When do you shift gears ?
 

Hi,

I recently purchased my first SV650 (first bike). I was expecting a more powerfull bike. I think it might because I tend to shift to early, usualy never go 5000 RPM.

I am just curious as to when more experienced drivers tend to shift...

thanks

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I'm on 33bhp and I tend to shift at about 8 as thats when its out of useful power, by shifting so early you're not using much of the available power.
At full power it has useable grunt right up to redline.

Chris

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

If you want to use all the bikes power use all the revs.

At 5000 you are only just getting started.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

What he said!!! What were you expecting just out of interest???

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Depends on riding style and the way you want to ride. If you are just pootling around then always shifting at 8k will just keep the engine noisy, use lots of fuel etc. Choose the highest gear that will still give you enough drive for the situation.

Motorway, 6th should always be ok at any speed above 60mph, on the Kwak i can be in 4/6th for most of my town riding if i dont stop.

If of course you are wanting lots of speed aceleration then you want a slightly lower gear that will give you a diffrent balance of revs to acceleration before you have to change again.

So it all depends on what you are doing.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I change gear.....depending. As im on 33bhp, if im really going for it, i'll change up at 7500 (8k the highest). If im dawdling, maybe change up at 5k.

Matt

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I find it really starts to pull between 7-9K

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Just wring its neck it'll go fast you'll get scared. Job Done ;)

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I never used to change gears, btw

Matt

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

What every where in 1st? That has to be rubbish on fuel economy :smt112

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Google "Peugot Speedfight 100"

Beasty machine

Twist and go

Loud exhaust due to a hole, somewhere

Rockin'

Matt

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Sounds like you have either had, or would like, a Harley :-s

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I do agree it's a bit of a beginners bike.

There are plenty of 600's with a higher power/weight ratio but I think it should be just fine in you case.

I know it's your first bike, but it does red line at 10,500 RPM so why say you've expected more power when you've only used less than half the revs.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Next time you're out bimbling about, once it has warmed up, put it in second, find a nice straight piece of empty road, ride along at 4.5k rpm and then open the throttle fully and don't change to 3rd until 10k rpm.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

You can ride at 30MPH in 6th and it isnt too bad at pulling upto 60 in that gear either imo. If im going for it take it upto 11,000 revs (red line on k3>).

:D

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Yeah like sinbad said only it may create skidmarx for a beginner or maybe you were on a Harley ;)

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Ooooo I did realise there were 500 more revs nice :cool:

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

CORRECT A+:D

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

TBH I don't think they're worth using, it seems to die off past 10k and you're better changing up. Although someone might produce a nice graph to prove me wrong.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Mine seems to have even more of a kick after about 8500 rpm too. Which is nice and its getting faster the more miles i put on, woo hoo.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

You are right, but since i have had the exhaust changed and the snorkel off it feels much more willing to rev and it does pull right upto the limiter 11500 (ive hit it on accident overtaking a couple of times woops - like slamming the brakes on :S).

Im thinking about getting it on the dyno to have a see if it is actually any better/ different, but i guess i dont know what it was before, suppose ill have to guess its the same as any other.

Edit: At 10k revs Plus it sounds ACE like a ducati in WSB now that i have the snorkel off, induction ROAR is da best... (or at least i think it does ha ha) :smt093

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I shift at redline every single day, sometimes i even get a flame out the back which is always fun..
just pay more attention to the road, because i got pulled out on today and had to emergancy brake at 70, had i been worrying about my rev needle i wouldnt of seen her and ended up starting a LyleJ down thread if all went well lol,

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I'll second that for if you want to really 'Tazz off into the distance' :D

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

2nd gear, PIN it, change at 10k, 3rd and PIN it.

You'll get all the acceleration you want.

It's not a CBR-RR or a GSXR but it can put a grin on your face!

5K is fuel economy mode really.

Cheers

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

5k and you wonder why it goes slow.....

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

As most have said it depends on what you're wanting from the journey as to when you shift. For slow-ish riding I change gear at about 5-6k RPM so the engine isn't struggling with revs that are too low. But when I want to give it the berries I keep the throttle pinned up to 10K+ RPM.

In terms of speed I reckon there isn't too much difference between the SV and a slightly older 600cc IL4 up to about a ton. I was behind a 99 T plate 600 Kwak Ninja on Monday and from 30mph to about 90-100mph ish he wasn't making any ground on me. If it wasn't for the cars (and corner) that were approaching I'd have stayed with him but his no fear attitude to riding was enough to make me back off.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

mdcvjd are you around?

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

whats the top speed you all get out of your bike? oops sorry wrong thread!

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

I've done a ton on mine but its not run in yet. Oviously this was on a private airstrip and never on a public road.

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

About 65mph at 5000rpm! :smt077

Re: When do you shift gears ?
 

Next question who uses the search function for a thread that was bought up last week?