Topic: So how fast do you rev your 750?

[mac3687]

I have a '76 CB750, stock everything save for the PAMCO ignition. I had a big thread going a couple weeks ago trying to solve a rich running issue, which the board helped determine was due to not having OEM needles. Since then it's been running amazingly, and I'm very grateful to everyone for their help and input.

My question is, when do you shift gears? Obviously speed, road condition, weight on the bike, etc. make a difference, but what's a good rule of thumb? I generally rev to about 4K before shifting, sometimes 3K, some times as high as 5K. I don't think I've ever had the engine over 5,500rpms, mainly because I know it's 38 years old and am trying to put as little stress on it as possible. Am I over thinking this?

[2wheels]

I keep the RPM between 4 and 6, almost always.
Do not lug these bikes.
And once a week go to at least 7K in 1st and 2nd gear,  just to be sure all is working.

edit - unless you are not comfortable with the speed or have a safe place to do that, then don't.

[goldarrow]

Yes

[Stev-o]

I don't feel the need to bring it to redline every gear shift, but I like to shift in the 6-7K rpm range.  You will not over stress it. Never over 5500, really??   C'mon man, do it!

[MCRider]

I don't really think you can preserve anything old by babying it. The engine is a hard part and as long as its oiled it should perform. The soft parts, tires, cables, hoses, manifolds etc will age and fail, but not much you can do about that. Just check them and replace as needed.

The hard parts are really overbuilt. As 3/4 midgets these engines rev to 14,000+. The difference between 5000 and 8000 is negligible. So rev it if you feel randy. But on the other hand, if you don't feel the need, just don't lug it. That is keep it above 3000 or so.  BEst gas mileage is probably if you shift and linger around 5000.

[madmtnmotors]

The only problem I have with shifting at or above 8K is that it shakes my cheap, aftermarket mirrors out of adjustment! 

[flybox1]

hahaha +1 mad 

Spend more time at and above 4000rpm and you wont be in danger of draining your battery 
I shift closer to 6000.

[bjbuchanan]

9000 most of the time lol. I don't like to go higher because then I have to adjust my valves more often

You need to ride the bike like it is intended. It's not a Harley, if you want a vtwin then get one. Don't take offense, each bike has certain riding styles. You are lugging your bike which is more harmful than revving throughout the safe rpm range. You are hardly charging the battery and probably have fouled plugs in no time too right? Rpm doesn't have to equate to speed either. Hold it down a gear to 4500 rpm plus so you are in your powerband. It makes for safer riding in case you need to twist that throttle to avoid something or just flow with traffic

[mac3687]

Thank you guys for your input! Yeah, I spent my first 10 years riding various Honda Shadows, so I'm used to low revving V-twins. Sounds like I need to man up and get this baby running hard.

[754]

8-10,500...if its cammed.. Or you can short shift it at say 9...
 I thinkyou meant stock.. But the bottomend I was using was stock..

[strynboen]

the 550 takes more rpm to make hk..so +8000...and it goes...but in city traffic it pulls fine at lov as 5000..the cbx likes 10,000 rpm shift..but a bit scary..specily on vet/dirt roads..but under 4000 it stalls

[Davidov]

Red line on tachometer = vintage shift light.

[BobbyR]

Around Town you want to try to keep it at 4K which is the low end of the torque band. It gives you the ability to move quickly out of the way of thing and also good engine braking.

Merging into a highway or having fun with Harley, 7K is fine.  You will find that if you take a nice 1 hour run on the highway at 70mph and 5+K in the tach the bikes really idle and run better. These suckers were born to run.   

[mac3687]

Red line on tachometer = vintage shift light.

Love it.

Around Town you want to try to keep it at 4K which is the low end of the torque band. It gives you the ability to move quickly out of the way of thing and also good engine braking.

Merging into a highway or having fun with Harley, 7K is fine.  You will find that if you take a nice 1 hour run on the highway at 70mph and 5+K in the tach the bikes really idle and run better. These suckers were born to run.   

Noted! As soon as the rain subsides I'll be back out there putting it through it's paces. It's a shame the weather is crappy here (Nashville), I was planning on riding down to Barber. Looks like I'll be taking my truck with the rain/storms expected.

