New rider here. Ideal engine speed?

[seanmull]

Hello all. I just finished my MSF course and already had a 2006 gs500f waiting for me when I got home. I was riding it around and was wondering what the ideal engine speed is for the bike. I want to make sure that I am not being too hard on the engine as I work on shifting. Riding comfortably I am generally at around 4000 rpm. Any additional information or tips on the topic are appreciated. Thanks a lot. 

[john]

4k rpm will not hurt the motor at all.  Now if you are running at red line all the time that's a different story.

[seanmull]

thanks for the quick reply. Is there a range that the motor "likes" to be in?

[floridaboyz]

I love redlining my bike when u redline in first and second gear and the front tire picks up there's no better feeling but as a new rider keeping it low in the rpms isn't a bad idea and you'll get WAYYYYY better mpg

[spray____]

I've been riding the same bike, which is my first bike, for a few months.

I started off using really low RPMS, like a car (1.5k - 3k) but I've settled into using the 4k-6k range. That is, shift up as you pass 6k, shift down when you pass 4k. You should end up using around 6k in top gear when you're on the highway. I find this matches up to what happens in my civic (1.5k-3k for shifting, 3-3.5k on the highway)

These bikes have way higher redlines than any of the cars I've driven, so it takes a bit of getting used to. The sound and frequency made me feel like I was doing something wrong at first, but now I'm just used to it.

On a side note, I've actually found a little trick to help me from trying to shift into "7th" gear. 6th gear has a convenient ratio of 1000rpm:20kph, which is easy to spot. If I'm on the highway at 120km/h, my tach should read about 6k in top gear. Oh course, if you're in the States or the UK using MPH, this won't help you! 

[seanmull]

thanks for the information

[vinny]

I started off using really low RPMS, like a car (1.5k - 3k) but I've settled into using the 4k-6k range.
...
These bikes have way higher redlines than any of the cars I've driven, so it takes a bit of getting used to. The sound and frequency made me feel like I was doing something wrong at first, but now I'm just used to it.
...
6th gear has a convenient ratio of 1000rpm:20kph, which is easy to spot. If I'm on the highway at 120km/h, my tach should read about 6k in top gear. Oh course, if you're in the States or the UK using MPH, this won't help you! 

Ive done similar, riding without going over 3krpm, she will do it, but is a little happier if kept between 2 and 5k in town.
General riding wise, she seems happy and peppy under 6k, over that it screams and pulls like a train all the way to 11k, and does so regularly with no ill effects.

I drive a diesel car with a 5k redline, i hardly go over 3k as there's no power there. The bike only starts making power over 3, so it takes a moment to adjust each time i get on.

Speed/RPM: Assuming im running stock gearing, 6th gear will be -1 of the speed (roughly):
speed 70mph - rpm: 6k
speed: 80mph - rpm: just under 7k

To OP / SEAMULL:
A GS500 is quite torquey and forgiving. Id say just ride it. Keep it under 6k if you want to save fuel..

[Snake2715]

Just to ask.. is it stock?
Gearing (sprockets)
Jets
Carbs?


Mine comes alive more over 6k but I am not new on bikes and dont suggest you have any reason to go over the rpm's you mentioned, you'll eventually get comfortable there.

Changes in the stock setup could change where the bike likes to be.

[Leadberry]

In general you want to strive to stay at least 1000 rpms away from redline.  When I started riding I kept the revs at around 2-3k around town, but as I've become more comfortable with the bike I've found 4-5k seems to be the sweet spot for cruising around town.  When getting onto the freeway or on roads with high speed limits, the bike has no complaints being taken up to 10,000 rpm until I'm up to speed.  Freeway cruising RPM's are a happy 6-7k.  As others have said, the fuel economy is quite sensitive to riding style.  I've seen my MPG's swing from 40mpg to 55mpg and back.

[Kerry]

On a side note, I've actually found a little trick to help me from trying to shift into "7th" gear. 6th gear has a convenient ratio of 1000rpm:20kph, which is easy to spot.

I use the same "trick", but with MPH as you said.  With the (yucky) stock tires on my '99, 5th was the "magic gear": 4000 RPM at 40 MPH, 5000 RPM at 50 MPH, 6000 RPM at 60 mph.  When I put a larger tire on the rear, I got the same numbers in 4th gear!   (It took me a while to figure out that cause-and-effect relationship.  )

Over the years I've had to adjust my mental RPM / MPH chart as I've mounted different tires.  Still, it's been very useful ... especially when I get distracted for miles and then notice that I have another gear to go!