At what rpm do you change gear?

[badsaboy]

dont judge the question..... im a new rider on my first bike!!!!!

I normally change between 6-8k. when giving it a bit of welly then about 9500.

when do you change in first and if you going for a quick run where do you change?

[achapman01]

Redline everytime my friend

[Philbo]

Wherever you feel like, sounds like you're changing in perfectly reasonable "places". There is little to be gained by taking the SV to the redline, it runs out of puff before then.

[jamesterror]

as Phil said its down to reasonable places, if your cruising 4/5k revs I sometimes changed, giving it the beans about 10k

[gruntygiggles]

Well, my cbr400rr redlines at 14,500 so, for normal bimble riding, I change up a gear at between 7-9, for spirited riding, normally on or just before the red line as these bikes are built for it, they are called screamers for a reason and 11-13 is the real power band on it, so spirited riding I tend to stick in third right up the top of the revs and the bike handles better and behaves better just rolling on and off the throttle.

Only time I cruise at 4.5-5 is on a motorway or long stretches of road as it doesn't actually give good feedback that low in the rev range.

So, I would say it depends on the bike and is more to do with how the engine sounds and handles. If everything feels smooth and you're revving the engine, not labouring it, you're doing alright.

I don't think one rule fits all for this.

[fizzwheel]

I normally change between 6-8k. when giving it a bit of welly then about 9500.

Thats pretty much how I used to ride my SV. As said above no point banging it off the rev limiter as it starts to run out of puff around the 9000rpm mark anyway.

[Stuuk1]

I dont think ive ever looked at my rev counter... I just change up when it sounds like it is time to. You'll learn.

Although I'd know when I redline it and I never get that far, no point.

[TamSV]

I've got no idea - I'll need to look next time! I just go by sound and feel and the mood I'm in. I'm not often bothering the redline though.

It matters more on some bikes/smaller engines that don't pull as well as the SV or have pronounced power bands. The RD125LC I had as a lad had to be kept above 7k at all times or it turned into a pushbike.

[andrewsmith]

it all depends upon the situation.
Pulling away its usually around 8-9k and short shifting around what fizz has said

[missyburd]

I dont think ive ever looked at my rev counter... I just change up when it sounds like it is time to. You'll learn.

What I was going to say.

I know I only have my little 125 but since I smashed my rev counter I find I actually prefer it not being there as I was looking at it too much really. Now I just change gear by listening in, works fine for me.

I think riding pillion on the back of YC for so long really helped my ears to tune into the sound of gear changes.

[ChrisSV]

If im just cruising i change between 4 and 5, if i wanna get a move on about 8 (cause im on 33bhp so it runs outta puff about then)

[Robbo850]

Sort shift is good, saves fuel saves engine wear and makes the bike predictable. Ride smooth because smooth is KING. Beats throttle brake every time.:D

[missyburd]

Probs a daft question but what is "sort shift"?

[gruntygiggles]

Probs a daft question but what is "sort shift"?

I think , just changing up at low revs. Like, If I am at a really nice roundabout, but there are red lights so I have to start from scratch, but want to have fun and need second gear, I'll pull away in first, but within a few feet, change up to second so that I can go round the roundabout and have fun without having to change gear whilst leant over.

That's just what I think though, so wait for the experienced to come and either confirm or correct me. :-)

[yorkie_chris]

Change up where it suits. rev limiter or below is good


Short shifting is any shift where you change up before point of maximum power.

[missyburd]

Short shifting is any shift where you change up before point of maximum power.
Oh short shifting! Makes sense, know what that is. And GG, what you describe in that first bit of your post about roundabouts, that's what I do anyway so I guess I short shift :-P

[GrahamB]

Anywhere between 5k and 11k, depending on circumstances. And if you change exhaust cams, fit a full Leo Vince and add 46mm throttle bodies from a 916, it will rev to redline just fine :p

[badsaboy]

what ive found is that if i give it some until about 10k it seems alot quicker and alot easier to move up.
i still find that im slow at pull away. im faster than the cars but not quicker than the scooters next to me. i dont go above 6k in first.

[rossinio]

One bounce off the redline then change :) In reality I change about 9k usually, which drops it down to the peak of the powerband ready for next gear..