[TwoTired]

My question is, when do you shift gears? Obviously speed, road condition, weight on the bike, etc. make a difference, but what's a good rule of thumb? I generally rev to about 4K before shifting, sometimes 3K, some times as high as 5K. I don't think I've ever had the engine over 5,500rpms, mainly because I know it's 38 years old and am trying to put as little stress on it as possible. Am I over thinking this?

Well, you've under researched this bike/engine regarding the facts used for thinking about it.  Anything up to and including red line is perfectly safe on a good engine.  If you want a low RPM bike, get a low RPM  V twin.  If you are keeping the R's down to keep it quiet, put a better exhaust system on it.

imo, you'll never fully appreciate the bike by keeping the R's low.

[rtbmrgl]

I very rarely look at the tach, ridden a lot of bikes through the years dirt and street, they all have a sweet spot that sounds and feels like a good time to up-shift or down shift.
my 2c

[evanphi]

Shifts at about 6-7K for me. I tend to cruise at 4-5K.

Honestly it really depends on how I'm feeling that day... fell like wasting gas and being a noise-maker? 7-8K, hard on throttle, fast shifts, etc... feel like just taking my time, nowhere to be? 5-6K, gentle roll-on throttle, slow shifts.

It seems like I mostly feel like wasting gas lately...

[mac3687]

My question is, when do you shift gears? Obviously speed, road condition, weight on the bike, etc. make a difference, but what's a good rule of thumb? I generally rev to about 4K before shifting, sometimes 3K, some times as high as 5K. I don't think I've ever had the engine over 5,500rpms, mainly because I know it's 38 years old and am trying to put as little stress on it as possible. Am I over thinking this?

Well, you've under researched this bike/engine regarding the facts used for thinking about it.  Anything up to and including red line is perfectly safe on a good engine.  If you want a low RPM bike, get a low RPM  V twin.  If you are keeping the R's down to keep it quiet, put a better exhaust system on it.

imo, you'll never fully appreciate the bike by keeping the R's low.

I was really just curious as to how others ride. Thank you for your constructive response.

[PeWe]

Mostly at the red, 8000rpm. Most of my km's this year are test drives.  The hotter cam I used earlier CX-7 liked to pass 8000...
Relaxed driving might be 4-6000 rpms when shifting gears. I prefer to run on not too low rpm so I can react in any situation by twisting the throttle and the engine must react direct.
Same driving style with my car

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

5500? You're #$%*ting me?? These engine love the rpms and they need to be exercised. They'll rev freely so let them go. I FREQUENTLY hit my 8500rpm redline in the lower gears just because it feels good  and it gets there before I know it.

[grcamna2]

5500? You're #$%*ting me?? These engine love the rpms and they need to be exercised. They'll rev freely so let them go. I FREQUENTLY hit my 8500rpm redline in the lower gears just because it feels good  and it gets there before I know it.

They breathe better up where they were designed to run

[Retro Rocket]

I can't believe no one said "feel", you can feel what the engine is doing so change gears when the bike wants it, as in, not when its loading up like going up a hill, but when the bike is pulling freely, not when its struggling to pick up revs, I always believed that Tacho's were for dummies, its not hard to feel where the engine is comfortable and when power drops off, or when its laboring. Am i expecting too much...

[RJ CB450]

Not a 750, but my 650 just don't like running below 3000.  She'll do it, but you can feel that it is labouring and not being smooth.  6000 is usually shift point accelerating, then a 4-3k maybe if I hit traffic.  Close to 9000?  Maybe when pulling onto the highway.  My dual cam wants even higher RPMs.  It can idle and cruise lower, cause is a CBX, but doesn't like pulling initially at the bottom end.

[754]

You think you liked the bike before, be even better now that you use it properly..

[grcamna2]

I think they run best when you run sohc4's like you would a small cc size single or twin or 2 stroke bikes even though you don't have to... 
 Multi's like to be 'spun'. When you have the rpms up 'mid-tach.' you've got a lot more options on what you'd like to do w/ all that spinning inertia/internals;either acceleration or engine braking. The power to the rear wheel gives you better control of the bike along w/ counter-steering & course corrections;it 'lightens up' the Feel of the bike and almost makes it 'feel' lighter overall. Just as long as you keep a steady/smooth hand on the throttle and clutch and don't overload your rear tire's traction/contact patch.