RPM/Engine Speed & Riding Style

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by Shucker

This thread has really been weighing on my mind. I have been a member for a while but this is my first post. Why? Because I have a lot more to learn from you guys than I am able to contribute.

I just got a new 2016 Voyager in April. The manual says not to let the engine speed exceed 2,500RPM for the first 600 miles and to keep it under 3,500RPM for the first 1,000 miles. I hit 925 miles today.

Being conscientious of the manual instructions, I got pretty comfortable under the 2,500. I knew it wanted more but I stuck to that. Now that I can open it up a bit more, I feel like 3,000 is the natural shift point and keeping between 2,000 and 3,000. I had gotten pretty comfortable at that level, but now I am hearing that some guys never take it below 3,000, or effectively their 3,000 is my 2,000.

The last couple of days I have been trying that out, but it really just feels like I am stressing the engine more than running where it is comfortable. I have an highway commute and previously I found myself in OD pretty quickly. Yesterday and today I held in 5th gear and ran at 3,000RPM and was doing 70 give or take. That seemed reasonable, but my gas mileage dropped significantly.

Do I just need to follow the advice of the majority since I am awfully new to the whole thing (2 years, 2nd bike)? Or if the 2,000 min and 3,000 shift point works for me what long term damage/impact am I having on the bike?

Thanks

We're not saying don't use your low end torque, we're saying use it correctly, don't lug the engine! If your bike isn't bucking, valves aren't rattling, have alot of lowend vibration....you should be good.
The bike will let you know if your doing something wrong, if you listen to her....the more you keep your rpm up, the more your gas mileage will fall.
Don't necessarily blame your bike for crappy gas mileage.....blame our politicians, that 10% ethanol doesn't help....wait till it hits 15%....
My 1500 has a bigbore kit in it, 1600cc's, Webcams hot street cams, ported intake manifold & heads, Manley pistons, bigger injectors, massaged throttlebody, custom intake, and I don't hit the orange light till I hit about 145 miles/ 155 if I take it easy....if I ride aggressively, it falls to 120-125....

[omgyouresexy]

To add to DL58's comment, my takeaway from this was that it's fine to ride quiet and keep the rpm low when you're cruising straight on or coasting downhill a bit. I spent the last tank trying to keep my RPM up and also killed my mileage and only really seemed to stress the engine more than help it run smoother.

I *think* what everyone is saying the thing to avoid is the loud, chuggy struggle the bike experiences when you don't downshift. For me, that means being willing to downshift to 3rd to climb a hill rather than try to take it in 4th while the engine tries to push all that weight up the hill at 1500 rpm. When I roll on the throttle and little happens, I will downshift and use gearing to my favor. Hopefully I've interpreted that right.

[Shucker]

OK, great, thanks for the comments. I have been successful in preventing the out and out lugging on the engine. I know what you mean and agree that is not a desired effect. I just crossed 1,000 miles today so I will take this knowledge and renewed awareness to listen to what the bike is telling me and to trust it. It was also helpful for me to hear that engine sweet spots may evolve as the bike wears in over the miles.

[mbarr10]

Being conscientious of the manual instructions, I got pretty comfortable under the 2,500. I knew it wanted more but I stuck to that. Now that I can open it up a bit more, I feel like 3,000 is the natural shift point and keeping between 2,000 and 3,000. I had gotten pretty comfortable at that level, but now I am hearing that some guys never take it below 3,000, or effectively their 3,000 is my 2,000.

While I'm Not the sharpest tool in the shed, I started to stretch its legs at 1000 miles, Pushing the rpms to 4000 and 4500 at 1500miles pushed to 5500 but only for seconds. I am not even close to being That Knowledgeable but it worked out fine for me. GOD I HATED THE BREAKIN. If you get a lot of Vibrations it think it maybe the belt tension But some one with more expertise will let you know.
What ever the best way is I Only get 28.1 MPG average in the city. My daily commutes. I am Impatient with slow drivers and it shows in my mileage but I bought the bike for the bike. I get what it gives and still smile every day to work or a drive. I can not find a good time to Ivanize yet. I do not want the down time. I park the truck for the season every year. 1500 Vulcan or 2016 Vaquero, I just want to ride.