New around these parts...

[pegasus1300]

Thanks, I read through that Saturday evening after we bought it. Answered a lot of questions, but I'm still a bit perplexed about the high RPM advice. Seems to run contradictory to everything I've ever been taught or heard.

That"s because all you have heard about is Harley or Harleyesque V Twins. This is an European V Twin originally used by Aprilia a high reving sport bike. Also remember Ducati built to rev. I never run my engine under 4000,it's sweet spot is 5000. I can cruise all day between 5 and 6000 getting 32mph at freeway speeds with my Goldwing friends in total comfort. Run that motor up don't run it at low rpm's. It is not a Harley or an Intruder VTwin. If you have to hold it in a lower gear. I only go into 5th if I am going to be at 70 or above.

 

[TomB985]

Since it's an "ESSIE"; that's where the importance of keeping the revs up actually originates...
Your SE-5 transmission has a centrifugal engagement clutch. Things have to be kept spinning at a high enough rate to keep the clutch plates from slipping.
The rough rule of thumb, is to upshift at about 5,000 rpm. That keeps things happily spinning above the 3,500 rpm level that seems to be generally accepted as "safe".
Note that when there's no load on the drivetrain (you're coasting or slowing down); the rpm levels can drop to a much lower rate, and the clutch won't slip.

Thanks. I've read a bit about the centrifugal clutch, and it seems like the computer acts to protect the clutch. Seems like engine power on takeoff is significantly restricted until the clutch locks up. Also, it appears to restrict power at low RPMs, and when you're asking for more than the clutch can handle it downshifts.

What perplexes me is how many recommend 5-6,000 RPMs for better fuel economy. If I'm tooling through town at 35 MPH, why wouldn't I want to keep RPMs around 3,500? Why keep it spinning so high?

• That"s because all you have heard about is Harley or Harleyesque V Twins. This is an European V Twin originally used by Aprilia a high reving sport bike. Also remember Ducati built to rev. I never run my engine under 4000,it's sweet spot is 5000. I can cruise all day between 5 and 6000 getting 32mph at freeway speeds with my Goldwing friends in total comfort. Run that motor up don't run it at low rpm's. It is not a Harley or an Intruder VTwin. If you have to hold it in a lower gear. I only go into 5th if I am going to be at 70 or above.​

• 
  
  Sort of...the Intruder doesn't like low RPMs at all, it tends to bog down. No tach on that one, but some quick calculations with gear and road speed, and it's not happy much below 3,000 RPMs or so. I've had a couple of sport bikes, an '05 Kawasaki Z750 and '08 GSX1300BK, and both of them would spin to 12,000 RPMs quite happily. They seemed quite happy below 5,000 RPMs though.​

 

[BoilerAnimal]

Try riding at low RPM's and check your mileage. Do the same at high RPM's and check your mileage. I thought the same as you until I did what I'm recommending to you. It made a believer out of me and I think it will out of you as well.

I regularly qet 30 to 31.5 MPG at higher RPM's. That's riding 2-up, I imagine it would be even better riding solo. Try it.

 

[Deanna777]

:congrats: and :welcome: enjoy your new :spyder2:.

Deanna

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

but I'm still a bit perplexed about the high RPM advice. Seems to run contradictory to everything I've ever been taught or heard.

That's the nature of the Rotax V-twin design. Its pedigree includes ultra light aircraft. When you take it in for servicing the tech will connect up the BUDs. One of the readouts is a histogram of rpm in 2000 rpm increments. There should be very, very, little under 2000 since that is basically just idle range. There should be a low amount in the 2000 to 4000 range. Most of the rpms, like maybe 80%, should be in the 4000 to 6000 range. Above that is OK but you'll usually be there during acceleration and maybe times of heavy pull when you need to use 4th gear. The engine doesn't like to be lugged in 5th gear. Most of us who have, or had, the 998 engine didn't shift into 5th until 65 or 70 mph. As is written in the Do's and Don'ts the 998 is quite happy to run all day in 4th gear.

You have noticed that red line is around 9000 rpm, right? That tells you something about how fast the engine is made to spin.

 

[TomB985]

Thanks guys.

For the heck of it I went out and tried BoilerAnimal's advice and kept it in 4th and cruised around 62 MPH. About 40 miles and she was ready for gas, and to my surprise I recorded the first tank yet over 30 MPG.

I don't get it, but I'll take it. Tried a tank of 87 octane tonight to see what kind of difference octane makes. Noticed an immediate difference at WOT as I came up to speed. Curious to see my fuel economy for this tank. opcorn:

 

[BoilerAnimal]

Thanks guys.

For the heck of it I went out and tried BoilerAnimal's advice and kept it in 4th and cruised around 62 MPH. About 40 miles and she was ready for gas, and to my surprise I recorded the first tank yet over 30 MPG.

I don't get it, but I'll take it. Tried a tank of 87 octane tonight to see what kind of difference octane makes. Noticed an immediate difference at WOT as I came up to speed. Curious to see my fuel economy for this tank. opcorn:

Seems to defy logic but it is what it is.

Stay away from the cheap stuff..........your Spyder will love you for it!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Thanks guys.

For the heck of it I went out and tried BoilerAnimal's advice and kept it in 4th and cruised around 62 MPH. About 40 miles and she was ready for gas, and to my surprise I recorded the first tank yet over 30 MPG.

I don't get it, but I'll take it. Tried a tank of 87 octane tonight to see what kind of difference octane makes. Noticed an immediate difference at WOT as I came up to speed. Curious to see my fuel economy for this tank. opcorn:

Gas mileage goes up and down like a kid on a trampoline. The Spyders are very sensitive to driving conditions. I had mileages ranging from a low of 13 to a high of 30 with my 2013 RT. Speed is a HUGE factor, as is head wind, number of riders, and pulling a trailer. Based on my experience I would say focusing on gas mileage is an exercise in futility because of the variability from day to day and tank to tank. In fact, there was so much variability in it I could never tell if mileage was really affected by premium vs. regular, or ethanol vs. non-ethanol.

 

[Tango]

:2excited: :congrats::welcome::shemademe_smilie:hyea: