Some General Questions, Gear vs Speed

[danl]

I have a little over 350 miles on the C14 now. (I'd have a lot more if it had not been crappy Sunday and Monday!.)

I have a few questions that have come up as I ride. I've also searched for and found some answer on some things. stuff.

Cruising RPM- coming from a cruiser, low rpm's are normal. On the Connie, running around 3-4k seems to be adequate, I can roll on the throttle for minor speed changes without downshifting, etc. What do you guys like to run the bike at if you are riding around? Like if you are on a 40mph road keeping a steady pace, do you keep it in a lower gear and let it rev higher, or do you pick the highest gear that will let you keep the rpms where the engine isn't struggling? Are you running 5k rpm or anything like that? I guess what I'm asking is what is the best operating range for the bike?

6th gear- when are you kicking it in? I've been using it around 70 if I'm at a steady cruising pace.

I'm still taking it easy on the throttle, trying to keep the rpm's down under 4-5k for the break in period though I do roll it up a little higher once in a while, like pulling out into traffic on the interstate. Even in the 3-4k range, I'm really enjoying the quickness of this bike. My Vulcan could go over 100- plenty fast enough for any road I ride on. I only ever do that on a couple back roads that have no side entries and good visibilty, so it's not real far or real often. Plus, it took a half mile to get up to that speed from 60 or so. I'll treat the Connie the same. What I really like is the roll on power. Yesterday I came out of a 35 zone that went up to 50 out in the country. I was in 3rd gear, gave it just a little throttle, and was up to 80 in the blink of an eye.

I made a couple adjustments to the suspension today, since I'm a larger guy, 6'2 and 260lbs. I beefed up the preload from what the MOM says for a 150lb rider. I didn't get a lot of twisties on my ride up to a lunch meeting today so I'm not sure how it will feel, but hopefully it'll be a good adjustment for my size.

I'm sure I'll have some more later, but thanks for looking at these!
Dan

[SVonhof]

Dan, you will quickly get used to the higher/faster revving of this engine. I come from sportbikes and this is my first sport-touring bike and it really is a nice bike to switch to (from a TL1000R). I have gotten to just under redline in second gear and was going just over 90mph, so you won't have a problem getting to 100 if you choose simply by leaving the bike in third gear from your 35mph zone.

Take your time and get her broken in well and then find the redline and bump into the rev limiter so you know what it feels like to do so. I have not done it on this bike yet, but will be doing so soon.

[RBX QB]

I'm still getting used to riding my 14 (4500 miles in)... and find that I target 4-5k for most commuting. I stay a little higher if I'm in the twisties.

As for OD... I very seldom use it, even on highways. I've played with the mileage calculator on the dash, and it seems that the bike prefers OD mainly on flat ground, 70-75, in ECO mode. Outside of those parameters, the bike thinks it gets better mileage in 5th. Others with more miles on will have better input here.

Like Vonhoff said, this motor likes RPM, so don't be afraid of running the RPMs more.

[Khrome]

I never "run" in a higher rpm than necessary to not lug the motor... Have you bothered to read the shift table in the owners manual?  It might surprise you 

[maxtog]

Cruising RPM- coming from a cruiser, low rpm's are normal. On the Connie, running around 3-4k seems to be adequate, I can roll on the throttle for minor speed changes without downshifting, etc.

Minor, indeed.  At 3K, the Concours has very little power.  Seems to think about coming out of sleep mode at 3.6 and start coming to life at 4.

What do you guys like to run the bike at if you are riding around? Like if you are on a 40mph road keeping a steady pace, do you keep it in a lower gear and let it rev higher, or do you pick the highest gear that will let you keep the rpms where the engine isn't struggling? Are you running 5k rpm or anything like that? I guess what I'm asking is what is the best operating range for the bike?

Well, it "depends".  If I am on a straight-away with little chance of needing to accelerate or decelerate, I will ride at around 3 to 3.5.  That will provide the best gas mileage with the least amount of noise, vibration, wear, heat, etc.  But if I need to be more spirited, it really needs to stay above 4-4.5.

6th gear- when are you kicking it in? I've been using it around 70 if I'm at a steady cruising pace.

Yep, that's about right.  60MPH+ or so.  Anything slower than that puts the bike at too low an RPM and it will strain with even the slightest need for increasing speed.  Interestingly, the 10's rule seems to work on the Concours.  Cruise at around 10x the gear number.  Of course, that is a bit simplistic, and it isn't quite that linear, but it is a great one-line description.

My Vulcan could go over 100- plenty fast enough for any road I ride on.

It's not about top speed- its about acceleration.  Just wait 'til you start to really open her up... you probably won't miss the Vucan any

[danl]

I never "run" in a higher rpm than necessary to not lug the motor... Have you bothered to read the shift table in the owners manual?  It might surprise you 

Yes, I read it. 5th to 6th @ 34mph? Are they serious? I bet most people shift from 1st to 2nd at that speed.

[danl]

It's not about top speed- its about acceleration.  Just wait 'til you start to really open her up... you probably won't miss the Vucan any

I'm not missing the Vulcan, believe me! I'm already enjoying the limited acceleration I'm letting myself have right now. I always enjoyed the Vulcan, but it was never like this.

