NOOB question...

[//ACCIDENT]

Could someone please spell out the rpm ranges that the bike should stay within for different gears and different speeds.  (ex. 10mph 1st gear 4000rpms).  The rpms on the bike are very different from a car so I dont know If I am wasting gas at higher rpms or if I am riding the way I am supposed to.  -Thanks as always guys

[gsmetal]

Redline...always. 

[MarkusN]

Don't let her drop below 3500 to 4000 rpm for quiet / defensive riding some would call that already lugging. The fun starts beyond 8000 rpm.

[scratch]

1st gear - idle up to 10.5
2nd - 4000-10.5
3rd - 4 - 10.5
4th - 4k - 10.5
5th - 4k - redline
6th - 4.5 - redline

Oh you want speeds as well...

1st - idle= walking speed up to 20mph @ 4500rpm
2nd - 4000rpm is about 25mph
3rd - 4000 is about 35
4th -
5th - 4000 is about 40, 5000 is about 50
6th - 4.5 is 55

[Chuck]

I think if you try to memorize that table, you're screwed.

Here's what I do...

Comfortable/quiet/leisure riding:
Less than 3500 RPM, downshift.
More than 5500 RPM, upshift.

Aggressive/sport/fun riding:
Less than 5500 RPM, downshift
More than 8500 RPM, upshift

I'm being chased by pirates, or showing off:
More than 10500RPM upshift

Oh, well I guess that's just a totally different table, but maybe it's shorter.
I really don't do anything differently based on what gear I'm in.
I never really know what gear I'm in, unless I try to upshift and there's no
more gears left.  Which happens quite a bit when I'm in leisure mode.

[TragicImage]

do pirates chase you often?

[Chuck]

Just wondering if anyone reads my ramblings.

[3imo]

arrrrrrg. me maties.    that chuck bastard..been in our sites for ages. 
we aim to make him walk da plank.

arrrrrg, my tooth fell out. damn scurvy. anyone gott an orange?

[bargovic]

I pretty much have the same shifting philosophy as chuck

[Egaeus]

Hell, I get chased by pirates all the time.  They're always riding a CB Arrrrrr 600 Arrrrrr Arrrrrr.

[Alphamazing]

Hell, I get chased by pirates all the time.  They're always riding a CB Arrrrrr 600 Arrrrrr Arrrrrr.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

I am so quoting you on that.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Hell, I get chased by pirates all the time.  They're always riding a CB Arrrrrr 600 Arrrrrr Arrrrrr.

Custom Title?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!

[annguyen1981]

Here's some  from my owners manual:

Gear Position | mph

1st -> 2nd | 12mph
2nd -> 3rd | 19mph
3rd -> 4th | 25mph
4th -> 5th | 31mph
5th -> 6th | 37mph

I remember doing these shifts when I first started riding...  I could never do that anymore.  I wait until almost redline if feeling a bit fast, but I shift around 5-6K rpm if I wanna "cruise"

[Chuck]

Here's some  from my owners manual:

Holy crap, yea.  I remember reading that before riding (yes, I actually did read the owner's manual before riding the bike), and I don't think I ever came close to that.  I'm in 2nd when I should be in 6th??  I don't think so.

[RVertigo]

HA HA HA... Good one.  Shift like that if you never want to go anywhere. 

6th at 37... What a joke...  You can barely ride at 50 in 6th.

[pandy]

Stop picking on the n00bs, ya' big meanies! 

[phire]

6th at 37... What a joke...  You can barely ride at 50 in 6th.

I dunno, 6th @ 50mph aint too bad.. Often dip down to 50 on the interestate when dodging traffic and what not and I still have plenty of juice to accelerate back up to speed or pass cars. Granted, I won't be pulling any wheelies at 50mph in 6th gear, but plenty of power there to do what I want in most common driving situations.

[LimaXray]

If you're breaking in your engine you kinda have to do 50 in 6th gear 

[Alphamazing]

If you're breaking in your engine you kinda have to do 50 in 6th gear 

If you're breaking in per manufacturer's specs, that is. Hell, I say screw the break in period. Ride it like you would normally.

[BaoQingTian]

I actually read that this is a good idea- actually the proponent suggested riding it harder than you normally would for the break-in period.  The author of the paper was talking specifically about automobiles, but his experience had showed him that working the engine hard during break in caused the seals to seal tighter, leading to better compression down the road, etc.  It's been a couple years since I read the article, I think I saw it linked while browsing an Integra or Firebird forum, but perhaps it can be googled.