where should I be revving to?

[multiplicity]

I'm new to biking. Just bought a new FZ6 S2 Saturday and have a stupid newbie question. Imagine that I've already run the engine in (1000 miles) Just where should the rev counter be sitting on normal driving? I ask this because people in this forum talk about taking the bike up to 10,000 rpm etc, but even when I get to 5000, to me, it sounds as if the engine is going to explode!!! I presume that this is ok and that the FZ6 loves to be revved?

Just for an example, If i'm in a 30 mph zone at a constant 30, what gear should I be cruising in? I tend to end up even in 6th !! at about 2000 rpm. Should I really be in 4th or even 3rd at higher revs?

Cheers

 

[CanadianFZ6]

There is no rule of thumb... just ride it as it feels comfortable to you.... however, I don't recommend 10,000 rpm in first gear just riding around town. You got 5 more so use them... By the way, you can ride all day long at 10,000 rpm... the engine won't break, but I am sure your neighbours won't be too pleased....

Saying that however... 2000rpm is a way too low for any gear. I tend to ride between 4000 and 5000rpm with a gear selection appropriate for the speed limit and road I am on.

 

[reiobard]

depends on your driving intent, if you want to have available power then keep it at high revs, if you want to cruise along then keep them down.

Either way, enjoy the bike.

 

[chuckfz6ryder]

The 4k-5k seems to be good for me, but once in awhile, you just gotta twist that wrist a little and see what the bike can do. A couple of days ago, my wife was following on her ninja 500, when we got home she said "why were you going so slow?" next time she was following me, pulled away from a stop sign, I thought about what she said, ran up to about 10k, looked in the mirror, and smiled.

 

[wrightme43]

Think about it like this for a second.

Agility is the ability to change speed and direction quickly. Our gear is our final line of defense from the asphalt and cars. The idea overall is just not be there.

Your bike will be more agile if it is in its powerband. Lugging the engine at low rpms removed quick acell from your bag of tricks. It also removes engine braking from your decel.

"When I am a master of motorcycle ninjistu, I will be as the housefly. The actions of the earthly world will unfold with liquid slowness becasue they are seen a thousand times faster than I had seen them. I will react and streak away from a car as a fly flees the clumsy hand- with impunity and grace."
--Rev-D 893​

 

[bobnob]

Hi, Newbie here too. I found that after coming from a Thunderace with 5 gears I couldn't use them as I did before (no I'm not surprised).
I tended to look at 3rd for a 30 limit-4th for 40, etc. Then 6th for erm.. upto 70!

 

[moo cow]

if i'm commuting i keep it appx. 4k-6k rpms just to get better gas mileage. if i'm wanting to go for a fun ride, 6k and up and the fun begins!!

 

[Nelly]

Hi, Newbie here too. I found that after coming from a Thunderace with 5 gears I couldn't use them as I did before (no I'm not surprised).
I tended to look at 3rd for a 30 limit-4th for 40, etc. Then 6th for erm.. upto 70!

Where you from in the UK mate?

Ride the revs you are comfortable with but it is advisable to keep it in the power band. Sometimes I short shift and ride at 30 mph in 6th. Just chilling with a clear road.

Nelly

 

[reiobard]

Hi, Newbie here too. I found that after coming from a Thunderace with 5 gears I couldn't use them as I did before (no I'm not surprised).
I tended to look at 3rd for a 30 limit-4th for 40, etc. Then 6th for erm.. upto 70!

I love the thunderace, what made you go from that to the FZ6?

 

[Raid The Revenge]

I have a strange formula for this sort of thing. Basically, your COMMUTING RPM should be redline (14000 on FZ6) divided by half the gears you have (6)/2.

That's 14000/3 = 4666.

So if I have an R1 that has a redline of 13500 and 6 gears, that means it should have a COMMUTING RPM of 4500.

If the bike has 5 gears, then divide the redline by 2.5

10000 RPM / 2.5 = 4000.

It's not the perfect formula, but it hasn't failed me yet.

