High revving engines

[Brentis1]

Hi Folks,
Can someone out there enlighten me with their mechanical wisdom? I am getting back into motor cycling so have gone and purchased a 2004 Suzuki GSX250 inline twin. Rides well and is great little machine to get the "feel" of things again but........ I am not used to these high revving engines. To ride at 100kph, in top gear, the engine is pulling about 9000RPM. She redlines at 13000RPM. My query is can these engines run for extended periods at this rev range. My old bike brain can't comprehend this. Would be grateful of any help. P.S. I have no issues spending good money on good oil and regular servicing.

[Deano]

I went from a big twin to a big in line four. Revs at 100kph were much higher on the in line which took a while to get used to, but you do get used to it. Just redline it a few times then 9k won't sound as bad.

[Lurch]

Not only can they do it they are happiest when they are doing it.

[bogan]

I thought the GSX was an IL4? Tiny little pistons and rods make for high revs, it's all good.

[Brentis1]

Thanks Guys! Sounds like the answer is use more throttle - I'm liken the sound of that.

This model is definetly an inline twin. Suzuki released them in 2003 and 2004. Quite a heavy fully faired 250. I think about 169kg with only 30hp. The modern GSX are definetly inline 4s, weigh less, and have more power.

[White trash]

13K aint high. ZXR250s regularly see 19K on the tach.

[Banditbandit]

I bought my 650 Bandit about the time my BMW (airhead GS 1000) was off the road for a few months for major repairs ...

When I got the BMW back on the road the engine speed freaked me out - I was so used to the in-line four by then ... When I first rode the BMW again I thought it was running on only one cylinder .. a quick touch of the header pipes changed my mind ...

[Katman]

9k does sound a little high for 100kph though.

Maybe someone has changed the gearing at some stage in it's life.

[bogan]

9k does sound a little high for 100kph though.

Maybe someone has changed the gearing at some stage in it's life.

gearingcommander? nope, doesn't seem to be listed, was it sold as something else in other countries?

[Furyos J]

i looked after my sisters 2004 GSX 250 for her till it sold. It was stock gearing and it sat at 9k @ 100kph, you can only do around 135kph tops on one of those doing 11.5k (altho im 6ft2 and 100kgs).It had a faint chatter to the cam chain, but apparently that is normal. I rode it on the motorway everyday, 2up a lot of the time with the missus. The GSX is a aircooled/oil boiler parralel twin. Never gave me any probs and never skipped a beat, but i only rode it for six months. The water cooled GSXR 250s are alot quicker and high revving. That GSX250 felt like the same weight as my CBR600

[ducatilover]

They're as happy as that chap Larry when revving high. The ZXR250SP could see 20,000rpm before the rev limiter (Good luck finding one though) and basically had to be over 10-12krpm to get anywhere :facepalm: But, they're designed for it and the GSX250 twin is a strong little unit. 9000rpm may be a touch too high, I haven't been on one for 6 or so years so I can't remember how high it'll rev. I did see 150k after an extended wide throttle period and I think that was more or less redline in top.

Great little bikes, enjoy it :yes::rockon:

[slofox]

It took me a wee while to adjust from an SV650S to a GSX-R600 in terms of engine speed - I think it was about fifteen minutes if I recall correctly. Once I heard that hysterical banshee scream at 16,000rpm a couple of times I was completely seduced (or in shock - not sure which it was now...). Especially by the kickinthearse that happens about 12,500 or so. :devil2:

Nowadays, it doesn't sound right at anything under 8000rpm. Worst problem is staying vaguely legal with the engine in the "working range"...me being a law-abiding citizen and all that...:innocent:

[nzspokes]

Must admit to the same issue. I ran my bike up to 5k and it didnt seem to go that well. Now happy to sit it up to 10k and its real happy.

[Timmeh:P]

I have had a GSX 250 Invader... 9000rpm at 100kph is normal. However it was an IL4.

[imdying]

All GSX250 Invaders are parallel twins, no IL4s. If your bike was an IL4, it wasn't a GSX250 Invader (more like a GSXR250).

[ducatilover]

I have had a GSX 250 Invader... 9000rpm at 100kph is normal. However it was an IL4.

Parallel twin with circa 27hp.

[4AGE]

My cbr250r sits at about 8k at 100kph its a bit unsettling at first but i got used to it.

Although the redline starts at 18k so its not even half the revs.

9k with 13k redline sounds quite high though.

[\m/]

My 2000 GSF250 redlines at 15000rpm, used to do about 8400rpm at indicated 100k, went up a tooth on the front and now sits at 7900rpm at indicated 100k.

[GrayWolf]

Hi Folks,
Can someone out there enlighten me with their mechanical wisdom? I am getting back into motor cycling so have gone and purchased a 2004 Suzuki GSX250 inline twin. Rides well and is great little machine to get the "feel" of things again but........ I am not used to these high revving engines. To ride at 100kph, in top gear, the engine is pulling about 9000RPM. She redlines at 13000RPM. My query is can these engines run for extended periods at this rev range. My old bike brain can't comprehend this. Would be grateful of any help. P.S. I have no issues spending good money on good oil and regular servicing.

