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Shifting sweet spot....

smoky

smoky

New member
No, it doesn't move around and I think I've found it! Heeding the advice of many on this forum about shifting at higher rpms, I've been experimenting with 4k, 5k, and 6k...even running sometimes into the 7's on my RT-S and believe I've hit the spot that makes the Redman sing, hum and ooohh and ahhhhh and sip gas more prudently.

Yep, I get the best feel, the smoothest shifts and the most satisfying sounds from that 998 CC beast at 5,000 ripums. Put yourself at a traffic light; it goes green and you go zoom, 5k rpms, 25 mph, first gear..shift! Ah, so smooth and satisfying. Up to 5k and 35 mph, second gear; 5k, third gear, 45 mph. Now, fourth gear and 5k rpms, 55 mph and smoothly into fifth gear at 5k rpms and 65 mph approaching 70...humming merrily along while all those cages and rumbling two wheelers back at the light are barely out of the chocks. Your Spyder loves it and you?....you've found its sweet spot! Works for me!

With that in mind wonder if BRP will consider on new models marking the rpm guage at the 4,500 to 5,500 mark with subtle "shift" marker. Save them a lot of warranty work on clutches and you and I lots of down time and other general bitchiness. They could simply put an insert in each new owner's manual talking about proper shifting. Let's see if it happens....:bowdown:smoky
 
Adding a shift light... interesting idea! :thumbup: How would you tie it into the tach's digital reading so that it knows when to signal a shift?
Is it even possible to do that the way that they shuffle electrons around in that whole canbus thingie that they've got running things? :dontknow:
 
Bob Denman said:
Adding a shift light... interesting idea! :thumbup: How would you tie it into the tach's digital reading so that it knows when to signal a shift?
Is it even possible to do that the way that they shuffle electrons around in that whole canbus thingie that they've got running things? :dontknow:
Click to expand...

Actually it's really easy to add such a feature.... there are aftermarket kits... just tap into for RPM's and set it where you want it to light..... Probably cost you $125.
 
:agree: I've found that shifting @ 5K tends to be best (in the 2 months that we've owned our Spyder). However, I tend to stay in 4th gear until I've hit 62 or 63 MPH and let the the engine chime a tad bit over 5K. I almost always down shift while slowing down or when the RPM goes < 3K. I understand there's an software update that we'll have done next week when we have our 3000 mile service performed. Until then... keep rolling.... :doorag:
 
Bob Denman said:
Adding a shift light... interesting idea! :thumbup: How would you tie it into the tach's digital reading so that it knows when to signal a shift?
Is it even possible to do that the way that they shuffle electrons around in that whole canbus thingie that they've got running things? :dontknow:
Click to expand...

Ask Phil? cause :dontknow: :roflblack:.... where there's a will......there's a way, and if there isn't.

Find one......that's how we gotterdone when the chips were down.....many moons ago.
 
smoky said:
No, it doesn't move around and I think I've found it! Heeding the advice of many on this forum about shifting at higher rpms, I've been experimenting with 4k, 5k, and 6k...even running sometimes into the 7's on my RT-S and believe I've hit the spot that makes the Redman sing, hum and ooohh and ahhhhh and sip gas more prudently.

Yep, I get the best feel, the smoothest shifts and the most satisfying sounds from that 998 CC beast at 5,000 ripums. Put yourself at a traffic light; it goes green and you go zoom, 5k rpms, 25 mph, first gear..shift! Ah, so smooth and satisfying. Up to 5k and 35 mph, second gear; 5k, third gear, 45 mph. Now, fourth gear and 5k rpms, 55 mph and smoothly into fifth gear at 5k rpms and 65 mph approaching 70...humming merrily along while all those cages and rumbling two wheelers back at the light are barely out of the chocks. Your Spyder loves it and you?....you've found its sweet spot! Works for me!

With that in mind wonder if BRP will consider on new models marking the rpm guage at the 4,500 to 5,500 mark with subtle "shift" marker. Save them a lot of warranty work on clutches and you and I lots of down time and other general bitchiness. They could simply put an insert in each new owner's manual talking about proper shifting. Let's see if it happens....:bowdown:smoky
Click to expand...

I can't atest to the mpg portion yet but totally agree with the smoothness of a 5K shift point, just discovered it last weekend as a matter of fact. :thumbup:
 
Firefly said:
Actually it's really easy to add such a feature.... there are aftermarket kits... just tap into for RPM's and set it where you want it to light..... Probably cost you $125.
Click to expand...

I guess I was thinking more of the new and uninitiated owner, who like many of us, is steeped in low end torque 45 degree twins with big bore long strokes giving us that scinillating butt feeling when we powered out of a curve in fourth or fifth gear. Or maybe good for the new to motoring neophyte who just expects to twist and go regardless of what gear. Maybe a marking on the rpm dial at about the 5k point whould be a win win for everybody and give us something else to talk about on this worthy outlet....:bowdown:smoky
 
smoky said:
I guess I was thinking more of the new and uninitiated owner, who like many of us, is steeped in low end torque 45 degree twins with big bore long strokes giving us that scinillating butt feeling when we powered out of a curve in fourth or fifth gear. Or maybe good for the new to motoring neophyte who just expects to twist and go regardless of what gear. Maybe a marking on the rpm dial at about the 5k point whould be a win win for everybody and give us something else to talk about on this worthy outlet....:bowdown:smoky
Click to expand...
A small piece of pinstriping tape would do it.
 
I guess I really did it!!! I ran at 62 to 66 mph in 4th at 5 to5500 rpm and she ran pretty good considering I was in head winds that liked to take my head off going TO Durango and coming BACK from there!!!! Both ways tried to get it to 5th after 5500 and she dropped rpms and GROWLED!!!! And I got to 70 and 75 mph which was way to fast on back roads for my comfort!!Sooo back down to 4th and 5500 rpm. Got around 27mpg towing BRP trailer. And no doubt I was grossly overloaded, Female packing all but kitchen sink!!!nojoke and that only because I couldn't get it to fit into anything!!! :opps:
 
A shift light would be OK if it was placed to catch your periphery...but I'm not a big fan of taking my eyes off the road to watch a gauge. Get used to how the motor sounds at 5K (it will always be the same) and shift then.
 
What happens when your already in 5th cruising at 70. Would your shift light stays on all the time ????



After awhile, you will know by the sound and also the feeling you get between your legs to know when to shift. :doorag:
 
Last edited:
arntufun said:
What happens when your already in 5th cruising at 70. Would your shift light stays on all the time ????



After awhile, you will know by the sound and also the feeling you get between your legs to know when to shift. :doorag:
Click to expand...

I shift by ear and feel myself. Unless I know I'm pushing it near red line. Even then it's easy to miss...per BUDS my highest RPM was 9650. Surprised me because it didn't hit the limiter?

Posted this for anyone that may be interested in having a RED LINE indicator.

"The unit is easily adjustable using the dial on the back of the light allowing you to select between 3,000 to 12,000 RPMs. When you are at or above the desired RPM, the unit will flash indicating it is time to shift."
 
Two tachometers, a loud engine, and lots of vibration and we still need a light that tells us when to shift? Maybe it could just be connected to a cattle prod? :)
 
NancysToy said:
Two tachometers, a loud engine, and lots of vibration and we still need a light that tells us when to shift? Maybe it could just be connected to a cattle prod? :)
Click to expand...

:agree: Maybe they should put a voice message that tells you when to shift, Like the one some cars had;;

[Female voice],
Your door is ajar.:roflblack:
 
Ow!! :yikes:....Ow!! :yikes:......:shocked:

(Sweet female voice)......SHIFT you idiot!!

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:
 
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