Throttle responce & power at low RPM?

I was out on a ride with my friend and i generally try to get into 5th or 6th gear when i'm cruising around 70kph( 43mph) & 4000 RPM but his little ninja 250 was accelerating much faster then my VF500 to pass, and generally just to increase speed to 80 or 90 kph (50 or 55mph) & 5500 RPM faster then me if i wasn't right on him. I'm still waiting for my carb sync tool in the mail, so i'm going to check how things are running and possibly clean the carbs before the winter, BUT. I read another thread about vtech lag. Basically if i'm cruising, i twist the throttle, and it takes a second to ramp up a bit, then it keeps ramping up a little to much and i have to back off a bit. I guess i would like a bit more initial throttle response, instead of to much to late.

Do I sound like I want a 750? Should i just downshift and run higher RPM's and predict a little better when i'll want that power? (up coming turn, up coming hill, about to pass)?

 

I'm not very familiar with the vf500, such as redline, gear spacing, etc... But I can't imagine using 5th or 6th gear at such a slow speed. My 6th gen would probably get left by a good running LeCar if I tried to accelerate from 43mph in 5th or 6th gear.:hss:

 

Let's assume this is your first bike. Learn where the torque curve for your bike reaches maximum, and don't try to accelerate at a lower number of revs. These bikes need lots of revs to accelerate briskly, and you're lugging the engine.

 

I used to bicycle race, so i'm not used to having something with two wheels lacking power between my legs ;P

Indeed it is my first motor bike, i tried leaving it in the lower gears while accelerating a couple times today, and 1st definitely drops off after 4000 rpm but second and third feel pretty good around 6000 and 7000 rpm. I think i'm just scared of how loud it is, coming from driving cars, when the engine was that loud something was seriously wrong in my corolla.

 

you crack me up mate.........It is ok to red line that baby.....she run much better on high rev.

 

Is this all by feel? I didn't find much on the google machine in the way of graphs. Should I find a long moderate hill and just play around in different gears to really get a good sense of it?

 

If your 500 is at all like my 700 it does not really start hitting it's stride until after 7K. Then it is hold on to your butt time.

 

Let her scream. If you are just cruising its okay to put it up n the higher gears but don't expect to accelerate from those gears. Even on my 98 when I'm cruising in 6th or 5th around 50 or 60 and I'm ready to go I normally shift down twice if not three times. If your motor is sound and tuned up that little 500 could run up near redline for hours or until you need gas anyway. You should be able to blow that little 250 into the weeds when you come by.

 

ear plugs it is then!

 

Putting around town, I generally don't shift until about 6k, no matter the gear. And if I intend to pass or need to accelerate quickly, I'm definitely dropping it a gear and using the 6k-9k range of the powerband.

All-out acceleration, I'll run it straight to about 9k. Mostly, because I don't feel like dropping a valve - but secondly, I need a new clutch and it slips above 8k or so under heavy acceleration. So.....

Don't be afraid to it to work. I've been lucky (or cursed) enough to have had enough project Hondas (cars) with redlines 8k+, so the engine running near redline isn't all that worrying, anymore.

 

I may have exagerated a little. But point being the 500 was designed to be revved. And like I said if your bike is sound and tuned up you won't hurt a thing. I always wear earplugs except maybe a short run to the store or something.

 

I also saw in a another thread about the 9k limit protecting your valves?

Kept the bike above 6000 rpm until i got settle into cruising speed at which point i return to 5th or 6th gear unless i see a hill or potential slow down coming up. The bike is definitely different at higher rpms, if the engine isn't trying to shoot the bike out from under you, it's engine braking and trying to throw you over the handle bars, should i use a bit more clutch to smooth this out or just get used to the more sensitive throttle in higher RPM's?

 

It just takes time to get a feel for the power and what gear to be in. What I was saying before about let her scream I was just referring to acceleration and accessing the power. Unfortunately on the little 500 most of your power is going to be in the higher revs. Which is what most bikes are the higher you rev the more power you will get. But for example on my 98 8oo. I rarely go above 7000 rpm normally using the surge I get just above 5 grand and at times may hold it to 7 but usually only going to about 6000rpm. But with the smaller bike it needs to be revved higher to produce the power you want, to say blow the doors off that ninja 250. That 9k redline is probably a good idea just to be safe. But you will get a feel for what gear and rpms that you need to run to becme smooth. That being your ultimate goal smooth.