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Offline Flying J

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what is a good highway rpm?
« on: August 05, 2008, 02:13:13 PM »
When I'm cruising long distance what RPM should i be at? I don't want to be to high  for to long.
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martino1972

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2008, 02:24:14 PM »
anywhere from 5000 till redline......
its a sohc,they seem to reff high,and more then once i found myself "looking" for that 6th gear...
but trust me,they can do 9000rpm all day long,they love it...
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keener

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2008, 02:36:28 PM »
I had the same concern with my 77 550, but i took it on a good trip at 6K for hours at a time and it was all good, good passing get go... good luck
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Offline WFO

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2008, 04:01:29 PM »
Quote from: martino1972 on August 05, 2008, 02:24:14 PM
anywhere from 5000 till redline......
its a sohc,they seem to reff high,and more then once i found myself "looking" for that 6th gear...
but trust me,they can do 9000rpm all day long,they love it...



yep it seems my 650 loves it after 5500k about 65mph and up.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2008, 04:40:06 PM by WFO »
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Offline andy750

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2008, 04:37:48 PM »
Recent trip last week from Boston to Ohio and back (1500 miles) - sat on the Interstate at 5000-6000 rpm most of the time (75 - 90 mph; CB750K4 18front/48 rear). No problems.

cheers
Andy

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Double A

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2008, 04:39:44 PM »
My 550K is at 4000 RPM at 60MPH in 5th gear, an although I have also found myself "looking" for that non-existant 6th gear when I get around 5K on the tach, it's sure nice to roll on the throttle without downshifting and get great pull-away power in top gear!  Rev on!
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2008, 06:04:27 PM »
You can expect no problems at 5k for long periods of time which would be 70mph depending on your gearing. I am not sure about 9K being reasonable. These motors like to rev a bit. They actually run better if you take it out on the highway and thrash it a bit. Mine idles like smooth as glass after a 1/2 hour at 5K. If you had a V twin before that it seems like a lot of revs, but for us, it is a ride in the Country.
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2008, 12:28:15 AM »
In all those years (since 1979) on highways with no speedlimits, I always did 7000 -7500 RPM. A mechanic who owned a 500 Four himself had advised me so. I remember one day I came back from the Italian Swiss border and did over 1000 km at this RPM. No problem for this kind of bike. In those days, like many others I used the D-8ES-L plugs to be on the safe side. The D7ES (7EA now) was generally seen as the plug for the break-in period only.
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Offline schwebel

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2008, 01:14:54 AM »
My 350f is hitting 5k at around 40-45mph...lol. Haven't taken it on the highway yet. I bet it screams.
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Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2008, 02:52:04 PM »
75 750F with 17/48 is 70mph at 5K or 75mph with 18/48 at 5K. It'll run this way all day long.
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Offline mrbreeze

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2008, 06:26:49 PM »
Acouple of years ago,Iwent from stock 48 tooth rear to 42. It now does 70 mph at 4K on the hiway and still has plenty of balls around town. Like everyone is saying..these bikes have no problem doing hi revs all day long.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2008, 07:02:21 PM »
Quote from: mrbreeze on August 06, 2008, 06:26:49 PM
Acouple of years ago,Iwent from stock 48 tooth rear to 42. It now does 70 mph at 4K on the hiway and still has plenty of balls around town. Like everyone is saying..these bikes have no problem doing hi revs all day long.
So the stock is 48? I have a 41 which explains some things. I just found that out when took the sprocket hub off to replace the cush drive. Interesting.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

fuzzybutt

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2008, 07:15:06 PM »
i rode from columbia to charleston last year at 9500 or so, that was with the 17/50 sprockets.
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2008, 07:34:09 PM »
Quote from: schwebel on August 06, 2008, 01:14:54 AM
My 350f is hitting 5k at around 40-45mph...lol. Haven't taken it on the highway yet. I bet it screams.

Trust me, it will.  I'd hate to be behind me....
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Offline mrbreeze

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2008, 07:50:58 PM »
Quote from: BobbyR on August 06, 2008, 07:02:21 PM
Quote from: mrbreeze on August 06, 2008, 06:26:49 PM
Acouple of years ago,Iwent from stock 48 tooth rear to 42. It now does 70 mph at 4K on the hiway and still has plenty of balls around town. Like everyone is saying..these bikes have no problem doing hi revs all day long.
So the stock is 48? I have a 41 which explains some things. I just found that out when took the sprocket hub off to replace the cush drive. Interesting.
48 is stock on my bike...75 750K. What is your bike Bobby?
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2008, 08:01:03 PM »
Mine is a 78 750K. The guy who owned it before me raced Porsches and was an engineer. I wonder about some mods he may have made. The carb mains are 120 which I know are not stock. He may have fiddled with a few things.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline mrbreeze

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Re: what is a good highway rpm?
« Reply #16 on: August 06, 2008, 08:11:31 PM »
Your bike has different chain & sprockets than mine. Yours is 630 chain...mine's 530. I don't know what size sprockets are on 77-78's.
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