I understand your thoughts Brentis. I was used to 8k redlines for 1000cc bikes, then was shocked in the 80's at 9.5k. Current bike is 11.5k ... moral is? the parts are machined to better tolerances than the old air cooled stuff, they are lighter and will rev freer. Just change the oil regular and keep it maintained. The old adage, thrashing it will wear it out faster.......

[tigertim20]

Hi Folks,
Can someone out there enlighten me with their mechanical wisdom? I am getting back into motor cycling so have gone and purchased a 2004 Suzuki GSX250 inline twin. Rides well and is great little machine to get the "feel" of things again but........ I am not used to these high revving engines. To ride at 100kph, in top gear, the engine is pulling about 9000RPM. She redlines at 13000RPM. My query is can these engines run for extended periods at this rev range. My old bike brain can't comprehend this. Would be grateful of any help. P.S. I have no issues spending good money on good oil and regular servicing.

Drunkenmistake on here has ridden a cbr250 from dunedin to picton and return with no problems whatsoever - basically the same bike, except his redlines at 18000rpm....
Yes it does feel odd doing 9k rpm when a car does 2500rpm at 100km, but as long as the bike is maintained correctly with good oil and filters at regular intervals etc, it will be just fine. In a month or so, you wont even think about it, it is a tiny tiny engine, less than half the size of a 600ml coke bottle, it needs to rev to generate power. keep your servicing up to date and youll be sweet, Ive seen loads of those il4 250's do 100,000km happily

[ducatilover]

It's a twin not a four.
But, yes, those CBR mills last very well.

[tigertim20]

It's a twin not a four.
But, yes, those CBR mills last very well.

ahh my bad, maybe I should take a remedial reading class. . .
:shutup:

[ducatilover]

ahh my bad, maybe I should take a remedial reading class. . .
:shutup:

Or remember stupid shit about tiny bikes? :facepalm:

[The Singing Chef]

i looked after my sisters 2004 GSX 250 for her till it sold. It was stock gearing and it sat at 9k @ 100kph, you can only do around 135kph tops on one of those doing 11.5k (altho im 6ft2 and 100kgs).It had a faint chatter to the cam chain, but apparently that is normal. I rode it on the motorway everyday, 2up a lot of the time with the missus. The GSX is a aircooled/oil boiler parralel twin. Never gave me any probs and never skipped a beat, but i only rode it for six months. The water cooled GSXR 250s are alot quicker and high revving. That GSX250 felt like the same weight as my CBR600

Na bro mine does 170 indicated just hitting the redline, though i am 6ft and 70kg. It's pretty good for 2up, though i haven't experienced anything else to compare it too. Heavy bike but you get used to it, 9k at 100km is a little higher than mine, mine sits at about 8ish, 9k when i am doing 120km/h.

[skippa1]

hmmmmm, I get 1900rpm at 100kmh in 6th, mind you she revs out to a massive 5500rpm:confused::laugh:

[Brentis1]

Na bro mine does 170 indicated just hitting the redline, though i am 6ft and 70kg. It's pretty good for 2up, though i haven't experienced anything else to compare it too. Heavy bike but you get used to it, 9k at 100km is a little higher than mine, mine sits at about 8ish, 9k when i am doing 120km/h.

Many thanks Singing Chef! I would imagine that mine is revving a wee bit higher as I have about 30kg on you.

Sounds like they have no problems sitting at that level of RPM for a reasonable length ride. I just wanted to be sure before blowing an engine. I am using good semi-synthetic oil so suspect all will be OK. Thanks for your help!

[ducatilover]

Many thanks Singing Chef! I would imagine that mine is revving a wee bit higher as I have about 30kg on you.



Your weight does not change the gearing.
You may have a lower profile rear tyre than him or different sprockets.

170k on a GSX? That would have taken a while <_<

[tigertim20]

Your weight does not change the gearing.
You may have a lower profile rear tyre than him or different sprockets.

170k on a GSX? That would have taken a while <_<

he did say 'indicated' - we all know that indicated means fuck all on most bikes, but what else do we have to gauge it (assuming you dont have a GPS)

[ducatilover]

he did say 'indicated' - we all know that indicated means fuck all on most bikes, but what else do we have to gauge it (assuming you dont have a GPS)

Put a stick in the wind and observe the flex, extrapolate that with the gravity, wind and your tongue being on it?
You're right though, I remember the RG150 speedos were on the piss.

[The Singing Chef]

I also used a long piece of rope with knots tied into it at chosen intervals and strung it out as i rode, i hired a small Nigerian child to count the knots as i rode, came with an amazing deal too.

I found out that i had won $1,000,000 but hadn't been notified so if i send $5000 for management and transfer fees i can receive my money :-) and no worries mate, the bike likes to be in that range, get the best acceleration in that range in the 3rd and 4th gears keeping it high and giving it bursts to get through traffic jams.