Topic: Shifting Speeds / When to Shift

[Travis..]

Hello All,

I am still very new to Riding and while I've had no issues riding my K6 around town and the surrounding area I wanted to get a general idea if I'm matching engine speed properly; basically want to make sure I'm not putting unnecessary stress on my transmission due to my inexperience of what to listen for.

My overall question is what's the basic RPM or Speed that you guys will shift up? (Can you give me a range for each gear?) To be specific: It feels natural to go into second around 20 mph, and I usually notice my engine speed is right at about 4000 when I shift up (Should I be waiting longer, i.e am I up-shifting too soon?). When it get closer to 35-40 I'll shift up to 3rd, and for in town use I hang in 3rd going between 35-45. Should I be in 3rd in this range? I notice the RPM's will border on 4,000 when I get near 45 and the bike feels like it wants to go into 4th. But if I shift up I find it hard to not start speeding, bike just wants to go faster.

Also, if i'm cruising at around 50-55, I've been keeping it in 4th. I notice when I shift up to 5th I start going 65+ with very little throttle. Again I feel like I'm in this limbo where I'm trying to obey a speed limit but the bike just feels like it wants to go or at least like I would have a lot more power in the next gear.

Overall I just want an idea so I know that i'm not harming my bike by riding in the wrong gears or shifting up sooner than I should. Also please don't reply with "You can just feel it". I'm a noob, that doesn't help me. Thanks Everyone!

[flybox1]

The power band is just coming on around 4000.  These engines love to rev.  You're just barely getting into the fun rpm's, and quick twists of the throttle lugs the engine at those low rpm's.   
If i'm just around town I usually shift around 6500-7k. freeway, 8-8500.  Most of my riding is above 4000rpm.
RPM's and engine sound/vibration influence my gear changes, not speedo reading.

[cheftuskey121]

Yes, it's quite difficult to grasp the high revving nature of these bikes at first if you're not used to it. You want to try and keep the rpms up in case you need to slow down quickly (little bit of engine braking helps) or need to speed up to avoid something. Aside from those reasons is also fun. For a good while I was so concerned with over revving that I forgot to have fun. If you stay down low too long not only will your charging system not be runing effectively (>3000ish rpms) but also you may foul out spark plugs. I try to keep it around 5000 as much as possible and try to avoid dipping under 4000. These bikes will run all day at 7000 with no sweat. Don't be afraid!

As to your question about shifting if I am putting around town I shift at 4500. If I am zipping around or on the highway I shift around 7000

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

More potential harm lugging it around at low rpms vs winding it out. I usually don't shift under 5000 but I'll let the rpms settle down once through the gears. Mine will run fine at 30mph in 5th but then the engine has been done up so it can handle that slow speed and rpms without lugging.

[Xnavylfr]

The gear ratio is built inside the engine for 65+MPH @ 5K or so. You won't hurt that 750 engine to run around Gboro in 4th because of the limits but when you roll out on I40/I85 pull it in 5th and run with the traffic. When you go past the Yadkin river (WEST)  the speed goes to 70MPH and these 750s love to run. Some of US have changed the final gear ratio by changing sprockets to get away from the BUZZ / vibrations at 70+.

By the way I live 2.5 miles from the intersection of I40 and Hwy 801!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[ekpent]

You sound like you are doing just fine doing what your doing while you get used to the bike. Yes they love to rev but the design of the engine was made to also deliver some good low end power and torque also without having to wring it out. I put around town all the time shifting  from between 3,000 to 5000 rpm's and have never hurt an engine yet. If they are tuned and running well there should be no plug fouling and they will take right off if you twist the throttle.
    For now just ride at the level that you are comfortable at and watch the road and don't worry about the bike, she will be fine     When you get a better feel run her up a little.

[TwoTired]

High RPM won't hurt the engine as long as you keep it under the red line.  Anything below is fair game as long as the engine has some load on it.

If RPMs scare you, you definitely won't like any of the smaller SOHC4s, though a quiet muffler system will help calm the nerves, particularly in traffic.


The bike is pretty robust.  Apart for smacking something, or mashing gears there isn't much you can do from the driver's seat to hurt the engine/trans.

[albertaboy]

I hear new riders speak of vibration (during higher rpms).  It gives the impression the bike is coming apart I think. If you exhaust is loud, the perception is greater.  Everyone before me describe the bike well.  After a time, you'll become accustomed to the way your bike is today and if it changes (ie new vibration, rattle etc) you'll know it.

[Clasico]

Hi Travis, i'm going through a similar proccess. Not new to bikes but never into four cylinders before and not accustomed yet to so high rpm, even less so on a 40 year old machine!
I'm letting the revs up gradually and the bike goes much better now, more torque and grunt!