 

[Nelly]

I have a strange formula for this sort of thing. Basically, your COMMUTING RPM should be redline (14000 on FZ6) divided by half the gears you have (6)/2.

That's 14000/3 = 4666.

So if I have an R1 that has a redline of 13500 and 6 gears, that means it should have a COMMUTING RPM of 4500.

If the bike has 5 gears, then divide the redline by 2.5

10000 RPM / 2.5 = 4000.

It's not the perfect formula, but it hasn't failed me yet.

I would have arrived at my destination by the time I worked out the math lol. It adds fuel to the discussion and I will try on Tuesday to see how it fits with me.

Nelly

 

[CanadianFZ6]

I have a strange formula for this sort of thing. Basically, your COMMUTING RPM should be redline (14000 on FZ6) divided by half the gears you have (6)/2.

That's 14000/3 = 4666.

So if I have an R1 that has a redline of 13500 and 6 gears, that means it should have a COMMUTING RPM of 4500.

If the bike has 5 gears, then divide the redline by 2.5

10000 RPM / 2.5 = 4000.

It's not the perfect formula, but it hasn't failed me yet.

:banghead: WTF???? It's not even any kind of formula!... Failed you in what respect? Your math has no foundation or relevance? You just made it up in your head. Again, it does not make any sense and the numbers are meaningless in all respects.

You might be confusing a lot of new riders on here with your misinformation you often post.....

 

[ant_mb]

Well the math makes sence, but where it came from is another thing.

I tend to be between 4-7 thousand for the leasurly ride. Find what works best for you and use it.

 

[Rocky529]

You read about the break in period however, correct?

 

[JeffrosFZ6]

Normal driving I shift between 4-6000 rpm. Once the bike hits about 7000 it becomes another animal, fangs come out, growls and just wants to haul ass! :thumbup:

 

[HavBlue]

I guess I'm the animal of the bunch. I shift above 5,000 from any one gear to the next. I generally hold 3rd to about 45-50; 4th to about 65-70; 5th above 70 and 6th not generally below 80-85. I usually cruise the slab around 7,200.
The engine lives for RPM so why waste it.

 

[Red Wazp]

+1 to HavBlue

The bike wouldn't have a 14,000 redline if it couldn't handle it.
Keep it under 10,000 during break in- yeah right, like that's going to happen.

It's much harder on a new motor to lug it down in low rpm or hold it at a steady rpm for long peroids of time.

 

[gomd3]

you sound like me driving my DRZ400, that thing only had 5 gears and I was in 4th at 40 and 5th by 45mph. that bike was designed that way, only had a redline of about 9K (not sure since it had no tach you just had to rev until you hit the rev limiter.).

Now the Fazer, I find cruising it's perfect at 4k... if Im getting ready to over take i like keeping it around 6k so I can accelerate quickly if need be. Now if they're hot girls near by... take it to 2nd gear and keep it aroun 8k you should be fine :rockon:

 

[HavBlue]

Keep it under 10,000 during break in- yeah right, like that's going to happen.

It's much harder on a new motor to lug it down in low rpm or hold it at a steady rpm for long periods of time.

Agreed, I had mine up above 10,000 on the maiden flight home. Always broke them in the way they were going to be ridden. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

I have a strange formula for this sort of thing. Basically, your COMMUTING RPM should be redline (14000 on FZ6) divided by half the gears you have (6)/2.

That's 14000/3 = 4666.

So if I have an R1 that has a redline of 13500 and 6 gears, that means it should have a COMMUTING RPM of 4500.

If the bike has 5 gears, then divide the redline by 2.5

10000 RPM / 2.5 = 4000.

It's not the perfect formula, but it hasn't failed me yet.

You've gotta be an engineer. Jeez...that much math makes my head hurt! But I agree, I don't know where the math comes from, but the end result isn't off by much.

On another note, I went for a nice ride today and on this one stretch, slightly uphill, long straight stretch, coming out of a hard right hand, slow-speed turn, I just twisted down on it in 2nd and MAN!!! It had been a while since I'd really gotten on it like that...what a rush. It's just addicting.