The 20 - 80 usable RPM rule

[imdying]

EDIT: BTW did I ever tell you about my grandfather's axe?

Was it too large for a shelf, and spent many years on the floor? Oh wait...



I've a friend with a 1.5L 84 Nissan Sunny. In the 10 years I've known him, he has mercilessly thrashed that thing way way past the red line, from cold, in the most hideous display of mechanical abuse you've ever seen... 180,000kms, still trucking

[CM2005]

Hah, speaking of thrashing...
I got an AG175 for $20 last year with no clutch. Spent more on gas than i did on the bike and, with only 4 gears remaining in the box, i out ran an '86 KX125!! Lucky she didnt nip up on me, it didnt have a clutch!!

[Edbear]

Was it too large for a shelf, and spent many years on the floor? Oh wait...

You're showing your age again...

[unhingedlizard]

My 2 smoker doesnt make any power unless your bouncing it off the redline.
Maybe thats why it goes bang so often.......

[myvice]

When they go NANANANANANANANA change gear!

[Madness]

I tend to think of my Tachometer as a Fun-O-Meter. Don't worry about it, just thrash the crap out of it occasionally & enjoy!

[Flyingpony]

EDIT: BTW did I ever tell you about my grandfather's axe?

Was it too large for a shelf, and spent many years on the floor? Oh wait...

Doesn't get it

[McJim]

EDIT: BTW did I ever tell you about my grandfather's axe?

do you mean the one he got from his grandfather that was handed down by the grandfather before that? The handle was changed many times (coz sometimes they split or wear out) the head has been changed more than once coz they get smaller when they get sharpened - but the axe has been going for a hundred years and still has great balance and a perfect edge......or are we talking about another axe?

I have no axe to grind...if you axe for my opinion I'll gladly give it...

[Motu]

I rode my 1971 XS1 at 4,000 to 5,000rpm,that's all - change up at 5.000,down at 4,000rpm.Of course it would rev higher,but came at the price of vibration and a lot of hard work handling wise.5,000rpm was good for 70mph,which is about as fast as I go on any bike,I've just never been a speed freak...all the corners I do are lower than that speed.But I maintained a pace at those revs,coming out of every corner hard and on the pegs,cruising on the straights,waiting for the next set of corners to demolish.There are a few who will understand it....but not many.....

[Flyingpony]

Then, most engines have limiters too, so if you do exceed the red-line, it'll cut the engine....
I agree riding lower revs may not be beneficial but thrash it like you stole it....

Over 10k there's no power surge so I find it pointless to use those last few thousand rpm. Biggest surge is between 8k & 9.5k. Don't know if this bike has a rev limiter, maybe someone who's hit it can post where it kicks in.

(1st gear is enough to lose your license)

My bike can get over-taken by a cyclist in 1st gear
Think license is safe.
While commuting I've ridden behind a Mini couple times, can easily sync the FXR gear changes to the Mini's.

I've not heard of an FXR blowing its lolly yet. They are pretty basic engine, and pretty bullet proof.

Ditto: I've only heard of FXR's expiring due to crashes. Their engines are simple compared to many car engines and their VVT.

Wonder what the highest km a FXR has done is?

The manufacturers give you a redline and a warranty. They're not expecting them to go pop within those limits.

Still got the redline but warranty expired years ago. 12 months is a bit short, even though it was an unlimited km one, but I did use it three times and have been trouble free since it expired.

Well, yes. But some of us do rather want the bike to last rather longer than the warranty. A LOT longer in fact.

Definitely.

[cowpoos]

this sounds like a load of crock....how is reving the shit outta a engine gunna kill it faster than pissing around on it and pretending it will run for ever....I'ld be more worried about it falling to pieces before the engine dies....your not going to own it for ever are you?
and besides if you are....your engine will start to die faster with age....metal fatiges over time....

[JeremyW]

and besides if you are....your engine will start to die faster with age....metal fatiges over time....

Yes but metal fatige is predomainantly due to stress, generated by temperature and forces

But I do wholeheartedly agree, ride it like you stole it because bike engines are made to do that and will generally throw a fit and shit themselves when they feel the need to do so.... irrelevant of how they have been treated.... kinda like females when you think if it....

[Pathos]

I have only redlined the fxr once, doing ...fast.. down the bombay hills in sixth.

there just isn't any push over 11.5 thousand rpm.

I keep an eye on the oil, it seems to go through a bit for me ... 3L in the last year with +6k on the clock? I ride it reasonably hard all the time. Is that far too much ?

[bobsmith]

strange I never lost any oil on my fxr... I think I did about 5000km on it... have you checked your washer and sump nut?

[Flyingpony]

I keep an eye on the oil, it seems to go through a bit for me ... 3L in the last year with +6k on the clock? I ride it reasonably hard all the time. Is that far too much ?

Strange, mine doesn't burn or leak any oil.

Considering they only hold about 1.3litres, misplacing 3l in 12 months makes me wonder if yours is leaking somewhere, or does it blow blue smoke like a 2-stroke bike?

Some places to check for oil leaks:

• Sump bolt - maybe loose, washer gone or cracked sump casing
• Loose oil filter cap or missing/broken o-ring seal
• Problem with oil coolant system - hoses and radiator
• Loose oil filler cap or missing/broken o-ring seal
• Other: i.e. front sprocket gearbox seal

Given the volume of oil lost, the oil leak should be easy to find because the engine will be tremendously dirty there.