Low rpm driving

Howdy Folks

Another novice question:

Is it bad to drive (both cruise and/or accelerate) at low rpms? i.e 2000-2500

I notice when accelerating at around 2.5k the bike shakes more than normal and it seems more of a struggle.
I have read in the manual and online that this taxes the engine and shouldn't be done but I can seem to find why this is?

What is a safe rpm's to cruise and speed up at for my 1994 vfr?


Thanks in advance

 

That shaking is a result of "dogging the engine" or running it in too low of an RPM.

Cruising and acceleration are different. If the bike maintains a steady speed with very little throttle (1-5%) the cruise is fine.

Acceleration is different in that the revs must be higher than a low cruise rpm. That shaking, over a long term, wears down the crankshaft bearings, until eventually there is catastrophic engine failure.

This is the art of riding a stick shift. Every vehicle is different and has different sweet spots. You definitely need to downshift for acceleration from that range. If, for example you want to gradually accelerate, you'll probably find 3,000 RPM to be a smooth starting place. If you want to rapidly accelerate, you will want to downshift one more, putting you at 3500 RPM+.

This is somewhat of an art. it is done by feel. You currently are in tune with the bad effects of shifting too low. So adjust your habit until it feels right. If it feels right, it is right.

Just an aside: Dogging a cold engine is even worse than dogging a warm engine. However, these bikes should be warmed up before putting them under load anyway. I am guessing that your carb puts it in a higher idle when cold, and it should idle for 30+ seconds. So there is little risk.

Google "when to shift a sport bike." You get lots of opinions and you can be your own judge. You may keep the revs a little higher so that you are always in the power band, and when you twist the throttle it will respond like a rocket. Or you can keep the revs on the lower side and keep the gas mileage up. There is a lot of available freedom in how you want to use your bike. (Just don't dog it anymore.)

Also, there may be sprockets available for your bike allowing you to change the RPMs. For example, I have a sprocket up front that has 1 less tooth than the OEM. So when I take off from a light, the RPMS get higher quicker. Be aware that your bike was built to go 130mph. So the stock gearing is a compromise that allows you to go very high speed. If you do a lot more city riding then a gear change can keep the bike in a more appropriate range, and allow you to use less clutching at crawl speeds.

 

The reason why depends on who you are talking to, and about what bike or car.

The solution could be to up your revs to +3K or downshift.

Engine stutter in a corner can when power is called for can bite you in the ass bigtime.

 

The V4 engine has an uneven firing order (which is what makes them so awesome) but they don't like to run much under 3k rpm under load. So keep the revs up, man!

You could also need to replace the rubber cush drive in the rear hub, these go hard and less able to absorb driveline shocks with time.

 

Thank all for the responses!

Will have to slightly tweak my habits to a safer rpm range.

 

Go for it! You are not going to hurt that engine by revving it.

The term most used in the US is lugging. You'll find more on Google about lugging a bike engine than dogging a bike engine. IMO dogging is mostly a term used by cagers and wannabe hip hoppers..

Some bike engines are happy at low rpm. Pushrod singles and F head twins and some BMW air cooled twins. They too are happier at increased RPM.

 

It's a good thing this a mostly US based forum. Our friends in the UK have a whole other meaning for "dogging", that also can involve shuddering, loud noises and ultimately a loss of fluids....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

LOL, be careful there Cadbury, some folks may think your into being submissive. Back on track to the OP question just depends, the vfr can putts around say 2nd all day long at 2-2500, done it a many times when just strutting around, then depending on road condition like down or up hill. I may drop a gear and jet or just roll on the throttle nice and smooth. It's all good. Now doing this in 4-5th that's a bit different.

 

I agree. Dogging in UK is something right up SOWs alley.