Ideal Shifting RPM?

[solaris]

Hey Guys,

I'm relatively new to bikes, as of today it's been one week since I got my SVS. I bought it used with only 600 miles on it and I don't have any service manuals, etc. and I've never driven stick. I was wondering what's the ideal RPM range for shifting? Do you guys red line or is that only for super fast acceleration?

del.

[buymenow00]

I find myself shifting mostly around 7-8000 rpm's...but as low as 4000 rpm's if I'm just cruising along. 10k+ only if I'm really on it...which has only happened a few times (it is fun tho!)

Hey, drop me an email, we should hook up since I'm in RB also!

[linp]

I shift around 4-5k. I get great mileage. I think I've only intentionally redlined it twice in the 11k miles I've ridden. A couple other times were accidents that happened in neutral as I was shifting from 1st to 2nd.

[bwarbiany]

Solaris,
Have you done the 600 mile service? If it hasn't been done, it needs to be.

Brad

[Tico]

Originally posted by solaris
Hey Guys,

I'm relatively new to bikes, as of today it's been one week since I got my SVS. I bought it used with only 600 miles on it and I don't have any service manuals, etc. and I've never driven stick. I was wondering what's the ideal RPM range for shifting? Do you guys red line or is that only for super fast acceleration?

del.

Here's a tip or two:

Suzuki recommends keeping engine RPM below 8000 RPM for the first 1000 miles.

Also, many say that the 600 mile service is the MOST CRITICAL for the overall life of your machine.

[Tico]

On the topic of shifing, anybody else found neutral between 5th and 6th gear?

:confused:

[Gmoney]

Originally posted by Tico
On the topic of shifing, anybody else found neutral between 5th and 6th gear?


my svs did it every once in awhile till about 1000 miles. Just remember to lift up on the shifter alittle harder between 5th and 6th. its kind of a common problem. its seems to happen to about half of the sv owners. So dont worry the problem goes away after it breaks in alittle.



James

[idukes]

One of the great things about the SV, with such nice v-twin torque on hand, is that it can be such a chameleon, and allow you to ride it real differently to suit the situation and your own mood.

Around town, you can shift it low down, ride it in the 3-5k range, and it makes a nice rumble, and gives you plenty of power while staying very low-key. In fact that's what you tend to do while breaking it in, and you might be content and never realize you had a second personality inside your SV waiting to come out.

Once you're broken in and through with all Suzuki's rev-limits, you can wind it up and see what it can do. There's a great little engine in there, with a generous redline for a twin, and it loves to scream. Especially if you pipe and jet it. You'll have a blast tearing it up on fast canyon roads or the track and shifting upwards of 9k. My experience is that there's not a lot of power left as you get real close to redline so there are diminishing returns to hanging on to gears for too long.

For me it depends a lot how I feel, some days I like to short shift and growl around town. Other days I like to make it roar. Experiment and see what you like.

Hope that was helpful and not too long-winded. :)

-Ian

[solaris]

Originally posted by buymenow00
I find myself shifting mostly around 7-8000 rpm's...but as low as 4000 rpm's if I'm just cruising along. 10k+ only if I'm really on it...which has only happened a few times (it is fun tho!)

Hey, drop me an email, we should hook up since I'm in RB also!

Sure, I'm down on Ave G. It'd be great if you can give me tips and advice on my sv.
You can reach me at del_linquent@yahoo.com

del.

[solaris]

Originally posted by bwarbiany
Solaris,
Have you done the 600 mile service? If it hasn't been done, it needs to be.

Brad

What exactly do you do at the 600 mile service? I bought it salvaged from Los Angeles Salvage Shop with 621 miles on it. The guy at the shop serviced it and made sure it was road worthy before I picked it up. I was thinking the next service I need to do is at 1000 miles.

del.

[linp]

Oil change, check torques and other little stuff.

If you haven't already, check out our handy Maintenance schedule checklist available under the downloads here:
http://www.socalsvriders.com/download.php?op=viewdownload&cid=1

[jicko]

I'd like some pointers...

First, at what RPM should I up-shift?

The MOM(owner's manual said):
20km/h 2nd gear
30km/h 3rd gear
40km/h 4th gear
50km/h 5th gear
60km/h 6th gear <- this is like 37mph!!!

And that basically means that I'm going to ride in 6th gear almost ALL THE TIME, rite?



What's the regular RPM you guys run your bike at? I've heard 5k? With the above shifting guides... i would be like under 4k rpm all time.....



Also, i went out and ride with some of you guys last weekend... and got some pointers for cornering.... what gear should I be in? I heard 3rd..... but that is like 20-25mph according to the above guide.... and I am really NOT going at 20mph on those corners.....
what kind of RPM is it going to put me in??

