round trip and I prefer to cruise in the car pool lane. Only thing is is that I've got to go 75-85 mph to keep up. I feel like I'm revving the crap out of the motor trying to make it go so fast for so long. Is a cruising rpm of 4000-4500 acceptable? Do the Harley motors mind being "buzzed" like that?

I also noticed that at higher sustained speeds my fuel economy has gone out the window. In Colorado I was getting about 53 mpg cruising at about 60 mph. Now that I'm constantly hauling ass on the freeway my fuel economy has dropped down to 42-44 mpg. Ouch. I definitely enjoy having more power now that I'm down near sea level but I was hoping to still make at least 45 mpg.

Any thoughts on either subject? Thanks.
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Damnut
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 09:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sounds normal to me. I have ~26K on my bike and am constantly over 4K rpm. No problems so far except for the 43 mpg I get.
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Ez_rider
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I live at sea level (Monterey Bay, CA), and I also commute about 100 miles roundtrip each day at 75-80 mph, and I consistently get around 48-52 mpg. I have the race can, ECM and K&N air filter, otherwise stock '07 STT.
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Darthane
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

XB9s seem to be happiest in the 4-4.5K range (mine certainly is) - ride away.
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J2blue
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You may want to try a different pulley. I've seen where one of the Buell after market parts place carries either a "torque" or a "horsepower" pulley kit. The engine doesn't mind the rpms but obviously your wallet does.
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Indy_bueller
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

J2 is right....you could even use a stock XB12 primary chain and gears, that would gear it down a tad.
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Whitethunder
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I do 100+ on my xb9r all the time ride around 75-85 and have 25,000 on the bike it likes to rev run to red baby
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Punkrider99
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 09:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ha okay so it sounds like I'm not hurting anything. I'll continue to ride it like I have been. My fuel economy increased this last time filling up. Now I'm back up to 47 mpg.
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Nillaice
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

try to reset you air/fuel ratio. the drop in elevation might have an effect on your mpg's

enjoy cali!
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Erik says the engines are happiest at 4-4500 RPMs.

I keep mine spooled up at that range regardless of gear.
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Ferrisbuellersdayoff
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ok you have a 9, try swapping to a 12 primary gear set. Higher gear ratio, better top end but bottom end might suffer a tad. And your higher speeds will drop to lower RPMs.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I asked on another post about the thing that happens when you gradually come to speed. Several people said there is a smoothing out that happens at 4200. That seems to be where my engine likes it so we stay there.
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Mr2shim
Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 02:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

you all get crap mpg. I get 50+ My bike seems happy between 4500-5800k you're not riding it hard enough.

race ecm, k&n, gutted muffler
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