Still i'm not going over 7k, i need a few more miles on her

[CoachDoc]

I guess I'm more conservative with engine speed than a lot of guys. Unless I'm having a reason to accelerate hard (freeway on ramps, etc.) I'll generally shift around 3500 rpm or so; the harder I want to accelerate the higher my shift point, but I seldom feel the need to shift at any point higher than 6K or so. I avoid lugging the engine under any circumstances, but if you're on level ground and GENTLE on the throttle these bikes can chug along at 2K or so in high gear. Yeah, I've done it in moments of laziness, but I'll generally downshift to keep my rpms above 3500 or so, which is just getting into the comfort zone for an SOHC.

[TwoTired]

I don't have extensive time on the CB750.  But, I do on the 550.  I find that in traffic, the throttle can provide and escape route from belligerent drivers, but only if the engine is in an RPM band that makes power and torque.  So, I keep the 550 engine above 3500 at all times while operating in moving traffic.  I expect the 750 could be a little lower, and still provide an instant throttle up response.  But, I wouldn't want to add downshift time to an emergency traffic avoidance maneuver. Certainly the time to get the engine accelerated into the power band with throttle application should be no longer than the time to downshift.  But, you get no acceleration during downshift time.

[BobbyR]

As mentioned the torque band starts to come in about 4K. We have become accustomed to low revving motors in our cars.

There are different shift points for different conditions. Getting onto the highway I will blast it op to 65 or so in 3rd to get into traffic quick, then just just go into 5th and cruise.

Around Town you want to keep it around 4K so that you have engine braking and give you some jump if you need it.

As other have said a good run on the highway at 5K will make for a good running motor. After running a around Town you will find a good highway run for 1/2 hr will result in a much smoother idle.

Controlling your speed on the highway is not difficult, nice smooth light hand will allow you to go as fast or slow you want. Practice and you will feel the bike as an extension of your body.   

Your ride these things, not drive them.

[brooze72]

I don't have extensive time on the CB750.  But, I do on the 550.  I find that in traffic, the throttle can provide and escape route from belligerent drivers, but only if the engine is in an RPM band that makes power and torque.  So, I keep the 550 engine above 3500 at all times while operating in moving traffic.  I expect the 750 could be a little lower, and still provide an instant throttle up response.  But, I wouldn't want to add downshift time to an emergency traffic avoidance maneuver. Certainly the time to get the engine accelerated into the power band with throttle application should be no longer than the time to downshift.  But, you get no acceleration during downshift time.

+1 Well said, as TT implies, the other part of the equation is situational awareness IE: what speed/gear will I NEED to be going next in any upcoming manoeuvre.

[bjbuchanan]

You need to adapt to the machine and ride it as such. You wouldn't rev a Harley all to hell, you wouldn't shift a modern sportbike at 4k, ride the cb like it is supposed to be ridden and it will perform awesome

I find that 5k mark is a nice spot for my bike, I'm a quick roll on the throttle from leaving any clown a safe distance behind and usually gear for gear you can nail the speed limits pretty well. I shifted my formerly 812cc engine at 9500 all the time, that stuff means having to readjust tappets after they get slammed loose lol

My current 836 I am trying to keep under 7k for the most part because it only has about 75 miles on it but that is a more special case.

I would say the first hints you don't rev enough would be the fact that you are barely revving enough to adequately charge the battery and are near fouling plugs. Don't equate noise with dangerous rpm

[Mr. Mike]

The OP sounds like me when I started riding my 78 several months ago. I was not used to a higher revving bike. Soon I realized 3500/4K rpm is the same in 2nd as is in successive gears and sounds just the same...like she's gonna blow! After reading various posts here, and just getting to know the bike, I learned that as has been mentioned, 4K is, or seems the bottom of the rpm range for this engine to come alive. I don't know how fast this thing will go and I don't need to find out. But...occasionally when the opportunity presents itself, I find that this bike flat out hauls @$$ outta 3rd and on up. 3rd gear around town...45mph, gotta get used to it. Shift up if you feel it so it won't be such a distraction when you just want to enjoy your riding (but don't be afraid to push it once in a while!) Sounds like you're doing fine Travis, enjoy it.

[raymond10078]

Some time back, in another post, this discussion was about the charging system, and how it doesn't get to it's max output until 3,000 or so, and that some riders, by "short shifting" weren't allowing the battery to recharge.  The complaint was that the battery was dying despite riding the bike.

My point is that Honda, based on charging system design/operation, did intend the "average" to be at above that 3,000 RPM point.