How high an RPM do you cruise at?

[indywar360]

I usually don't exceed 6000 RPM unless I need to, because it makes such a racket it sounds like something's going to fall off. Probably due to the loose windshield... creates a rattly buzz. 4000-5000 generally.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Man, I wouldn't enjoy riding near as much if I had to keep it below 6K.. You really only get into the powerband at 5.5K and above.  I wring her out (except when I'm in a residential area)

but typically, I try to keep her as close to 6K as I can, so that I can always roll on and have that power on hand, versus downshifting or lugging the engine. On the interstate, I cruise wherever 90mph indicated is..

[ledfingers]

+1

[fourqbt]

 
Just at the moment my bike cruises at 0000000000 rpm, damn thing wont start...!!

[TobyR]

I cruise at 2.5k.

Most of my riding is done around 6k though.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Tell me the 2.5K is a joke, please? That's barely above idle.. that'll lug the engine like no other...

[Foreverunstopable]

In town I sit at 6+. There have been a few times that powering past has been the better idea than slowing down.

[GON]

i do about 5000 to 6000 isnt going more than that harm the engine?

[Chuck]

i do about 5000 to 6000 isnt going more than that harm the engine?

Did you ever wonder why, then, that your tachomoter goes up to 11,000?  What do you think that red line means at 10,500?  This is why people think the GS sucks, because they're afraid to use it all.  Then they go and buy a GSXR and use it at 1/4 of its potential (which in the case of the GSXR is all they can do safely anyway).

[Bulwark]

The engine starts to sound real mean around 7000 rpm and I like it,haha.

[MarkusN]

The engine starts to sound real mean around 7000 rpm and I like it,haha.

Mean!? To me it sounds strained. but then, it should be able to take 10'500 warmed up for an extended period.

[Bulwark]

My last bike was a 50CC scooter.  Every bike sounds mean,haha.

[gsJack]

The worst thing you can do to any air cooled engine is to lug it around in too high a gear, these engines thrive on revs.

I found myself running in the 4-6000 rpm range when just putting about on my 97 GS, it needed about 4k to pull at all.  The 02 GS is happy at 3000 but has little power there.

My GS's are stock all the way so I find I can run fastest in the twisties keeping them in the 7-9000 range.  The stock GS has peak HP at about 8500 rpm so running just past the peak and shifting at 9k drops the revs to the top of the torque curve around 7k.  Can't do much better than that stock and I doubt I've hit the 11k redline more than a dozen times in 120k miles.  I've run all day at these revs.

I run all day at 75-80 mph indicated in 6th when travelling which is around 6k rpm indicated.  No problem, runs the 4-500 miles calm and cool at those speeds.  It's generally believed that air cooled mc engines can be run all day at 80-90% of redline which would be about 9-10k for a GS.  Gotta keep an eye out for the law though.  

Don't forget the stock GS redlines over 100 mph in fourth gear, overdrive 6th is not for passing on the freeways; drop it to 5th or 4th.  If you don't like to shift, trade your GS in on a Bergman.    I used to ride more with my HD friends than I do now and on the freeways I would just leave it in 5th.  Gives roll on similar to the big cruisers.

Like I said in the beginning, worst thing you can do to an air cooled mc engine is to lug it in too high a gear.

[GON]

  so its ok to have the bike in like7000 -8000? will it harm anything??

[Chuck]

No problem.  You're accustomed to the RPM range of a car, which is why 5000 sounds like a lot to you.  I've bombed around the racetrack all day at 10,000, the only problem being my pre-existing oil leak leaked a bit faster at that speed.

[MarkusN]

Yep. At higher RPM you will lose more oil through the crankcase vent as well. So the main thing to consider is to check oil often.

7 to 8'000 is not hard on the engine at all. It is hard on my hearing, though, so I don't do it often.

[Bulwark]

My 2007 isnt that loud at 7000 rpms at all and doesnt vibrtate at that rpm either but since Im still only at 500 kms I try to keep the rpms around 5000 till I get the break in period errr broken in.

[indywar360]

My 2007 isnt that loud at 7000 rpms at all and doesnt vibrtate at that rpm either but since Im still only at 500 kms I try to keep the rpms around 5000 till I get the break in period errr broken in.

then how would you know what it sounds like at 7000 rpms then, huh? huh?

[Bulwark]

Well, I have had it to 7000+ rpms I just dont run it for long at those rpms.  I HAD to drive it at high rpms a few times.  I am human afterall.

[galahs]

I dunno, the youth of today have no self control