Where did that come from? Now it is me that can't tell who is joking!
Yeah, well now you know,
I was joking about the pot stirring on your part max' (
sorry that wasn't made clear), and I understand that mods gotta do what mods gotta etc. etc. Not wanting a mod war here, had enough of that elsewhere.
I like it here. However, I want it clear that it was not I that started this off topic discussion (not that I haven't done that several time before
) from Rostra testing to lugging. Lugging an engine is not something so simple that one can tell simply from gearing and speed that it is happening. I'm sure there are many here that will disagree and say so with lots of exclamation points and talk about all their track experience. Some will go on to say that they never shift up out of 4th unless they are going at least 70 mph (60mph? 82mph? whatever, pick a number). and the rest of us that don't follow their guidelines are doomed to knocking big end rod bearings etc etc.
Lugging has at least two additional factors besides gearing and speed. Throttle opening and resistance to forward motion. On level ground with calm to low headwinds, properly maintained bike including properly inflated tires, GVWR compliance, and perhaps some other factors that I can't think of right now, a C14 in 5th gear with only enough throttle opening to maintain 30 mph is not lugging the engine. Kawasaki agrees with me.
Now returning to topic, if testing a Rostra in 5th at 30mph and it starts opening and closing the throttle in large movements in it's attempt to maintain speed, then there is most likely some lugging going on during the wider throttle openings. If that happens discontinue the test and check to make sure that there isn't too much actuator cable slack at closed throttle, or simply test at a higher speed. I agree with Brian (at least I think that is his position on it), I would not test a new Rostra install in any gear below 5th until I was sure it was performing properly in the higher gears. Such a test would, I think, be for grins and giggles as I don't know why anyone would care how it performs in the lower gears, unless of course they never shift up out of 4th below 70 for fear of lugging the engine (
) while riding in a 60mph speed zone.