SHIFT POINTS ON MY 2012 SPYDER RTS SM5

[Questions]

Good afternoon, I'm new to spyder ownership and recently purchased a 2012 spyder rts sm5. Im used to honda motorcycles and their shift points but this engine is more high reving. Dealer told me shift points at about 4,000 rpm. This seems reasonable in gears 1-4 but too low from gear 4-5. Im hard of hearing so i depend on tach. Seems like I could stay in 4th longer but I would be over 60 mph. Is that correct? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Jim&Teresa]

Look at this link. http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?41346-quot-Do-s-and-Do-Nots-quot-for-new-Spyder-owners&referrerid=12858



Hope it helps! Enjoy your ryde

[bcoulter19]

pretty much the shift points are at 5,000 rpm or above on all shifts. you want your rpm's to be above 4,000 rpm after the shift. This is what I have always gone by.

Bill

[bcoulter19]

and going into 5th gear at 60 or above is about right.

[DrewNJ]

Shift up at any rpm you want, typically between 5k and red line. You have an SM not an SE so its not as critical. A good happy cruise rpm is 4k-5k but obviously your going to be higher than that on the highway. However, there is also no reason to have the motor screaming along at high revs when low speed cruising through town either.
The SM has no issues cruising around between 3.5k-4k, especially at low speed, very light throttle limp alongs.
I'm usually cruising in 4th til I hit the mid 50's then go to 5th. If its hilly I might run a gear numerically lower.

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[ARtraveler]

The 5000-5500 shift points going up seem to work very well. I find that I do not use fifth gear unless I am riding 65 mph or faster. In town--seldom get out of second. It is different from what you are used to on two wheels, but you get used to it after a while.

[SpyderAnn01]

On both my 2010 & 2013 RT SM5s I shifted at 5,000 - 5,500 rpm.

[NancysToy]

Shift as high (or low) as you want (up to the redline or rev limiter). The 4K number is a minimum for the SE...and it is actually a bit too low. I say don't shift an SE below 4,500. The threshold for lockup on the clutch is 3,200 +/- 200 so you don't want to drop below 3,500 after the shift. For the SM like you have, there really are no limits. You don't want to lug the engine, so if it seems to labor (or even knocks) raise the shift point. The Spyder is a lot happier above 5K. Once you tap that extra response and horsepower it is hard to make yourself shift much below 6 or 7 thousand. JMHO

[Bob Denman]

Since it's not an "ESSIE"; shift it wherever you (and the bike) feel most comfortable.
There's no minimum rpm required by the clutching system...

[Can-Am Poogs]

Shift as high (or low) as you want (up to the redline or rev limiter). The 4K number is a minimum for the SE...and it is actually a bit too low. I say don't shift an SE below 4,500. The threshold for lockup on the clutch is 3,200 +/- 200 so you don't want to drop below 3,500 after the shift. For the SM like you have, there really are no limits. You don't want to lug the engine, so if it seems to labor (or even knocks) raise the shift point. The Spyder is a lot happier above 5K. Once you tap that extra response and horsepower it is hard to make yourself shift much below 6 or 7 thousand. JMHO

Agree 100 percent. I have the same bike and year. Typically I shift between 3500 and 4500 to match my style of driving. BUT, I have gone toe to toe with the odd sport car of a red light who thought they could burn by me and and cut me off on the lane change. Not a chance, very high rpm shift and laughing my ass off when they change lanes behind me in their $60,000 cars. I have also changed gears at ridiculously low rpm under gentle acceleration when my wife is riding two up. Shift where ever it feels right.



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[Magdave]

I like shifting at 6k and up and so does my Spyder

[Highwayman2013]

My wife up shifts her Essie at 6,000. The V twin really likes rpms it does't have a lot of low end torque.

[Bob Denman]

The new 1330s are torquers...
I've been playing around with the shift rpms, and have found that you can shift from 1st, to 2nd, to 3rd as low as 2,000 rpm
3rd to 4th, to 5th at about 2300 rpm
and you can get into 6th as low as 2500 rpm.