| Author | Message | ||
     Duphuckincati |
There's been a few postings that mention riding at lower (-5000) rpm's for various reasons. I'm pretty sure that for a modern sportbike forum there's a high percentage of former and current Harley riders here and I can't help but think that old habits die hard and lower revving engines are what some are used to. So my questions are 1) Would/have you ever been attracted to/owned Japanese/Euro sporting motorcycles, 2) Do you take your 1125 over 7500 rpm much? Just wondering. | ||
| Timebandit |
1. Yes. 2. Yes. The bars are buzzing every time I ride it. People who are old enough will remember a time when the Japanese manufacturers hadn't even entered the US market, and performance motorcycling in the US was defined by "low RPM" bikes like a BSA/Triumph or a Norton, and that H-D responded to the demand for high performance imports with the XLCH. Back then even the Jap/Euro bikes had low RPMs, and you couldn't easily categorize US bikes vs. Jap/Euro bikes based on RPM. But the US motorcycling industry sure did allow that to happen by resting on it's laurels and by resisting change while the other manufacturers embraced advancing technology. I have a collection that's pretty easily split between what could be called "low RPM" bikes and "high RPM" bikes. My riding style is consistent -- ride every bike to it's limits, not to some arbitrary RPM level. None of my bikes have ever been putted around town. FWIW, I've never understood why anyone would ride any bike at a low percentage of it's RPM capabilities. To me, it makes no sense whatsoever -- unless you're just not comfortable with a bike that's got you in over your head. Just my $0.02. | ||
| Brumbear |
I ride the bike case in point or what I'm trying to say is: I was used to my thunderbird triumph 900 3cyl not the new one. When I got my lightning I constantly banged the rev limiter till I got used to the sweet spots, Then I got the ol KZ for shyts and giggles and it took a couple days to figure the I4 out again cept that ol bastid would not stop or turn to good. Then on to the CR but I will admit to being a spaz and stalling the CR when leaving the dealership  | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
1) Yes, mainly Ducatis 2) Yes, as much as possible. But I also like to ride around residential areas and past cops at low RPMs/speeds. | ||
| Stirz007 |
1) Sure - variety is the spice of life, or so I've heard 2) After riding H-D's and even the XB, pushing to higher RPM felt 'uncomfortable' (?) at first (on the 1125). Now I have trouble not bouncing off rev-limiter. This becomes even more apparent when I ride the XB - I have to watch the revs there now. (Message edited by Stirz007 on January 15, 2012) | ||
| Dannybuell |
In car terms would you rather be explosive at the beginning of your normal operating rpm range or would it be better to get explosive power at the 1/2 way and beyond mark of the engines rpm range. A tuber crawling in traffic 20mph is nice. The 1125 has no crawling potential, it is more of a clutch sliding exercise than anything. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
Though, I wouldn't say that I am a Harley faithful, a Raodglide was my first bike. A great bike on the freeway but it sucked in the city. But, to answer the question, I frequently ride my R well over 7500 and rarely ever under 5000 rpms. I bought her new in 08 when I was 31 and quickly learned that she (my R) did not like to be ridden in the lower RPM range so, I tend to oblige and keep her revved up.  | ||
| Rogue_biker |
I rarely ever rev my 1125R above 7,500 RPM unless I'm passing. I only ride like that when I go out in the country. In the city, I rev it up to 5k-6k RPM and all is well. If I wanted to go faster, then 7.5k RPM and that's pretty fast in the city/suburb type environment. I also have a VFR800 and that I rev to 8k-9k RPM regulary. It needs those revs to move fast enough for me. Although normal shift points on the VFR800 for me is about 6k-7k RPM. My point is, on the 1125R, with its power to weight ratio and engine size, I don't need to rev it past 6.5k RPM to be going plenty fast in an urban environment. If I were to rev it out to near redline often, I would end up in jail or dead. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Im on the same page as rogue. I make a point to wring it out every now and then but its tough to ride high rpm in the city. | ||
| Duphuckincati |
I'm in the boonies so almost no in-town riding for me, and am 95% of the time in the 4500-7500 rpm range with redlining from time to time, and very much appreciate the beautiful mid-range these produce. | ||
| Fio835 |
2.) 5k and up. Barely ever go below that. My favorite is 2nd gear WOT Pull to 9k. Screams. I had a sportser prior to my 08 1125 so you can see where I was used to low rpms. When I got the bike and the more I rode it, I realized that this is an engine that needs to be revved and is much happier at high rpms. 1.) The Triumph Daytona 675 has always caught my eye. IDK if I could ever get one after having an 1125, NARROW NARROW BIKE | ||
| Timebandit |
I'm in the boonies so almost no in-town riding for me, and am 95% of the time in the 4500-7500 rpm range with redlining from time to time, and very much appreciate the beautiful mid-range these produce. ^^^ Yes. I really like the bike over 6k. | ||
| Dhays1775 |
I do a fair bit of in town riding, and I don't like it. most of the time, I stay in first until about 45MPH. Once I'm out, I keep it above 5500 the whole time. My CR loves the revs! The first time I went from my XB to the CR, I banged the rev limiter three times in three gears. It took a little getting used to. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Nitro has a video on utube where he is wringing it out on a "dirt" road. Very impressive. | ||
