Don't lug yer motor...
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 134
Likes: 12
From: Texas
Highest torque (twisting force) on the flywheel assembly will be at the torque peak, approximately 3500 rpm, not at low rpms. That' why they call it the torque peak. 
This is also the region where each firing stroke is the strongest, even if it "feels" like the firing stroke is stronger at lower rpms.
Of course, twisting force when dumping the clutch, like when doing a holeshot or a burnout, would be even higher.
This is also the region where each firing stroke is the strongest, even if it "feels" like the firing stroke is stronger at lower rpms.
Of course, twisting force when dumping the clutch, like when doing a holeshot or a burnout, would be even higher.
LOL you just dont listen do you
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
That depends. Some things are worth listening to, and others are not. I prefer opinions backed up with a technical explanation, over old wives tales.
Older internal combustion engines, without centrifugal advance or vacuum advance/retard, were prone to detonate at low rpms combined with high throttle openings. The detonation is what caused the damage.
Later, the situation improved a lot with the addition of automatic, mechanically actuated spark timing controls.
Now, with the more sophisticated electronic engine controls, detonation can be warded off by strategies from richening the fuel mixture, to reducing timing advance, all done automatically based on input from sensors, including engine temperature sensors, oxygen sensors, rpm sensors, and detonation sensors, processed by the computer. Detonation, on a stock computer-controlled engine, isn't really anything one needs to worry about anymore, unless there's some kind of malfunction in the engine, fuel system, or the control system.
Computer-controlled engines will often be pushing a car down the freeway at around 1500 rpm these days, and not only do they not self-destruct at those low rpms, but they're the longest-lasting engines we've ever had.
Older internal combustion engines, without centrifugal advance or vacuum advance/retard, were prone to detonate at low rpms combined with high throttle openings. The detonation is what caused the damage.
Later, the situation improved a lot with the addition of automatic, mechanically actuated spark timing controls.
Now, with the more sophisticated electronic engine controls, detonation can be warded off by strategies from richening the fuel mixture, to reducing timing advance, all done automatically based on input from sensors, including engine temperature sensors, oxygen sensors, rpm sensors, and detonation sensors, processed by the computer. Detonation, on a stock computer-controlled engine, isn't really anything one needs to worry about anymore, unless there's some kind of malfunction in the engine, fuel system, or the control system.
Computer-controlled engines will often be pushing a car down the freeway at around 1500 rpm these days, and not only do they not self-destruct at those low rpms, but they're the longest-lasting engines we've ever had.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Oct 18, 2016 at 07:04 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 271
Likes: 28
From: WitsEnd
Not much sense doing those rpm in town in any gear higher than 4th.
Doesn't allow you enough time to react and get out of the way if needs be.
You need to go down a gear and accelerate to be effective....and that takes time!
The gentle application of throttle and sympatico with the machine is the key.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Keeping the revs up for instant emergency power seems like a good idea. Of course if we were really serious about having instant access to maximum power, we'd be cruising at 4500+ rpm. 
With a little practice, one can open the throttle while pulling in the clutch, kick down 1 or 2 or 3 gears, and re-engage the clutch faster than most automatic transmissions can do it.
With a little practice, one can open the throttle while pulling in the clutch, kick down 1 or 2 or 3 gears, and re-engage the clutch faster than most automatic transmissions can do it.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Oct 20, 2016 at 06:44 AM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 1,735
From: Variable
As long as the terrain (do you have terrain in the urbanscape?) is flat and your throttle application is gentle (sensible), you're doing no harm.
Not much sense doing those rpm in town in any gear higher than 4th.
Doesn't allow you enough time to react and get out of the way if needs be.
You need to go down a gear and accelerate to be effective....and that takes time!
The gentle application of throttle and sympatico with the machine is the key.
Not much sense doing those rpm in town in any gear higher than 4th.
Doesn't allow you enough time to react and get out of the way if needs be.
You need to go down a gear and accelerate to be effective....and that takes time!
The gentle application of throttle and sympatico with the machine is the key.
Thank you. Great advice. I am pretty gentle on the throttle, and don't often go full throttle.
Before I was just shifting gears based roughly on the speed I was going.
1st gear for about 0-10 mph
2nd gear for around 20
3rd for 30
4th for 40
5th for 50
and
6th for 60
Got used to the sound of the RPMs running about 2100, and then just began shifting when around 2100.
I'll retrain my brain to for a higher rpm.
R,
Sanjuro