I tired it today... it feels very weird.... my RPM is WAY high even if I drop it into 4th gear.....



Any more info for a newbie like me?

Thx!

[dnakase]

I shift at 5,500 rpm or there abouts.

You basicly want to be in the fat part of the power band, in what ever gear you'r in. The SV peaks out around 9k rpm so you have from 5k to 9k to play with.

That dose not mean you can't lug down to, say 3k in a given gear. it all depends.

[Troy]

Dude, i thought you're supposed to shift when the tach needle enters that red zone on the gauge:clown: .

Seriously, though, your shift point should depend on a variety of things-riding habits, traffic, need for speed, etc. In city traffic, I typically shift between 5k and 7k RPMs, and stay on the lower end of the RPMs (higher gear). When riding in the twisties I stay in lower gears (higher RPMs), because it's easier to maintain control in the turns. Instead of using your brake to adjust entrance speed into a turn, which can result in a lowside, stay in a lower gear to allow engine braking to decelerate you. This will also ensure that you have plenty of power to stabilize the bike as you roll on the throttle, exiting the turn. Braking while in a turn reduces your cornering traction=possible lowside crash. If you don't believe me, go find an empty parking lot, make a u-turn at 10 mph in 2nd gear, and grab your front brakes hard. j/k-please don't do that. But take my word for it, you and the bike will go down.

I was riding directly behind Paul last weekend in Otay, and noticed how often he shifted between turns. Not very much. Most of the ride in the curves I spent in 3rd and 4th gear. The engine was wound up pretty good, but I only had to use my brakes once or twice the whole time (that was my first ride in that area, so I DID misjudge several turns, a couple of which made me use my brake at the last second). :hold:

Troy

[pcperks]

Troy said it all. Basically stay in a gear that gives you maximum use for both a quick burst of speed if you need it, and also some good engine braking. I usually try and cruise between 4-5k RPM's, and try not to let them drop below 3.5K or I'll downshift. And I try not to bring it up over 8K. It's all up to the rider. But it won't hurt your SV to run it into higher RPM's as long as you don't constantly keep it up at really high RPM's. Don't cruise at 8K, that's asking for something to break. But you don't have to baby it either. If you're doing a quick acceleration, getting it up that high and up shifting is fine. Just don't let it stay there for long. I could still be considered a newbie, but I've been doing a lot of practicing :D and riding in the twisties. It will all depend on your riding techniques and the conditions. Well, that's my two cents. Hope it helps you.

Phil

[Kurt'sSV]

I know we've talked about this before and most people said that depending on how they were riding changed how they shifted.

If I'm just ridding around I'll shift around 6. When I'm riding on a canyon/mountain/track I'll shift higher. If you have a stock exhaust, like me, your horse power really drops of when you get to 9, so I'll shift somewhere in the upper 8,000 rpms.

[Golden_Eternity]

Originally posted by Kurt'sSV
I know we've talked about this before and most people said that depending on how they were riding changed how they shifted.

Yup, here's the thread (http://www.socalsvriders.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=985).

[Rudeboy]

Check out some of the dyno charts that are around for the SV. That's basically what you are asking about "where the power is?" right? The harder you run it though .. you are putting more stress on the bike, so if you really want to baby it you can do that. I don't know, you'll figure it out -

[Lonedog]

OK so i was wondering about recommended shift rpm/speeds for the sv. so i looked it up and i find it is some ridiculously low numbers.
"and i thought that i was shifting a Little early."

but now i just don't know because it seems to me like the bike wants to shift around 6k RPM or higher.

but the recommended shift rpm/speed numbers are so much lower than what the bike wants that i have to post this question

at what speed/rpm do you shift into each gear on average. like when your just cruising or going to the store or something.

[Setter32]

....I a reckon it depends on your pref........

.....but in general..........the best place to keep the SV at is the mid-range......

.....and I also a reckon.......everybody has their own definition of "midrange".......

.....when I ride the SV...........I'm most comfy at about 5.5 to 8K when cruising..........................this rpm is not too high.......nor too low..............so when shit happens....just a slight roll on the throttle and off she goes.......

.....too low of an rpm...........and you have a longer wait for that kick in the ass........

......too high...........and the kick is not as potent..........

.....in my opinion.........above 10k is pointless.........

....

........so to conclude..............I shift when she's about 8k........

......but when I ride her hard...............I shift when she's about 10k.......

......and when I'm at the trak..........well..............since I suck at shifting...............she seems to hit the redline.....alot.........:rolleyes: ......



:D

[SteVe650S]

Just do what I do - keep it in first until about 40mph, then go to roll on the throttle and try to hide your embarrassment when you hit the rev limiter real hard. If you have a loud pipe, everybody will know.

[Lonedog]

thanks.:)