rpm question from a new rider
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 144
Likes: 17
From: Florida
Ride a Bicycle to experience the theory.
Let's try this on a five-speed Schwinn.
Pedal in first gear and it is easy, smooth and fun, until you reach a forward velocity where it is easier to shift to the next gear
When you ride up a bridge, you struggle to stay in third gear to maintain your forward momentum, so you drop into second and pick up your pace. If you stayed in third and tried to maintain your speed you would struggle and wear yourself out, but it is easier to spin at a higher RPM. As you head down the other side of the bridge, you shift into third and perhaps even forth as you gain a higher speed than what you attacked the start of the bridge climb. If you stayed in second as you head down the bridge, you would wear yourself out trying to accelerate and would not be able to accelerate as fast as you race down the bridge as you would in third. it is all about riding efficiently.
Now, hop on your motorcycle.
At 2000 rpm in 3rd gear you grab 3/4 throttle. You are wearing out your engine, it is struggling to accelerate, but dropping down to second gear you accelerate much faster and much more efficiently. SO, try and relate to your experience of riding a bicycle.
No need to over rev, you have a gear that allows you to ride comfortably, but also, do not lug. This does not have to be something you read off of a chart, but can be done by seat of the pants understanding, You can learn this by feel. Let the engine tell you where it wants to be. cHarley nailed the range you should plan on riding on the street (The track is another environment that takes it to another level).
Treat your engine like you are the physical powerhouse. Make its life easy. let it spin freely. No need to over rev when there is another gear available to maintain your momentum and to easily accelerate, but learn what it means to lug your engine. When you need maximum acceleration there is no substitute to hitting the higher revs but it is not always needed to achieve your goals on the highway, Ride safe and don't stress.
Everyone in the previous posts above have provided you with the same answer, but with a slightly different perspective.
My normal riding plan (Non Stressing) is 2nd gear from 20-30, 3rd gear from 30-45, 4th gear from 45-55, 5th gear 55-70.
But, this is only a general mindless rule. In reality, It is rare I ride this conservatively, but it is my general rule, none-the-less.
BTW, Mine is geared as an 883, so you may want to increase your MPH accordingly
Let's try this on a five-speed Schwinn.
Pedal in first gear and it is easy, smooth and fun, until you reach a forward velocity where it is easier to shift to the next gear
When you ride up a bridge, you struggle to stay in third gear to maintain your forward momentum, so you drop into second and pick up your pace. If you stayed in third and tried to maintain your speed you would struggle and wear yourself out, but it is easier to spin at a higher RPM. As you head down the other side of the bridge, you shift into third and perhaps even forth as you gain a higher speed than what you attacked the start of the bridge climb. If you stayed in second as you head down the bridge, you would wear yourself out trying to accelerate and would not be able to accelerate as fast as you race down the bridge as you would in third. it is all about riding efficiently.
Now, hop on your motorcycle.
At 2000 rpm in 3rd gear you grab 3/4 throttle. You are wearing out your engine, it is struggling to accelerate, but dropping down to second gear you accelerate much faster and much more efficiently. SO, try and relate to your experience of riding a bicycle.
No need to over rev, you have a gear that allows you to ride comfortably, but also, do not lug. This does not have to be something you read off of a chart, but can be done by seat of the pants understanding, You can learn this by feel. Let the engine tell you where it wants to be. cHarley nailed the range you should plan on riding on the street (The track is another environment that takes it to another level).
Treat your engine like you are the physical powerhouse. Make its life easy. let it spin freely. No need to over rev when there is another gear available to maintain your momentum and to easily accelerate, but learn what it means to lug your engine. When you need maximum acceleration there is no substitute to hitting the higher revs but it is not always needed to achieve your goals on the highway, Ride safe and don't stress.
Everyone in the previous posts above have provided you with the same answer, but with a slightly different perspective.
My normal riding plan (Non Stressing) is 2nd gear from 20-30, 3rd gear from 30-45, 4th gear from 45-55, 5th gear 55-70.
But, this is only a general mindless rule. In reality, It is rare I ride this conservatively, but it is my general rule, none-the-less.
BTW, Mine is geared as an 883, so you may want to increase your MPH accordingly
Last edited by 1HD4CJM1X4K; Sep 9, 2018 at 06:02 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 135
Likes: 20
From: Western WI
The best advice I can give is to listen to the motor. It will tell you everything you need to know. If its lugging, then you need to down shift. If it winding out then you need to upshift. A tachometer is a helpful tool to learn how it should sound at a certain rpm range but after a while you will know what you need just to do by listening to the engine. I rarely look at mine. The motor tells me everything.
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