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Ridenusa4l
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 02:30 pm: | 
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buellfanatic,
ive had mine to 10k in 6th= about 170mph muahahahaha
Jake
btw- theres 10,500 rpms to play with lol |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 03:55 pm: |
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6th gear is overdrive for freeway speed pure and simple. That's is the only time that it makes sense to use it.
The bike does feel sluggish at sub-4,000 RPM versus higher in the rev range. It's not sluggish when you compare sub-4,000 RPM acceleration to say a 4-wheel vehicle. It's all relative.
I agree that will Buellfanatic, 4,000 RPM is just about my downshift point as well.
Also 92 MPH in 2nd is about where the rev limiter kicks in...
Everyone is different, but if I was running such low RPMS around, I'd just get in my truck.
Scooters are deathtraps cause you don't have the power to escape a bad situation. I don't see the difference when you are running the 1125r at 50mph in 6th gear. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 05:54 pm: |
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I'm having a hard time imagining a scenario where going WOT would be the safest way out.
Enlighten me?
At the same time, do you keep your truck in second or third gear unless you're on the freeway just in case?
(Message edited by xl1200r on June 18, 2009) |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 06:45 pm: |
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Who ever stated WOT is the safest way out?
I personally believe that in general brisk and immediate acceleration (as opposed to slowing down) is the best answer for the cagers. Thus, keeping the motor in the "happy zone" is preferable.
It's not too difficult to cruise between the 4 and 5K RPM where you have ample juice on tap and at the same time you certainly aren't straining the engine.
The motor is designed to be revved and revved often--hence the 10,500 RPM redline. I don't think short-shifting the bike is healthy at all for a high performance motor. That's my opinion. |
Bob_thompson
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 07:21 pm: |
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After what I said I'm with you on this one Harlan(Fresno). Many times you can accelerate away from potential danger with brisk moves. I still cruise a little lower and when I see danger coming I usually drop a gear or two to be ready for any bad moves from others. Along those lines I also always stay away from paralleling another vehicle and either move ahead or drop back somewhat. When doing my canyon chasing I always "cruise" in the power zone(5000-6500), with an occasional burst to near redline for fun and also always with two fingers on the brake lever for that unknown event, like a deer or cow to jump out. All good practices I do believe. And stay alert! Bob |
Ducdood9
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 07:36 pm: |
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Guys that never run below 4000 rpm , set your Idle to 4500rpm problem solved?
You might be surprised just how often you really are below 4000. |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 07:42 pm: |
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Guys that never run below 4000 rpm
Uhh...where did anyone state they never run below 4000 rpm? |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 09:44 am: |
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I personally believe that in general brisk and immediate acceleration (as opposed to slowing down) is the best answer for the cagers.
Right, so next time someone makes a left in front of me, I'll be sure to gas it to get out of danger. The logic makes no sense.
Trust me, there have been plenty of instances where I've gassed the bike hard to "get out of danger" with an idiot driver... but I can't think of a single time where it was neccesary and not just me blowing off some steam and trying to convey to the driver my displeasure with them through my right wrist.
Short-shifting never hurt anyone.
Ride how you like - we just have some fundamnetal differences on technique, likely related to personality traits, lol. Lets just all stay safe out there while having fun.
BTW - anyone want to point me in the right direction for learning how to wheelie? I've heard so many people that 3rd gear around 6k rpm, you can whack the gas it'll lift... but mine never seems to do it. Maybe I'm just a wuss? |
Carbonbigfoot
| | Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 12:06 pm: |
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Ride how you like - we just have some fundamental differences on technique
+1 Ride how you want to ride.
Well stated.
R |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 02:05 pm: |
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in general
Please re-read, IN GENERAL speed is an asset in normal traffic scenarios. Of course, there are some spots where that doesn't apply. There are few absolutes in this world.
