NOOB RPM Question?

[BigTwin]

I've only been riding a total of 5 times after MSF and I was wondering what gear I should be in at 45-50 mph and what rpm?

My bikes in the break-in period right now and when I ride at 45-55 mph I'm in 6th gear at 4-4.5K rpm, is that normal. Any gear before 6th and it starts whining. Oh, and I shift at 4-5K rpm.

Let me know if this sounds OK, and what rpm/gear would be OK to cruise on the highway at 70mph?

OH, and one last question. While downshifting through the gears do you downshift then release the clutch to use engine breaking or what. I'm really dumb when it comes to downshifting.

THANKS, BigTwin

[BigTwin]

Also, I'm paying $700+ a year for liability insurance. How bad a deal is that, and which insurance company is the cheapest?

[tdan553527]

Sounds ok, just don't cruise at 70 for too long, you want to vary the rpm's, and don't be afraid to get up to the redline every once and a while.


edit- insurance varies for everybody. I pay $350 full coverage, 33yrs old, no violations

[callmelenny]

You don't say what you are riding, I assume a newer 500F.

I ride around town in the rpm range you describe. I've never owned a bike in a break in period but I think usually you want to avoid over-revving and riding at the same speed for long periods.

Later you will discover a different bike lives in the 7-9k RPM range, I don't hit that range that often but if I'm riding  in twisties it makes a big difference.

As for insurance, that varies widely with age (yours and bikes), ticket history, and location. Post your particulars and others might repsond. Also use the search function to find previous insurance threads.

I pay $108/ yr. I'm 34 and have no tickets and ride a '98. My coverage was best through Progressive but my cars are insured there which helps.

Good luck keep the rubber side down.

[BigTwin]

I'm 19, the bike is a 2001 GS500. I have a one ticket (failure to yield, involved a wreck: My fault )

But it sounds like my insurance is way too high. Who offers good coverage for cheap? Geico, Progressive?

[tdan553527]

State Farm was the cheapest for me.

How many miles does the bike have?

[Teecegirl]

To shop for insurance, I went online.  Progressive ended up being the cheapest for me (only $100/year for liability) ... although they are the ones I searched through ... may be suspect for that reason, but for $100 I went for it.  Who would argue with that.  But I'm also a woman, am 38 years old and my bike is paid for.  I'm sure all of that makes a difference (to insurance companies, at least).  Try to search on the internet or make cold calls to companies, though, and see what numbers you come up with.

[Teecegirl]

Re the break-in period ... how long is considered the "break-in" period.  I also have a new bike and never knew not to ride at the same speed for a long time.

[Gleanerizer]

I'm 22 with a clean record.  I pay about $500 a year with GEICO for everything but collision, and I have really high liability limits.  It's about half of what Progressive would have charged, and way less than several other companies I got quotes for.  I'm switching my car policy to them this summer, so it should go down some more then.

[BigTwin]

it has only 360 miles on it.

Teecegirl: The break-in period is usually the first 600 miles. It says to keep the rpms below 5000rpms :x (Hard to do though)

[Teecegirl]

It says to keep the rpms below 5000rpms :x (Hard to do though)

Uh-oh .... haha.  Guess I'll behave myself more until I hit 600.  Damn!

[ukchickenlover]

The revs you use depend on how much power you want/how fast you want to accelerate. For normal riding keep the revs low to reduce wear on the engine but not too low that the engine starts to sputter like it is about to stall. For 70mph cruising 6th gear is fine unless you want to over take a string of cars were I use 5th to pick my speed up.
Max power is at 9000 revs so for best acceleration change up a gear just after you pass 9000 revs but what untill you have had more time on the bike then try it on a quiet straight road.
When you down shift pull clutch in drop gear then twist the throttle a bit to try to match what the revs should be for the lower gear then release the clutch. This takes practise but makes gear changing much smoother and reduces wear on the gearbox.
Good luck with your bike.

[Frost]

you guys are SO LUCKY!!!

I pay 1600 for my 03GS liability+fire+theft...

[94suzuki500]

i pay 300 for liability and I am 17 with no tickets.  But then again mine is a 94.

[Jasco]

440 for full coverage on my TL1000s and liability on the GS.

Progressive was the cheapest I could find

[DerekNC]

I'm 34 and pay $150 a year for liability with Erie Insurance. The coverages are one step up from minimum. For the limited investment in our bikes I worry more about theft than crashing the bike. Just don't crash and put that extra money into a savings account.

Derek

[BigTwin]

Progressive Springs?

If I buy these can I just take the old ones out and stick these in the same place along with the new 1" spacer?

Do I have to change the oil at all, or can I just leave the stock oil in? My bikes only got 260 miles on it so the oil should be in good shape. And if I have to top it off, is there a certain way to gauge how ful it should be, like a certain distance from the top?

THANKS to all who've helped me, BigTwin

[Bluebellylint]

[Rema1000]

4200-4700rpm when I want to be especially quiet.  But 5000-5500 is my favorite range around town; maybe 5500-6000 on the highway for cruising.  But anytime I get nervous, I downshift.  I feel that I have insufficient acceleration at 5k RPM or lower, to do much accident avoidance.

7k RPM and higher is just for having fun on twisty roads.  I think I hit 10k once when entering the freeway on a curve in very hectic traffic (no time to shift up from 2nd).  You should know that it is there, in case you ever need it.  But the throttle also gets very twitchy at 8k, and you can't just slap it closed the way you can at 5k.

[cernunos]

The one thing I don't like about the Baby G is you have to wring it's neck to get it to move. Oh, and the clip-ons aren't the most comfortable thing either. Love it though, this forum too.

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