cruising RPM in the back road?

[zhangjx0545]

I ride in the back road about 55~65 mph. While the bike seems have the torque moving forward, I am afraid that I am lagging the engine by running 2700rpm. What is the recommended rpm when cruising? thanks!

[maxtog]

I ride in the back road about 55~65 mph. While the bike seems have the torque moving forward, I am afraid that I am lagging the engine by running 2700rpm. What is the recommended rpm when cruising? thanks!

I am sure you will get lots of various answers.  Interestingly, your number of 2700 is about the lowest I will run the engine when cruising (at any speed above 1st gear), and the number I have recommended to others.  Some will say 2500.  And at that RPM I would not apply much throttle because [I believe] that would be lugging.  Cruising below 60MPH I will typically be in 5th (or lower) and in 6th when above 60MPH.

[lather]

I try to keep the engine at no less than 3000 rpm.

[jwh20]

If you look at a dyno chart from a C14, and there are many to choose from on the internet, you will see that the torque drops off rapidly below 3000 rpm.  So, of course, it's going to tend to "lug" if you are attempting to accelerate with the engine running below that speed.

[maxtog]

If you look at a dyno chart from a C14, and there are many to choose from on the internet, you will see that the torque drops off rapidly below 3000 rpm. 

Unfortunately, most dyno runs start around 3K.  This one does have about 2,200 for a flashed C14.  Torque drops from about 90ft/lb at 3K to about 75ft/lb at 2.2K (if it is accurate that low).  So the Concours 14 does quite well, even pretty low on RPM (considerably better than the ZX14).  Still, there are limits.  I am not sure how "dangerous" lugging is to the engine, but I never like doing it.

[gPink]

If you're not in the engines powerband you're not ready for an emergency. ymmv

[maxtog]

If you're not in the engines powerband you're not ready for an emergency. ymmv

Well, one is not ideally ready for an emergency that requires power when cruising in low RPM, that is true.  But it doesn't affect braking/slowing down.  And from my experience, about 90% of emergency situations, I need to slow (as opposed to accelerate).

What one defines as a power band will vary quite a bit.  I would not want to accelerate hard on the C14 below 4-5K.  But cruising at such an RPM isn't comfortable (noise, vibration), and also less fuel efficient.  So there is a balance.   Two rules that are good- if you think you might need power, downshift immediately.  And if you don't, still be ready to downshift.   

[Dirtiegirtie]

I have been told lugging can cause damage to an engine. By twisting the throttle more than the engine can handle/keep up with you are altering the amount of air and fuel, and ignition timing, which leads to early detonation in the cylinder. On my Guzzi (a whooping 45 horsepower to the rear wheel) I can REALLY feel it when I lug her. She redlines at 7k but I've learned that nobody that rides the model I have every cruises under 4k. When I'm down around 2.5-3k and I give her too much gas, she does not accelerate any faster, and she vibrates much more (early detonation?).

Honestly, I haven't gotten enough miles on the Concours yet to know what RPMs she likes to cruise at, but I have found myself trying to keep her over 3,500 just so I have plenty of power for normal cruising (I still downshift to rocket past someone or similar... mostly for fun  ).

She redlines at 10k (0r is it 10.5k?), so I don't think I'm going to hurt her by cruising in the 3.5k to 4k range, but that's my opinion and my choice on my bike. YMMV

[tynesidebob]

Actually Kawasaki won’t let you do anything bad with their engine / reputation.
There are dual butterfly valves and an electronic brain that will ignore your throttle input if it is bad for the engine so you can’t “lug” with modern fuel injection engines.
Carburettors maybe, but not fuel injection.

[gPink]

This engine does not have knock sensors to facilitate a/f adjustments. Low grade fuel, low rpm and a hot engine may indeed cause damage. If I am proved wrong on this I will stand corrected.

[maxtog]

Actually Kawasaki won’t let you do anything bad with their engine / reputation.
There are dual butterfly valves and an electronic brain that will ignore your throttle input if it is bad for the engine so you can’t “lug” with modern fuel injection engines.
Carburettors maybe, but not fuel injection.

The C14 does have the ability to close the aux butterflies and override the throttle (lessening, not increasing throttle).  It does this to "tame" power output, control noise, and increase fuel economy (which is why most of us think it is a must to reflash the ECU to stop that insanity and give us back all that lost power and responsiveness).  But it will not prevent lugging, unfortunately.  At least it hasn't prevented me from lugging it by accident on occasion.

[VirginiaJim]

This engine does not have knock sensors to facilitate a/f adjustments. Low grade fuel, low rpm and a hot engine may indeed cause damage. If I am proved wrong on this I will stand corrected.

I'm going to agree with you on that one, Mr. Pink.

[Bagger John]

My general rule on both of mine:

25MPH - 3rd.

35MPH to 50MPH - 4th.

50 up to 60ish - 5th.

Above that - Overdrive.

One gear lower for all ranges if in heavy traffic, to accelerate out of a jam. Fuel is at least 90 octane, so no worries about knock.

[Boomer]

Since the C14 motor is so smooth, why not just select the appropriate gear for the speed your are doing.
If the engine is lugging then you are in too high a gear.
Running a lower gear will not significantly affect your MPG but it will improve engine braking and acceleration and thus will lead to you riding the bike in a much smoother way and require less gear changes when cornering. When I am on empty backroads doing 55-65Mph I will typically be in 4th or 5th. Only if the road is straight and visibility is high will I go to 6th.
If I am blitzing the twisties, then I typically run 2nd to 4th depending on how tight the curves are and on how good my sightlines are.

[connie_rider]

Generally speaking, I think I agree with John's list. Sounds pretty close to what I do.
But; I don't look at my speedo or tach and think I need to be in X gear.
I listen to/feel the motor and know if it's happy.

Like Boomer said,  "just select the appropriate gear for the speed your are doing"
"If the engine is lugging then you are in too high a gear".

(Please don't tell Boomer I agreed with him on anything)

Ride safe, Ted

[Boomer]

Like Boomer said,  "just select the appropriate gear for the speed your are doing"
"If the engine is lugging then you are in too high a gear".

(Please don't tell Boomer I agreed with him on anything)

Ride safe, Ted

AGAIN? This is becoming a habit 

[connie_rider]

You weren't supposed to see that.

Ohh, the shame, the SHAME!!   

Ride safe, Ted

[Dirtiegirtie]

So what I'm hearing is the best course of action to ensure you are not lugging your motor is to consistently run her as close to red line as possible?
 

Have a great weekend everyone. Although this is not the most active forum, I enjoy being a member.

[maxtog]

Have a great weekend everyone. Although this is not the most active forum, I enjoy being a member.

It used to be a lot more active.  But, at least it is a treasure-trove of information stored.