Just a quick question from a newer operator - are these revs OK?

[EdMat]

So then what would lugging the engine look like? I feel that if I am in 4th gear and the RPM's are below 3K, I feel like I am lugging the engine.

So if that is not, what would be a good example of it?

Drop down to about 40 MPH in 6th gear. Try accelerating briskly. That's lugging.

4th gear should be good down to 2,500 or so.

 

[Gwolf]

You can't compare the RPMs of a Spyder to a Honda Accord.

 

[JayBros]

What do you mean I cannot lug the 1330 engine?

The ECM is programmed not to let one lug the 1330 engine. Prove this to yourself by finding a long stretch of flat road and take the bike to 60 mph in 6th gear. Slowly decrease your speed watching the tachometer and watch the RPM to see when the engine automatically downshifts to 5th gear. Repeat the procedure in 5th until the engine shifts down to 4th gear, etc., until you're doing it in second gear and the engine automatically shifts down to 1st. The ECM in this case is smarter than you think it is. To prove it another way, turn on the ECO mode and accelerate through each of the gears as you gently increase engine RPM in each gear. Try to upshift before the idiot arrow comes on and you will see that the engine won't upshift because that would put you in a situation where you would be lugging the engine. You don't really need to put it in ECO mode, just crack the throttle in 1st gear and try to upshift. When the engine won't upshift it's telling you that you haven't twisted the throttle enough to give you enough RPM so you aren't lugging it. It will do that in every gear through 5th.

 

[acdcking12]

The ECM is programmed not to let one lug the 1330 engine. Prove this to yourself by finding a long stretch of flat road and take the bike to 60 mph in 6th gear. Slowly decrease your speed watching the tachometer and watch the RPM to see when the engine automatically downshifts to 5th gear. Repeat the procedure in 5th until the engine shifts down to 4th gear, etc., until you're doing it in second gear and the engine automatically shifts down to 1st. The ECM in this case is smarter than you think it is. To prove it another way, turn on the ECO mode and accelerate through each of the gears as you gently increase engine RPM in each gear. Try to upshift before the idiot arrow comes on and you will see that the engine won't upshift because that would put you in a situation where you would be lugging the engine. You don't really need to put it in ECO mode, just crack the throttle in 1st gear and try to upshift. When the engine won't upshift it's telling you that you haven't twisted the throttle enough to give you enough RPM so you aren't lugging it. It will do that in every gear through 5th.

If I stay out of ECO mode, and do the same thing in your second example, are you saying that if the RPM's do not get high enough when I shift to the next gear, it will not shift?

 

[vondalyn]

I have not tried that but I believe that's correct, the engine won't let you shift up if you're not in high enough RPMs for that gear. I have also experienced that if you don't shift up fast enough, the nanny prevents you from redlining it.

 

[JayBros]

If I stay out of ECO mode, and do the same thing in your second example, are you saying that if the RPM's do not get high enough when I shift to the next gear, it will not shift?

Exactly correct! I mentioned the ECO mode because that mode makes a little green arrow (green at least on my RT) appear on the digital gauge that reminds you to shift up when the engine reaches the RPM upshift point. On my '14 RT-S the upshift points are about: 2nd - 1,800, 3rd - 1,950, 4th and higher - 2,200. With ECO Mode off the 4th and higher points may be just a bit higher RPMs. Someone hereon a number of years ago gave the exact points. The ones here in ECO mode are from an old BRP briefing for dealers. See the slide below.