Shift rpms and Fuel Economy...

[MRH]

I think that would have to fall into the realm of "common sense"...
You probably wouldn't find anybody who is too sympathetic if you tried running highway speeds in first gear...
:yikes:

Honestly, not a fair answer. Needless to say, I wouldn't push it into the red, but asking what the higher end of safe RPMs is just as good a question as asking about the lower end.

Common sense would have put me shifting up around 3000, which is where I started, and that was after I was told to use "common sense" by my dealer.

 

[Bob Denman]

I would think that if you stay in that 4,000 to 6,000 rpm range; you're good to go! :2thumbs:

 

[Pennyrick]

What does the other side of this questions look like? We've done a great job of discussing keeping RPM's up, but I'm still a little unclear on the other side of the equation.

What is the high end of the RPM scale that you can ride at for an extended period of time without risking damage to the engine on that side? I don't tend to be much over 6000, but don't know if 7000 or even 8000 is a safe number, or not.

For the most part I try to be between about 4500 and 6000, and usually take the canyons in 3rd gear, or in 2nd if the curves are particularly tight (shifting at every curve just gets to be a bit much, so I try to keep a good balance).

Where are the upper limits?

Somewhere on here someone posted the powerband chart that showed when the torque and horsepower curve begins descending on the Rotax engine. If my memory serves I think that happens somewhere around 6,800 rpm for torque and about 7,000 for hp. So if the engine runs out of the power band and it really isn't increasing anything dramatically except engine speed, what is the point of watching the tach climb into the eights and nines?

 

[Bob Denman]

Idle entertainlment!

 

[NancysToy]

Idle entertainlment!

No, that's at the other end of the tach. :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

pps: :roflblack: :thumbup:

 

[Flanker]

Well this is very interesting... :dontknow:
I have finally bit the bullet and moved my shift-points out of the basement. Largely due to the recent discussions regarding potential clutch damage for not allowing it to get locked-up fully... :yikes:
I've been shifting at 4000rpm and downshifting when rpms levels drop to about 3200...
...And I'm STILL getting almost 34pmg! :thumbup:
I have seen the light... :bowdown:

Whoa there pardner! Better watch that brutal acceleration with shift points that high.....................might break a blood vessel in your eye (from acceleration induced ocular flattening). Be cool with the stoppies too! :joke: I routinely shift around 5500-6000; unless I want to reef on it more, or need to get out of the way more quickly (pulling/merging into traffic) Have to admit I pay no attention to downshift points (by sound mostly) nor do I watch fuel economy.

 

[Bob Denman]

Oh; it gets better...
Since that early post; I've raised the shifting points to about 4800 rpm, and am keeping the revs up to at least 4000 rpm at all times.
There's been a drop in fuel economy, but I'd rather by gas than clutch plates! :thumbup:

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

Oh; it gets better...
Since that early post; I've raised the shifting points to about 4800 rpm, and am keeping the revs up to at least 4000 rpm at all times.
There's been a drop in fuel economy, but I'd rather by gas than clutch plates! :thumbup:

Now that's what you call riding it like you stole it! :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack:


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Bob Denman]

I've always been a "low and slow" kind of guy...
My Grampa Denman used to be the sought-after GENIUS around here when somebody needed backhoe work...
He never ran his Case 580 above a fast idle. , yet he regularly perfomred magic with that machine! Pure poetry in motion... :bowdown::bowdown:
I was at least smart enough to pay attention to what I saw whenver I was around him...
So these machines are a definite step outside of my comfort zone; I'm adapting! :thumbup:

 

[Flanker]

Under powered? :hun: 106 factory rated horse out of a 998 V twin is pretty respectable, given the engine design and RPM limit (largely due to the engine design). I had a 1980 Suzuki GS1100 16 valve inline four. Factory rated at 110 HP; redline was 9000 RPM. After an 1198 kit, cams, 33mm smooth bore Mikunis, and a 4 into 1................it was likely in the 125-130 HP range. So I have quite a bit of respect for BRP/Rotax for getting what they have out of a V twin, it's certainly lighter and more compact than the Suzuki four. The two biggest things working against the Spyder are it's weight and frontal area. As anyone who's superficially familiar with my posts on power and Spyders is aware; I'd like a Spyder with 200 + HP, a 6 spd tranny, 125 lbs less weight, and defeatable traction control and VSS. Having said that......................I really like my RSS, babes dig it, it's a lot of fun, comfortable, haven't had any problems so far, and is faster than most cars on the road. Did I mention babes dig it?? :joke: If I hit the lottery (been playin' that for 30 years without success), I WILL find a shop to stuff my ZX14 motor and tranny into the Spyder, convert it to chain drive, and figure out a way to shut that nanny :cus: off. Until then it's still a fun ride! It'll just be MORE fun afterwards! :yes: