What RPM's to shift at?

[hougy]

I wondered this when I was riding to school. What RPM's are we supposed to be up/down shifting? I usually up shift at about 2,700-3,300 RPM, but I only do that because of the high pitched noise the engine is making. Is there something I don't know about?

[philwecksr]

I try to keep mine in the high 4K's so I have a good torque curve right on tap. Then again I have a 600, might be lower if the torque started as strong and soon as on the 750.

[Court93kat]

Oh man... Kat's don't like low rpms at all.

I try to shift up a lot higher than that. I usually up shift around the 6-8 range when just riding, and if I'm on it hard, it's usually around 9-10.

Our engines perform best above 4K rpms. You really don't want to spend a lot of time below that.

What high pitch noise is the engine making?? Is there something wrong with your ride??

[hougy]

by high pitch i mean...loud engine noise, it just sounds like its ready be thrown into the next gear. I always thought that was the signal to shift

[yeemartin]

by high pitch i mean...loud engine noise, it just sounds like its ready be thrown into the next gear. I always thought that was the signal to shift

i think you should get used to the "noise", motorcycles are not like cars. they need to rev! 8)

But since you mentioned the noise. You probably should do a tune up or something.

[The CyberPoet]

The torque-peak for a typical car is around 3k-4k RPM, with the redline somewhere around 5 to 6k usually. The torque peak for a Katana is around 8800 RPM (with the "fat" band being from about 7200 RPM to 9850 RPM). If you want to feel what your bike was designed to do, try this:

Shift 1st-2nd around 4500
2nd-3rd around 5500
the rest around 8-10k RPM.

You'll probably discover a whole new world of motorcycle ownership if you've been shifting by 3300 RPM, which is still bogging-down RPM's on the Kat... Except leaving the line, I virtually never run the bike under 4500 RPM at any point, and even a pleasant-valley-sunday-drive would be 5k minimum...

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[DreKat]

between 5-7 for a regular ride, red line if I want to get into trouble. Most cases I shift when ever I hear a certain pitch if the engine. It very seldem goes delow 4000 except when stop at a light, stop sign or a cop .

[TheKlic]

Rev limiter is 11,500. so I shift at what, 11,400?

[The CyberPoet]

Rev limiter is 11,500. so I shift at what, 11,400?

10k or so... above that, you're making less power than you'd be making in the next gear.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[hougy]

The torque-peak for a typical car is around 3k-4k RPM, with the redline somewhere around 5 to 6k usually. The torque peak for a Katana is around 8800 RPM (with the "fat" band being from about 7200 RPM to 9850 RPM). If you want to feel what your bike was designed to do, try this:

Shift 1st-2nd around 4500
2nd-3rd around 5500
the rest around 8-10k RPM.

You'll probably discover a whole new world of motorcycle ownership if you've been shifting by 3300 RPM, which is still bogging-down RPM's on the Kat... Except leaving the line, I virtually never run the bike under 4500 RPM at any point, and even a pleasant-valley-sunday-drive would be 5k minimum...

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

I tried this this morning. I had a helluva lot more power to play with on the free way! I turned heads when I was downtown (thats a loud freakin engine)...whoops:P

[chilipepper]

I`m only shifting at 4k if it`s really wet out. I am almost always shifting at 10k.

[The CyberPoet]

I tried this this morning. I had a helluva lot more power to play with on the free way! I turned heads when I was downtown (thats a loud freakin engine)...whoops:P

Welcome to the world of sports bikes and sport-tourers... RPM's are your friend

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[Monkey Fist]

I was shifting a little early as well. Usually around 5K, I'll try shifting later now and see if I notice much of a difference.

[GytRDunKat]

Shift 1st-2nd around 4500
2nd-3rd around 5500
the rest around 8-10k RPM.

If you shift into 6th at 10k... you prolly should be prepared to get a talking to from Johnny Law.

[Wade-Kat600]

If you shift into 6th at 10k... you prolly should be prepared to get a talking to from Johnny Law.

6th? if you're at 10k in 4th youre doin 100mph! LOL