| Syonyk |
1. Sure, I have nothing against Japanese/Euro bikes, and would probably own a BMW at this point if I didn't have the 1125. 2. Not really. I mostly commute on mine, or do touring with my gf. If I've got a nice open onramp and the engine is warm I'll pull through the rev limiter, but in general I'm under 6k. No real reason to rev it hard when I've got traffic in front of me. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I learned years ago to ride in the middle(ish) area of the tach, regardless of whether that area said "2000", or "5000". Most engines live most happily in the middle of their rev bands. I try not to read the numbers; I just glance at where the pointer is on the gauge face. | ||
| Jgarner99 |
Ratbuell is right. It's a matter of feel, and most engines are happy about halfway up the dial, regardless of what the numbers on the dial are. Try it out: Most modern engines, if run under load in the lower third of their rev band, are very unhappy and make rumbling noises to let you know so. Plus, throttle response is slow. On the other hand, when revved in the upper 20-30% of their rev range, most engines vibrate and/or feel "busy" in ways that let you know a lot of wear-and-tear is happening. Plus, you're pretty close to tapped out and there's not much left, unless you upshift. Personally, I've had several bikes that didn't even have tachs. Never missed 'em, either. The feel of the motor tells you everything you need to know (on the street, anyway). | ||
| Buell_headred |
I completely agree with Jgarner99. My bike is nowhere near stock, but still gets this "choppy" feeling between 3 and 4k. It always makes me feel like i'm about to run out of gas? A hard wrist twist at anything below 3k revs (which was my favorite thing to do with my xb12r) usually gives out a *backfire from the airbox (as if my bike is getting angry at me for making her work too hard) and isn't too comfy for my low-parts either. But once I pass 4k, everything becomes easy breezy until the upper register. Easy riding, if even possible, never goes over 4.5k for me.. my d&d makes people uneasy so i tend to keep "low". When I decide to open up the throttle, I rarely take it past 8.5k- anything higher than that feels unnecessary. Unfortunately, I have to leave the wonderful open roads of the suburbs into a city cluster of unintelligent drivers. Im sure you all can relate.. Is there anyone else that rides/rode an XB and switched to the 1125 and felt the uncontrollable desire to test out the VacAssist slipper? I remember playing with it for hours the first few days I had the bike. To me, the slipper on the 1125 performs much better than the ones on other metric bikes- the ZX models for example, I never could work them right. Apart from all that, I just want to say thanks to Mr. Buell himself. Of all the bikes I've ever been on, my first was a Firebolt, and current R have been the best. All the others were/are too "noisy" and stiff. My only complaint is getting them started up in the cold.. Big pain in the butt ever since the bike cant "fit" in the garage. | ||
| Jdugger |
> It's a matter of feel, and most engines are happy about halfway up the dial, regardless of what the numbers on the dial are. Man, you should have seen the rash of shit I got here for suggesting this very concept back in '08 when the 1125r first came out. The usual retort was something akin to "suggesting I should use up half of the motor's capacity just to keep it smooth is stupid." | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I very rarely have mine over 7500rpm. When commuting, I'm usually in the 3500-5000rpm range. When riding the backroads, I usually keep it between 5000-7500rpm. When I just feel like tear-assing down a straightaway, I'll run it up to redline in several gears but that doesn't happen very often. Quite frankly, the 1125 doesn't feel like it makes enough extra power in the top few thousand RPM compared to the midrange to justify spending much time there. Now my smaller-displacement bikes, which have much less torque and a much bigger difference between the power in the mid-range and the power up top, get revved out to redline a lot more frequently. | ||
| Timebandit |
The usual retort was something akin to "suggesting I should use up half of the motor's capacity just to keep it smooth is stupid." have things changed at all? from what I'm reading, many people still don't keep the motor in that part of the powerband that gives you instantaneous response when you wrap the throttle. | ||
| Jdugger |
> have things changed at all? To the extent I now see a number of owners acknowledging the bike seems best in the 5-7k RPM range, I think so. Anyone else notice the tach is pointing straight forward at 6k and just how awesome this motor is at that RPM? Smooth, responsive, powerful... | ||
| Dannybuell |
The bike is ready to answer fast enough for street riding at 4,000rpm. If I need more 'go' I just hold the gears longer. | ||
| Whistler |
There is a noticeable increase in giddy up at the 5,000 mark. Always reminds me of this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xkYtWXqSfI | ||
| Dannybuell |
Whistler ~ LOL. exactly. | ||
| Timebandit |
"We want to avoid any Imperial entanglements." -- Obi Wan Kenobi (to me, it sounds like they were trying to outrun the cops.) (Message edited by timebandit on January 19, 2012) | ||
| Skntpig |
Yes Yes, Often | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Nope. Never had the bike above 6k. | ||
| Stirz007 |
 You got to unleash the beast. Got six gears, use 'em all.... | ||
| Stirz007 |
And mine goes to 11, because 10 isn't loud enough.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
It's not that 10 isn't loud enough, but 11 is...well...it's one more, isn't it? I guess when you have armadillos in your trousers... |