[DenverC-14]

Just wait till you get above 7k in second... better hold on  I, too, came from a vulcan.. Can't say I've made a better decision in a long time

[martin_14]

Yes, I read it. 5th to 6th @ 34mph? Are they serious? I bet most people shift from 1st to 2nd at that speed.

good to know that I am not the only one who reads the manuals...
Anyway, you're right: if I'm driving... ahem... spirited, I shift to second at abou that speed.

[gPink]

3500 rpm
6=75
5=65
4=55
below 3500 I'm stopped are stopping

[Khrome]

I'm not missing the Vulcan, believe me! I'm already enjoying the limited acceleration I'm letting myself have right now. I always enjoyed the Vulcan, but it was never like this.

To clarify:

I am still in break in also, I said I don't run in a higher gear than needed to not lug the motor... When around town, I just shift at lower speeds like I would on a cruiser.  I think about it in terms of gas mileage.  If I'm driving through or around town at say 35mph I am going to get better mileage in 5th than I am 4th, so if it doesn't "feel" like I'm lugging it down I use the lower rpm gear to get the little extra mpg... So then I use that savings to wind in it up some when I get out of town 

I hate when I see a kid(and theres one in particular)that rides through and around town here on an older 600cc sport bike and I'm pretty sure he's in second gear all the time, his bike has a pipe so it sounds like he's going about 60mph all the time cause he's revving up so much...

I know these engines are designed for the rpms but I just don't ride in higher than I have to rpms unless I am being a hooligan. 

[danl]

Khrome, I understand what you are saying. I've been doing the same thing, though running with a little higher rpm than I would on my Vulcan. Going thru town at 25, I'm doing 2nd gear at around 3000rpm, the bike seems to run fine there. That's why I was asking, if it seems ok in that range am I doing the right thing, or should I be running it up higher in the 4-5k range in 1st gear.

I totally agree about the riders who sound like they are on a weed whacker. I'm sure there is a place for those kinds of revs, maybe if you are in the twisties and want the rpms up so you can have better throttle response, but cruising thru town at 25, no need for it. That's as bad as the "loud pipes save lives" crew who have to rev out 1st gear from stop sign to stop sign and then continually crack the throttle as they are stopped.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I think I'm doing ok so far. All part of the adjustment of coming from a bike that red lines at 5800 to a bike that is just starting to get it's groove on there.

[Shoe]

Even with the flies removed and a PC V I find that the bike is happiest above 3600 rpm in any gear. I can cruise
along at most highway speeds around 4000 rpm in 5th. Accelerating from zero to highway speeds or overtaking someone is different of course.

[Mister Tee]

60 mph seems to be the sweet spot where it's best to go to 6th for flat road cruising.  Under that the motor seems to be lugging, and over that I think you're just wasting engine revs and gas.  Hitting the twisties, of course, is an entire separate thing.  I rarely get beyond 4th gear below 80 mph.

[jjsC6]

I like speed as much as anyone here probably, but there are times to use the RPM's for spirited runs through the gears, then there is just cruising.  I have never seen a reason to not shift to the highest gear that I can when just cruising around.   I've been in sixth gear many times at 35 mph.  Nothing bad has happened. 

[stevewfl]

KiPASS   is wonderful!

[wally_games]

I usually don't hang out in first gear for very long, unless I'm feeling a little frisky. Running a lot at around 3,000 RPM when just cruising around, almost always below 4,000. Even when riding fairly spirited, I use 6,500-7,000 RPM shifts most of the time, although I have run it up to near redline when "necessary".

Sixth gear is a waste of time unless you're cruising the flat interstate. If I recall, at 70 mph there is only about 500 RPM difference between 5th and 6th (I'll have to check that out to be sure).

Just wait until you're done with the break in, find yourself on a lonely straight stretch of backroad, and feel the urge to see just how quick this thing accelerates. Twist the throttle and hang on!! You'll find that triple digits are within the range of 2nd gear and that you'll get there quite quickly.

I heard a rumor once that a guy that looked kinda like me actually hit the rev-limiter in fifth gear one time, but as I say, it's just a rumor. 

[Dalroo]

Just after purchasing mine, while entering a lonely section of west Texas highway, I hit the rev-limiter in 3rd gear. This was the first time I had hit it, and at first I thought I had broken something in the motor. I hadn't and I was shocked by how fast I had gotten there, and how fast I was moving:)

[Fretka]

After the motor is broken-in don't be afraid to spin the motor up to high rpm's. The motor was designed to spin at these high rpm's and not so much the low big v-twin power range. IMHO the motor would prefer 8k rpm than 1500- 3000 any day. Just don't lug it and it will be happy.


Fretka

[maxtog]

I totally agree about the riders who sound like they are on a weed whacker. [...] cruising thru town at 25, no need for it. That's as bad as the "loud pipes save lives" crew who have to rev out 1st gear from stop sign to stop sign and then continually crack the throttle as they are stopped.

+100