At what rpm do you change gear?

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?

Redline everytime my friend

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]

Originally Posted by badsaboy

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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.