[Rustedpalm]

Hey fellas'
It's me again.
For those who helped me on my other post about engine overheating. It's all fixed! Thermostat was stuck. I've been racking up the miles since then. I've let others ride it and they simply cannot believe it has over 250,000 miles on it. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

So I'm wondering where you all shift at? At what rpm range?

I find myself thinking that I'm not using the engine properly because I spend most of my time never getting above 5500-6000 rpms. Usually around 4000. Now, with the high mileage I'm certainly not going to ring it out but, I also don't want to lug it. That can be worse for an engine.

My buddy rode it and was shocked at the power ( he rides a Suzuki TL1000) saying at 6000 it just keeps on pulling hard. Which it does. And yes I have put it up to those higher revs. But holy cow was I flying!! So the question may be, am I shifting to early. Perhaps I should stay in 4th longer? If that's the case what is 5th gear used for...the autobahn lol

 

[philharmonic]

I almost never rev my 07 FJR above 5000 rpm with regular riding, except when in the twisties {between 4 and 6 thousand} as I like to keep it in as low a gear as possible, for engine braking and quick response. {especially when going UP the mountain, as it sucks to get past the apex and not have any OOMPH as you head up the next incline, and have to downshift}

I do always run her through the gears once or twice on every ride, usually when getting on a freeway somewhere, or if not there, because of traffic, on the 1/4 mile between the interstate and my street as there is almost never traffic there, but usually not more than a couple of gears up to 8000.

I rev it up more often now, since Rayzerman took apart his buddies "babied" FJR and it was all carboned up.

 

[Redfish]

RevolutionS Per Minute. No S at the end. >

I know, that was mean. Sorry.

Going by your avatar you have a Gen1. Those have the lowest final drive ratios of all the FJRs. You are already turning more RPM than the newer bikes when in fifth gear. If you are reluctant to shift to fifth think about those poor fellows riding the '16 and newer version with 6 gears.

I truly believe the FJR motor will let you know how it wants to be shifted. If it lugs you will feel it. If it's wound up too high in the RPM range you will feel that too. I say ride the thing the way YOU like to ride it. If you do wear it out, buy another one. At 254K miles that FJR owes you nothing. I would say it has paid for itself.

 

[bounce]

RevolutionS Per Minute. No S at the end. >

I know, that was mean. Sorry.

And flat out wrong. He used RPM's so it's about something the RPM owns.

 

[RaYzerman]

The FJR doesn't develop full horsepower until 7000 rpm, taking it to 5-6000 occasionally isn't going to hurt it at all, in fact good for it IMHO. Just don't ride like gramma and carbon it up. It loves to shift at 4000 rpm. It's a performance motor. No need to take it to the rev limiter (9200).

 

[R!der]

Awe man, the tach goes all the way to eleven.

Short shift 2nd and 3rd a few hundred RPM, and take it to redline in 4th. Most performance cars will show their dominance once you hit 5th. That's for the newer geared five speeds. And note there is less than 1k RPM between most gears so keeping it around 8k is where all the fun is.

Normal lollygagging around shifts for me are ~4k.

 

[ReRose]

Persistant Traffic Offenders is all you guys are....................................

 

[Redfish]

Persistant Traffic Offenders is all you guys are....................................

Not all of us.

 

[Gitbox]

It's nice to get up to the speed limit REAL FAST every now and then.:grin2:

 

[btl68]

Persistant Traffic Offenders is all you guys are....................................

Speaks the guy that drag races FJR's with me on long straights in the country.:surprise:

 

[Rustedpalm]

You guys crack me up.
So... It seems that the absolute proper abbreviation would be RsPM (revolutions per minute). However, this can be looked at the same as mph. We don't say "20 MPHs." It's simply stated "20MPH." The plural is assumed because the number is more than 1.

So I recall my earlier grammatical error and should have asked, at what rotational speed, multiplied by a factor of 1000, do you shift? Lol

 

[RaYzerman]

So I recall my earlier grammatical error and should have asked, at what rotational speed, multiplied by a factor of 1000, do you shift? Lol

To answer your question, I have found I can't really nail that down it varies so much.

 

[passx]

I’m the guy that ray probably talks about in that in normal riding I probably shift at 3-4000 anda lot of the time have the r(s)pm around 2500rpm (incredible amount of torque) but since I had the clutch slipping issue 2 weeks ago I literally have been beating the “h” out it. When circumstances permit i’ll whack it open at 3-3500 and run it up to redline or maybe a bit higher trying to make the clutch slip which it hasn't thank goodness. The tailpipes are nice and tan these days, no carbon there.

I’ll add that being the 14 red fastest color these bikes just build ridiculous speed sooooo easily it’s kinda a bit scary but it sure is fun ! Even the much slower root beer brown is still way faster than a Harley and should still put a smile on your face,,,,, Now back to your regular programming !

 

[Mopheadama]

RPM's. The more the merrier. This ain't no Harley so it is about speed.

 

[rbentnail]

My normal shifting is 3500-4000 with the occasional 7000-8000 when passing or an on-ramp to a crowded hwy. Having owned/driven many stick shifts in youth, to me it just "feels" normal at 35-4000.

 

[NealC]

The only time I have ever paid attention to a tachometer for shifting is when I did some bracket drag racing "back in the day". Because that requires exacting consistency to hit a number repeatably. And even then, I was using a shift light programmed from the tach.

In street riding, I have only ever paid attention to the "butt-o-meter" to know when to shift and how much throttle to give it. Although it seems to pucker a little quicker the older I get.:laugh:

 

[MrZappo]

Its an FJR ... Three rules ....

1) Dont lug it.
2) Stay below redline
3) see rules 1 and 2.

The engine has loads of torque ... It really is fine just about anywhere ...

Now, from a shift point perspective:

If I am feisty I go up to 6k and then shift ... wash, rinse, repeat ...
If I am mellow its up to 4 and shift ... All good ..
If I am downright cranky, maybe up to 8.5k and shift (have to only do this up to 3rd or so to stay under 100) ... (I never exceed posted limits of course) ...

 

[Rustedpalm]

Thanks everyone.
I too am one who shifts more by feel and sound than by the tach. Which so far 1st to 2nd seems smoothest at 3000 or so. While the rest I can slip in at just about any rev. It depends on what version of warp speed I'm looking for. Lol
My particular bike doesn't care for speed shifting (without using the clutch) all that much. But I can give it the slightest pull on the clutch and it'll shift with no complaints.

Man, I love this bike...

 

[bounce]

I'm the guy that ray probably talks about in that in normal riding I probably shift at 3-4000 anda lot of the time have the r(s)pm around 2500rpm (incredible amount of torque) but since I had the clutch slipping issue 2 weeks ago I literally have been beating the "h" out it./QUOTE]

aHEM... that's "torques". Just as the guys on the original Top Gear. >

 

[RaYzerman]

I don't pay much attention to the tach either unless I'm really winding it up. I start gentle with perhaps a 3000 shift into second (good practice to ensure it is engaged to avoid "second gear issues") then wind it up. Easier on the rear tire too. I would not advise shifting 1-2 without a clutch or even 2-3, again for the second gear issue. Once in gear however, ride as you will.
Steve and I banter about the fastest colour (I spell it with the 'u'), and he is still in denial that the root beers were given just a smidge more horsepower. Judging by his comments here, perhaps we should have a wee drag race sometime and then he will realize that he wants a different colour or at least a good couple of coats of wax on that lipstick pink.