What speed/rpm do you shift at?

[5thDementian]

When do you guys shift gears? When I shift according to the manual... it just doesn't seem right (like I'm shifting way too soon). I don't know how to best explain it.

Manual:
reeee SHIFT reeee SHIFT reeee SHIFT reeee SHIFT .... etc.

The way I hear most bikes on the street (and sounds better):
reeeeeeeeeeeee SHIFT reeeeeeeeeeeee SHIFT reeeeeeeeeeeeeee .... etc

Of course, the second way give better/faster accelleration, but is it the way it SHOULD be done? I don't want to put unneccessary (sp?) wear on my bike.

ALSO.... what cruising RPM do you drive your 500's at? Like, you're driving 45-50 on a city street... what gear are you riding in? Do you shift it up to 6 and have a low rpm or keep it in 3,4, or 5 for a higher (slightly nicer sounding) rpm?

Any input is appreciated!

[Ariain]

Whats the manual recommend? I honestly have no idea what I shift at I just do it when it feels right. =) Though with this stupid break in period I am in I of course shift at 4k which feels way to low for me Iam shifting like ree SHIFT ree SHIFT. =) Iam in 3rd gear before I get to the other side of the intersection. =)

[Jtpaintball70]

It's oh so much nicer when break in is over
I normally shift at around 7k or so... sometimes sooner, sometimes later

[Ariain]

7k is probley about where I normally shift at as well.

[halliwood]

if you follow the manual you'll shift at the right time to not hurt the bike during the 1st stage of the break-in I'm in the 2nd stage of the break-in right now 500miles-1,000miles and I shift right around 6k sometimes a little higher so it depends on how many miles you have on your bike and how much power you need.

[bumblebee]

5500 to 6500 Rpm around town/in traffic usually...I normally cruise around 5000 to 5500 in whatever gear I'm in when riding in town/traffic

[E-Rawk]

Cruising I shift at around 6.5 k or so. If I"m running a set of tight and technical twisties I keep my revs up pretty high like 7-8K RPM.

[LoopRider]

It all depends on the amount of throttle your giving it, when I'm just kinda crusing around town I'll shift at 4k-5k. But if I got to take off into traffic quickly just I'll take it to around 7k.

[HalfLiterBeater]

Around town, I usually shifted at 5,000-6,000 to save on gas.... When I was riding more aggressively, I shifted 6,000-7,000... Always kept it in top gear while cruising unless I was going to pass, or just trying to look cool.

When I was going all-out, I usually shifted just a hair before redline. I know the 500 makes 54 horsepower...but I'm not sure at what rpm. If you can find the peak power rpm, then look at your tach and figure out where it is and how far you can go past it....it makes it easier. As a rule of thumb, I usually shift 500-800 rpms past the peak, so you get deeper into the powerband in the next gear. This isn't very important in the 1-2-3 shifts, but during the 3-4-5-6 shifts it will help. The higher gears you're changing through, the higher above the peak you want to go generally, due to the increasingly tall gearing, especially if you know you have a wide spread. Such as 3-4 is a little wide...so wind 3rd out higher than you would 2nd before you shift....the idea is to keep the engine in the fat part of the powerband as much as possible to keep it pulling hard.

[suks2bu37]

Always around 6500 in town and traffic. Around 10000 on the highway. The D&D is too loud to shift higher in town (Gets the attention of the police).