Sounds good, I am up that way once and a while visiting family in Severn.

 

+1. And for me some days like yesterday the bike just doesn't want to be in the higher gear. I was cruising at 60-65 most of the ride and the bike didn't like 6th. How it tells me is the extra vibes and a slight lugging. Drop it back into 5th and it all goes away, no vibes and has the get up. On warmer days I can cruise 60mph in 6th no problem. I don't pay attention to speed for shifting till I get to 60-65 to see if I'm going to use 6th or not. I just use the feel of the bike. I would probably use a tach if I had one though.

Oh and rev limiter hit at about 90mph in 3rd.. So 30 mph increments is good.

 

Hey JaronB, where abouts are you in WA? I ride Washington few times a year, Mt. Baker, Chuckanut, hwy 9 etc. See you at Oyster run 11.

 

I always shift when it needs to be in a different gear...

 

When the motor goes vroooombaaaa I've made a good shift.

 

+1 It's all about the load. Shift points at higher mph the harder you accelerate, and lower at a soft cruise.

 

You're trying to over-think this. There is no set speed at which you should shift, and it would be just plain wrong to try to always shift at precisely the same speed/rpm. Shift points vary greatly depending on load, incline, traffic, road conditions,...

Listen to your motor--it'll tell you when to shift.

 

I found that I prefer to stay in a lower gear a little longer than I originally thought "felt right". Even longer when riding two-up or climbing hills.

LOL

I'm glad I'm not the only one who read it that way.

 

To the OP your just about where i shift too. 50 mph and up I'm in my 5th gear. I only have 5 so no 6 for me but that would be nice.

 

I'm west of Seattle across the water. I'm hoping to hit up the Oyster Run this year as long as I'm not away for work. The end of July I'm thinking about doing a cascade run with a couple forum members. It's not set in stone yet, but has been talked about.