Hey everyone, I was just wondering what RPM everyone is shifting at for their causal day to day riding? Also, what RPM do you usually cruise at? This thing has power everywhere, so its hard to tell sometimes if I'm lugging the engine or not. I usually cruise around 3500 - 4k RPM street and 4.7 - 5k on highway, and shift around 5-6K rpm. Am i babying the bike too much?

I think I'm similar. I rarely redline my bikes, even back when I was racing.
On my recent track day on a very tight track I was only getting to 7500 in 3rd gear. And that was plenty fast for that track. My bike currently is approaching 84,000 miles.

Mad

For gentle cruising, I think I was shifting at about 3500 rpm. 3000 rpm was all I needed just to zoom down the street and in most cases, if I need to pick up a little speed quick, just turn the throttle. I don't think 2500 rpm is even too low as long as you're steady on the throttle and accelerate gentlty when you need to. My Gen1 accelerated smoothly at WOT from 3000 rpm in any gear at any throttle position. The engine was even smooth at WOT from 2000 rpm in 6th gear after some tuning. If you ask me, shifting at 5000 rpm or higher is sport or race riding but I wouldn't let that stop you from doing it if you enjoy it. I think running the engine at all rpm as much as possible is a good thing. In the end, the engine wears according to how it's used most of the time but I'd like to think I wear it as evenly as possible so it runs as freely at all rpm.

If you lug the motor, you'll feel it jerk. I'm not saying running the engine at 2000 rpm on a routine basis is a great idea but I don't think it harms a thing if you just need to purr along sometimes and you accelerate gradually when you need to get going again. ...but as mentioned, I had mine accelerating smooth from 2000 rpm at WOT...just so I knew it could do it...not that I would ever probably need to do it in 6th gear...maybe in lower gears though. LOL I rarely rode the bike at 2000 rpm except to putter down an alley or something.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/22/2023 @ 12:17 PM *

Set to big screen, watch the tach, listen to the engine. Slow riding and no lugging of engine. Hope it helps.

You know...what is the technical cause of lugging? Anyone who's experienced lugging knows what it is. But why does an engine lug?

I think "well, it's a matter of having the throttle beyond the engine's ability to combust effectively". But then I think "it's an air pump" so that doesn't make sense, a (NA) cylinder is only going to pull in as much charge as it does at any point.

From the mechanical sense, I get that it's a straining the engine. But then I think why does it lug and why not just not accelerate any more rapidly but smoothly? But it's almost like stalling out a lawn mower in overgrown lawn, except lugging isn't stalling (or is it...?) It's also almost like there's pre-ignition or something.

But it's almost like stalling out a lawn mower in overgrown lawn, except lugging isn't stalling (or is it...?)

I can't say for sure what causes it but I think you're onto it with each of your comments, especially the last. I have a feeling lugging is caused by a lack of momentum in the engine. The weight of the bike and rider and even the weight of the turning engine parts exceeds the required power being produced by the engine. The opposite effect is achieved by running the engine at high rpm. You have a bunch of extra power then.

and as you know, lugging is almost stalling. The engine will stall if it lugs hard enough. Your lawnmower analogy is right on.

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/1/2023 @ 4:39 PM *

Lug is having an rpm too low for the gear ratio. The pull at the IAP will knock the engine with a heavy throttle load and too low an rpm.

A CR trans is called that for its Close Ratio for more of 1st gear close to matching 2nd. Where going into a corner, street 1st would rev too high. The CR gears are a little taller to keep the rpm lower at that sweet spot. If using 2nd in the corner, it's way too low in rpm, you want to find a taller gear like a CR gives.