1330cc How fast can I safely run my F3 for how long?

[Spyder465]

I live in Texas and there is a road around Austin called 130. The posted speed is 85 for most of it. It also happens to be about 130 miles long. My question is would you take your F3 on this road and drive the 90 mph to keep from being run over for the full 130 miles? I normally take the back roads and drive in the 50 - 65 mph range for trips. I don't mind getting on the highway and hitting 85 but this is normally short stretches.
Sorry if a question like this has been posted before. I did not find it in my quick search.

 

[BajaRon]

I'd have no problem with this. 90 mph is not that big a deal.

 

[Peter Aawen]

:agree: There are places here in Oz where we pretty much need to do that sorta speed ALL DAY, only pausing for (short-ish ) fuel stops, or we'd never get anywhere! nojoke

These Rotax engines are more than up for it! In fact, the same engines are used in other applications/platforms where they MUST run at or near their red-line revs for hours on end... and their red-line revs are somewhat higher than you see in these de-tuned versions our Spyders run, so there's PLENTY of 'excess capability' there, and you're not getting anywhere near it!

So just cast an eye over your gauges every few seconds or so, as you should be doing anyway, and watch for any spikes in the coolant temp. But be warned, like so many other things, the temp gauges on just about all ICE powered vehicles these days have been 'dumbed down' so that they don't reflect what's going on in a real-time basis (cos it might scare the un-aware owners! ) Instead, after you start & the thermostat does its thing, the temp gauge indicator rapidly rises to somewhere near the middle of the range, then sits there, never reflecting the continual albeit relatively minor changes that go on all the time due to the thermostat opening & closing; the radiator fans cutting in & out; changing power demands, gears, & throttle settings; any changes in the incline/decline; road surface variations; head/tail winds etc. et al; and only changing significantly when it's almost too late to react in time!! :yikes:

So that means that IF you haven't been continually scanning the gauges, checking your speed, etc. & watching for spikes in the temp gauge &/or engine lights, oil warnings, yada, yada, yada; you just might miss the temperature spike that means riding at any speed for even just another 30 seconds means you might need a new engine instead of just fixing a blown radiator hose or similar, topping up with coolant, and riding on that it would've meant if only you'd been scanning that gauge every 10 seconds or so & you'd seen it rapidly rising or at least pretty soon after it hit the stop!! :gaah:

So apart from doing all the things you should be doing anyway, especially when riding at speed, you should be able to just ride normally, or as someone here often posts....

Ride More, Worry Less! hyea:

 

[EdMat]

I live in Texas and there is a road around Austin called 130. The posted speed is 85 for most of it. It also happens to be about 130 miles long. My question is would you take your F3 on this road and drive the 90 mph to keep from being run over for the full 130 miles? I normally take the back roads and drive in the 50 - 65 mph range for trips. I don't mind getting on the highway and hitting 85 but this is normally short stretches.
Sorry if a question like this has been posted before. I did not find it in my quick search.

You might have to stop for fuel if doing 90 for the 130 miles.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

:agree: There are places here in Oz where we pretty much need to do that sorta speed ALL DAY, only pausing for (short-ish ) fuel stops, or we'd never get anywhere! nojoke

These Rotax engines are more than up for it! In fact, the same engines are used in other applications/platforms where they MUST run at or near their red-line revs for hours on end... and their red-line revs are somewhat higher than you see in these de-tuned versions our Spyders run, so there's PLENTY of 'excess capability' there, and you're not getting anywhere near it!

So just cast an eye over your gauges every few seconds or so, as you should be doing anyway, and watch for any spikes in the coolant temp. But be warned, like so many other things, the temp gauges on just about all ICE powered vehicles these days have been 'dumbed down' so that they don't reflect what's going on in a real-time basis (cos it might scare the un-aware owners! ) Instead, after you start & the thermostat does its thing, the temp gauge indicator rapidly rises to somewhere near the middle of the range, then sits there, never reflecting the continual albeit relatively minor changes that go on all the time due to the thermostat opening & closing; the radiator fans cutting in & out; changing power demands, gears, & throttle settings; any changes in the incline/decline; road surface variations; head/tail winds etc. et al; and only changing significantly when it's almost too late to react in time!! :yikes:

So that means that IF you haven't been continually scanning the gauges, checking your speed, etc. & watching for spikes in the temp gauge &/or engine lights, oil warnings, yada, yada, yada; you just might miss the temperature spike that means riding at any speed for even just another 30 seconds means you might need a new engine instead of just fixing a blown radiator hose or similar, topping up with coolant, and riding on that it would've meant if only you'd been scanning that gauge every 10 seconds or so & you'd seen it rapidly rising or at least pretty soon after it hit the stop!! :gaah:

So apart from doing all the things you should be doing anyway, especially when riding at speed, you should be able to just ride normally, or as someone here often posts....

Ride More, Worry Less! hyea:

Good info.



Personally though I don't like sustained speeds over 70 mph for very long. I'm relaxed at 70 but 90 would be a no go for me. I'd find an alternate route. Good to know that the 1330 could handle it though.

 

[Bfromla]

Good info.



Personally though I don't like sustained speeds over 70 mph for very long. I'm relaxed at 70 but 90 would be a no go for me. I'd find an alternate route. Good to know that the 1330 could handle it though.