[BBadger]

not quicker than the scooters next to me. i dont go above 6k in first.
Then give it abit more to about 8k and keep shifting around there on traffic light gp and you'll be ahead of most things

[Swin]

Never really looked before, I tend to do it by ear, but I made a point of doing so after leaving work Sunday.
I change at around 5k in "normal" mode, ie away from lights, no reason to rush etc.
More than that if I'm pushing ahead I guess ;)

[punyXpress]

As Mr Micawber said in Pickwick Papers:
" Gearchange at valvebounce minus 1 = deep joy, Gearchange at valvebounce plus 1 = one lunched engine. "

[ThEGr33k]

If im just riding easy probably about 4-5K, if im going for it 8-10k. Depends though as out of corners sometimes short shifting means you have just the right power, not too much... My bike is a little different though.

[ophic]

what ive found is that if i give it some until about 10k it seems alot quicker and alot easier to move up.
i still find that im slow at pull away. im faster than the cars but not quicker than the scooters next to me. i dont go above 6k in first.
To pull away faster, slip the clutch at a higher rpm. Scooters have automatic transmission so all they have to do is whop the throttle open and it accelerates as fast as it can. Proper bikes take a bit more skill to launch fast. A scooter really shouldn't be able to beat you though.

[tom46]

In standard mode i change 5-8k :cool:
in mission mode i change @ 10-11k :smt050
on the injection thier is a nasty flat spot (on standard fueling) about 5-6k :pale:so dont try major acceleration bellow 6k :smt018 & peak power is @ 10half k so thiers no point going over that!!!!:confused:

Off the lights i find about 4k foot on back brake clutch just at start of bite:smt082 On green slip out clutch & let go of brake throttle on the stop lean over tank change into 2nd about 9k to bring the front down !!!:smt071

hope this helps & if im doing it wrong pls let me know guys :rolleyes:

[ophic]

peak power is @ 10half k so thiers no point going over that!!!!:confused:
peak power is at 9k but there is every point going past that. It varies between bikes but fastest acceleration on the SV is to redline it in every gear. It's to do with the relevant gear ratios and the time taken to carry out the gear change - where peak power is, is only one of the factors.

[toby_smith]

In standard mode i change 5-8k :cool:
in mission mode i change @ 10-11k :smt050
on the injection thier is a nasty flat spot (on standard fueling) about 5-6k :pale:so dont try major acceleration bellow 6k :smt018 & peak power is @ 10half k so thiers no point going over that!!!!:confused:

Off the lights i find about 4k foot on back brake clutch just at start of bite:smt082 On green slip out clutch & let go of brake throttle on the stop lean over tank change into 2nd about 9k to bring the front down !!!:smt071

hope this helps & if im doing it wrong pls let me know guys :rolleyes:

You have the same helmet as me. That is all

[tom46]

peak power is at 9k but there is every point going past that. It varies between bikes but fastest acceleration on the SV is to redline it in every gear. It's to do with the relevant gear ratios and the time taken to carry out the gear change - where peak power is, is only one of the factors.

had never thought of it like that !!!! mmmmmm yeah i stand corrected :smt103 !!!

[gruntygiggles]

Well, this thread made me think about what I do a bit more, so yesterday, after the rear locking up, I took a bit more notice. I normally just go by sounds and feel, but looking at the rev counter, it transpires that I change up at about 7k for town riding when just pootling about, riding at around 5k. There is a little flat spot on my CBR at 7-8k. If I sit at 7-8k and want to make an overtake, it won't give me enough to be able to accelerate around the vehicle quickly enough for some gaps that would otherwise be safe. It will start to accelerate, then hit the flat spot which is not what you need when overtaking. For this reason, I stick in a lower gear and 9k+ if waiting for an overtake or when making progress as it's always in the powerband and extremely responsive. Means overtakes are fast and safe.

I think threads like this are great for us newbies as reminds us to keep an eye on what we are doing!

[pookie]

3k..the more i read the more I see I could get more out of my bike

[gruntygiggles]

3k..the more i read the more I see I could get more out of my bike


You change up at 3k? Wow....I had no idea the SV had that much torque....if I did that on my little screamer it would give up on me.

I'd like to try and ride other bikes to see the difference in torque, powerbands, cruising revs etc

[Quiff Wichard]

I never change gear when riding.. I find wearing my leathers best and trying to pop some jeans and a t shirt on might be tricky..