That's pretty impressive that you have never felt it was absolutely necessary to gas the bike to get out of a sticky situation. I venture to say you are rather unique. |
T_man
| | Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:29 pm: |
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XL1200R: I've had more than my share of 1000cc+ superbikes and NONE of them have had the outright grunt to wheelie off the throttle in 3rd gear. No BS. This leads me to one of two conclusions: 1125R/CR riders that claim effortless 3rd gear power wheelies are simply telling tall tales OR some of these (modified) bikes actually have the balls to pull it off. Know this though; I own a 1125R. I know how to wheelie a bike. Mine (stock) doesn't wheelie in 3rd. Take that as an honest appraisal. IF you truly want to pull a nice phat one -snap it up in 1st (off the throttle at say 4k) quickly powershift into second and ride the torque curve on the balance point until you either want to touch it down OR powershift into 3rd! Repeat shifting as desired. Be prepared for your front tire to smoke when it touches back down if you've shifted into anything over 3rd. I hope this sheds a little realism on the subject and have fun! |
Ducdood9
| | Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 11:34 pm: |
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Xl1200r
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:03 am: |
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I venture to say you are rather unique.
That's what my mom tells me... |
Bearly
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:09 am: |
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I rolling up to a stop sign one night in north Phoenix trying to remember which way I was supposed to go from there. I glanced in the mirror an noticed a car coming up behind me, which was great cause it would help me see the street sign right at the stop sign in this dark neighborhood. I came to a stop to a stop at the intersection heard a fast moving car even with my helmet on over my supertrapp. I looked back in the rear view mirror to see that same car's head lights getting further apart very quickly. I shoved the bike over to the right, hit the gas and let out the clutch quickly. The front tire lofted high as wheelies off right around the stop sign post with as I remember, both feet off the pegs.
That car, an old mid seventies Camaro, rolled right through the stop sign, right over the spot where I had been a second before at about 50mph. Still rolling I made a quick left and gave chase to give this idiot, a piece of my mind. When I arrived next to the drivers door within reach of his little neck, I found two wasted teenagers with red glazed eyes, mouths hung open in amazment that their was a man on a motorcycle almost in the car with them. All I really accomplished was to make myself deaf screaming inside my helmet.
So yes I've used power to escape a dangerous situation. At the time I was on a POS. KLR650 which I think only had 34 horse power at full song. So I probably only used a few to save myself.
It's a fluid invironment. I'm sure there is a story out there where only a stoppy would save you!
:-) |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:28 am: |
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Ok, Bearly, but you used power once you were at a stop - this isn't an example where you left the bike, while in motion, in a lower gear to keep the revs up.
I can only think of two instances where power would be the best course of action, as opposed to change in direction or hard braking - One is what you just described (where the engine is at idle, anyways), or if a tractor trailer was about to run your ass down on the freeway, where you're above 4000 rpm anyways.
I don't want to argue anymore. We're all still alive despite what we think, so we must all be doing something right. To each his own. |
Metalrabbit
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 11:39 am: |
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It will wheelie in the first three gears but its well up in the powerband,, using all the throttle. You can get to 7 or 8K in second without grabbing all the throttle
, snap it into third an grab some and it will come up. Hell, just grabbing all in third going up the powerband, if that front tire touches any irregularity in the road or even a fir cone its coming up. I wouldn't recommend any of this until your well use'to the bike. With this bike I consider 4000rpm "zero" on the tach. |
Buellhist_monk
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 12:09 pm: |
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Only just over 1000mi so far. 25R. Reached the conclusion independently, 4K rpm is the best. 45MPH speed zone, 45-46mph= 3rd gear.
At 4K rpm I can go fast or I can use compression braking along with brakes to slow down. Plus If the need is there for immediate acceleration after slowing down there is less down shifting required.