:agree: :roflblack: :roflblack: opcorn: It's a TEXAS thAng opcorn: :2thumbs:

I recall a member who reported 100k & managed all of them without crossing state lines. nojoke

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

:agree: :roflblack: :roflblack: opcorn: It's a TEXAS thAng opcorn: :2thumbs:

I recall a member who reported 100k & managed all of them without crossing state lines. nojoke

Oh, I definitely get it. I'm just not much of a interstate rider. Back in the day I was. But now if we're talking riding the twisty's (which we aren't) is where I spend most of my time.
Someday I might just try some high speed hwy travel. Max speed limit out here within a 5 hour ride is at the max 65 mph. There pretty conservative in these parts.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Doesn't Rotax also make airplane engines? If that's the case and they use the same care and technology on the 1330 ACE, I feel totally confident our engines could sustain high speed prolonged riding.
My F3S runs to 4,000 RPM's at 70 mph.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Doesn't Rotax also make airplane engines? If that's the case and they use the same care and technology on the 1330 ACE, I feel totally confident our engines could sustain high speed prolonged riding.
My F3S runs to 4,000 RPM's at 70 mph.

Funnily enough, that IS the case!

And not only do "they use the same care and technology on the 1330 ACE", they even use the same 1330 motor for some of those applications!! :thumbup:

 

[troop]

Yup ... The 89t F3S gets real thirsty at anything above 75mph Several 80+ mph stints to Sturgis realized mpg's in the mid/upper 20 mpg's.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Funnily enough, that IS the case!

And not only do "they use the same care and technology on the 1330 ACE", they even use the same 1330 motor for some of those applications!! :thumbup:

Now if Harley would put their engine in an airplane, would you fly in it? LOL
Full disclosure, I've owned and loved Harleys. Still love the V-twin beat, but I like the Rotax engine a lot. Much more refined.

 

[Allen42]

I live in Texas and there is a road around Austin called 130. The posted speed is 85 for most of it. It also happens to be about 130 miles long. My question is would you take your F3 on this road and drive the 90 mph to keep from being run over for the full 130 miles? I normally take the back roads and drive in the 50 - 65 mph range for trips. I don't mind getting on the highway and hitting 85 but this is normally short stretches.
Sorry if a question like this has been posted before. I did not find it in my quick search.

I just rode that for a bit on the way back from Corpus to Dallas. I sustained 95+ for a decent while before I decided it was too windy, and I was wasting my toll money, so I switched to the access road. Nothing about the bike made me think it couldn't go all day long like that.

Speaking of miles in Texas... just that one trip was about 1200 miles, and I never left the state.

 

[ARtraveler]

I am another that does not particularly like high speeds. Above 70 is not my comfort zone either. I used to like putting along on the deserted twisties near my home at 40 mph.

However, the 1330 Rotax can run all day at those higher speeds. Just stay out of the redline zone. 60 mph usually put me at about 3500 rpms. I don't believe I ever redlined any of my seven Spyders over the years. If memory serves the redline is about 7500 on the 1330's. :bowdown:

 

[Spyder465]

Thank you everyone for the replies. Great to know the engine should be able to do this. Probably still won't as it is a little above my comfort range. Great info on the temp gauge. Might have to look at an aux of some sort.

 

[T.P.]

Your stock 1330 has a redline of 8100 RPM, Add A Dynojet PV3 and your up to 8400 RPM,
Doing the Monster route and you can be up to 9200 RPM.
I would say that most Spyder owners have never been to 8100 and never will.
T.P.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

My F3S at 70 mph spins the engine up to 4,000 Rpms. Not too bad. I'm getting used to it. At 1st I thought it felt awful busy, but now I know it's just really loafing around. I'd have no problem running at 80 mph. I just don't ride that fast. I know when we travel up in WY, SD, MT, and what not, the speed limit is like 85 but everyone is doing 90.

 

[Handyman76]

I've used a '15 RTs as a daily commuter, and 75 mph cruise is very comfortable, with many runs up to 90 or faster for a few miles. People tend to linger in the left lane here... I like the look on their faces when they see one of these flying past them.

 

[T.P.]

I'm just going to say that no matter how fast you ride, you're going to get cars, trucks and bikes on your ass going 10/15 over the posted or better.
You do have the HP and speed to get out of the way.
T.P.

 

[AstroTom]

I'm just going to say that no matter how fast you ride, you're going to get cars, trucks and bikes on your ass going 10/15 over the posted or better.
You do have the HP and speed to get out of the way.
T.P.

So true. We carried my previous bike on a lift on the back of our motorhome visiting 28 states in just under 3 years. First time I rode the freeway near the Space Coast of Florida, I came up with the saying that should be on Florida License plates. It's a bit longer than The Sunshine State. It's: If You're Going 10 Over You're Going Way Too Slow

Came home from my ride and told my wife that even though I was going 80 in a 65 zone, it felt like I was going backwards compared to most of the traffic. It's similar here in Arizona. When there's miles and miles of straight desert roads, one gets used to driving fast.

To be more on topic, I've always been one who's uncomfortable with an engine that's continuously running at higher rpms. The previous V-twin bikes of mine were 5 speeds, and I always wished for one more gear on long freeway rides. However, the bikes themselves could do those rpms all day every day, however I preferred running around 70-75 max continuously. With my 6 speed RTL Spyder, I find the bike seems at ease at a steady 80 or even 85 mph cruise. First time I've ever ridden a inline triple, not counting a friends Kawasaki 500 H1 Widowmaker in the 1970s. I'm impressed with the Rotax triple even though it doesn't float the front end as it hits the power band.

 

[ollicat]

What about our tires at these 85+ speeds?