What revs do you cruise in?

[Suture]

As the title says, what revs do you generally cruise in? What revs do you change gear at?

I'm a bit curious since mine sounds like a formula 1 car above 9000 RPM's and I often change gear around 7-8000 RPM's as a result. Is this optimal? Any tips ?

[Max Vador]

on my kat i just stayed above 5k. pretty much bottom of the power band. on my GSXR closer to 4k

just stay in a range that allows you to actually move with the twist of the throttle, but don't ride so high that you sound like a beehive and waste fuel.

[IanDMacDonald]

It depends on what you're doing with the bike. Just because the valve train is capable of higher rpm's, does not mean they should be utilized. These are sport-touring-oriented bikes, so racing them just because you can is not recommendation. I shift when the engine sounds like it needs to be shifted (each gear is different). That includes not lugging the engine, nor taking it to redline. If I were to guess, I shift somewhere around 4-5k. Riding the bike in the 9k area is not something I'd do on a Katana. When you feel the power band fall off, anything after that rpm is fruitless. Running in two high of an rpm could result in a valve float, and you don't want to see the result of that.

[bucket_hat_jojo]

I cruise at 5k-6k, as Ian said, they are sport-touring bikes. I shift around there too unless I need the pick up, like if some a-hole won't let me over. Because in Atlanta, no one can drive.

Depends on where I am, interstate at like 80 in 6th gear, so 5k-6k about right, elsewhere maybe 4-5k.

[Suture]

I usually change between 5-7k RPM when I drive normally but occasionally I like to take off For instance from a red light or after a roundabout when there's no one around and a straight line. At that point I let it pull towards 9 or 10k before I change.

I never cruise in those gears but I was wondering cause I read a bit about revs. Some state the engine should be used at higher revs as well and not driven like a baby, however I have a custom exhaust and past 9k RPM's it really sounds like an F1 car and past 10k it sets off car alarms.

But your answers made me a lot calmer in simply changing at 5k and not worry so much

[skjeflo]

Power and torque both really start climbing between 4-5K, at least on my 600. Around twon or just cruising on back roads I'll rarely go below 4K but have no problem running it up near 11K in small spurts when I want to MOVE. With my gearing my freeway commute (60-75 mph) generally leaves me near 6K, which I'm fine with.

[1LE]

I generally shift between 4-6k depending on how fast I'm trying to accelerate. I aim for cruise at 4k minimum when the bike's still not quite fully warmed up. If I get below that, with any kind of load on it, it'll start to misfire. If the bike's been running for awhile (nice and warm) I can get as low as 3.5k in 6th gear and 2.5k in 1/2/3 (with 4th and 5th being around 3k). Still, 4k is a better number if I anticipate any need to accelerate in the near future. Obviously on the e-way none of that applies because I'm over 6k just doing the speed limit.

[Ace3695]

Gear, rpm, mph
5, 6, 60
6, 6, 80
Highway riding at 60, I like to stay in 6th, at about 4-5krpm but the moment I get uncomfortable or see something/one dangerous, I kick down to 5, which puts me right where the power kicks in.

Dunno if that helps.