It just feels right. I'm no hotdog, I've only had her to 100mph 2 or 3 times. |
Bikejunky
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 02:21 pm: |
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Going up hill on a four lane street. I was cruising past a black Ford Expedition at about 3 PM on in the right hand lane. Was moving by a bit lazily, probably 5MPH faster than the SUV. My fault for creepin, but... half way up the side she starts drifting into my lane. Wacked the throttle moved to the white line. Lady was supprised to see me flash by as she nearly veered into the left turn lane. like I said, half my fault but had I been in 4th at 35 I would have been on the brakes instead of twisting it. |
Dave_bogue
| | Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 04:09 pm: |
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There's no reason a modern motorcycle can't cruise at 3000 RPm, be it a V2 or and I-4.
A V twin is supposed to have more low speed torque than an I-4, so if your 1125 is not smooth at three grand, something is wrong with your A/F ratio.
My ZX-10 and SV1000 have no problem at a steady 3000 RPM, as well as previous Japanese bikes I've owned.
When there's a Power Commander available for the 1125, these driveability problems will go away.
Dave
Bradenton Fl |
Cobralightning
| | Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 09:11 pm: |
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I can cruise all day at 3000 with the 1125R. It is just that it is sluggish at that low RPM when you roll into the throttle. |
Chameleon
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - 07:25 am: |
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Riding my de-noided 1125R during the last 37,000 miles, I have observed the following:
4K is my comfort-zone.
# | Approximate MPH @ 4K RPM
1 | 25
2 | 35
3 | 45
4 | 55
5 | 62
6 | 68
I can comfortably maintain speed in any gear down to 3K RPM. Reducing speed below 3K RPMs results in the bike feeling like "a box of rocks" (a lot of drive-line noise and vibration).
Acceleration with low throttle input is smooth and without lugging from about 2K RPMs up. More throttle from cruising at such low RPMs causes significant drive-line noise.
When transitioning from deceleration below 3K RPMs to acceleration, I now instinctively pull in and release the clutch to use the friction-point to smooth out the operation. I believe this to be a learned compensation mechanism I developed before the 3rd flash fixed the fueling issues. Hard habit to break, but I have forced myself to NOT do it a few times and noticed that the transition was not as bad as I anticipated.
Accelerating from a dead-stop in 2nd gear is inconsequential and has plenty of available torque.
The only times I've had my front wheel actually come up in 3rd gear were when I shifted rapidly from 2nd to 3rd and:
A) the ambient temperature was below 40 Fahrenheit.
B) I had extra weight on the back...
A female motorcyclist friend whose bike was recently stolen was wanting a taste of speed. She asked for a ride on the back of my bike, so I obliged and instructed her to "hang on tight". I hopped on the freeway and accelerated somewhat quickly through 1st & 2nd, but not fast enough to wheelie, and I figured I was safe to get to 3rd with a bit more haste, not expecting 3rd to bring the front up, but due to the extra weight on the back, the front did start to come up, so I eased off and set it down. Was probably only a few inches / seconds / yards.
I always look ahead as far as possible both visually and mentally to anticipate possible dangers. I assume that all other drivers cannot see me, yet are somehow simultaneously trying actively to kill me. Visibility apparel (such as my triple-mohawks) and the use of turn-signals have at times caused drivers to briefly awaken from their slumber to notice me, but I do not rely on them doing so. I believe this methodology is one reason why I am still alive. An alert motorcyclist will always have a better chance of out-maneuvering a dangerous situation than "stopping on a dime" to avoid one. This is also why I do NOT utilize any music while motorcycling. I prefer the internal-combustion orchestra.
I often joke that my motto is "when in doubt, gas it out."
I think of it similar to a game of chess.
What I mean is that through my constant situational-awareness and prediction I try to anticipate the other drivers stupidity and attempts to kill me while simultaneously planning my escape route(s).
Of course, I recognize that accelerating / out-maneuvering is not always the best answer 100% of the time, it is always the first option I consider.
I believe that complacency can be a motorcyclist's worst enemy. |
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