How Many Revs Do You Use?

[Tirpitz]

Just interested to know how much of the rev range you use on the bike (normal road use here, not road / circuit racing ). My experience is as follows -

1. Engine does nowt below 4k, it's really boggy, so you need to avoid the lower reaches with a gearchange / clutch slip.

2. However, bimbling around at 30mph-ish in town, too low a gear to get the revs up makes the bike jerky, so about 6k is right here.

3. On the open road it seems to pull nicely from about 8k onwards and you want to keep it there or above in the twisties otherwise you're not going to shift much out of the bends.

4. Seems to have a kick of power around 11k

5. Don't reckon there's much more going on above 13k-ish up to the red line.

So, how much of this usable rev range do you use? I don't tend to take it above 11k much except maybe during accelleration. Do others keep the engine really screaming at the upper reaches?

[CaNsA]

i try to keep it between 7-9k revs, at anytime kick it down a gear and pin it, the revs climb

[RedexRobB]

never found the ZXR jerky myself, in fact i think its quite well behaved compared to my versys, anyone would think ive got an elastic band for a chain but i put that dont to bad fuelling in lower revs.

When i used my ZXR, i think on average i would use any where between 3k upto 7 or 8k depending on the acceleration/speed required. Anything higher than that really is just going to piss people off with the noise and just pulls attention to yourself.

[Tirpitz]

That's interesting guys. I was expecting some replies telling me I was wussing about with it and should be revving its bullocks off. Sounds as if I already rev it around the top end of how others use the engine.

I definitely think it's worth running it around the 11k mark when you are really shifting. There's a definite powerband around that mark with standard fuelling and can. But I agree that you wouldn't want to be in that band in a built up area I don't find the standard can particularly noisy at any revs, but I guess if you're running something aftermarket it might get a bit fruity.

I expect some of the racers will pop by soon to say that they only use 13k - 14.5k and anything else is for noobs

[Tom mccrea]

mine is mostly sitting at 0 rpm at an average speed of 0 kmph/mph. not great performance i know. looking forward to ringing the nuts off it though...eventually

[Jamz]

All of it!

The way I see it, the rev counter is there for a reason, and the bike is designed to use it fully! That's the same on every bike. As long as you warm it up before you're revving it up near the redline then it shouldn't be a problem - and I've had several very high mileage bikes that will vouch for them loving it, too!

[cargo]

There is only one answer to this question





ALL OF THEM

[Tirpitz]

Agree with you Jamz. All of the 400 class have high revving engines and they were designed to be used that way. They don't really make their best power or throttle response in the lower half of the rev range. I feel that if you are uncomfortable using 5 figure revs regularly then you are probably missing the point of a 400 and might be more comfortable with a bigger bike with more torque, which will roll on power with less need for gear changes.

I knew Cargo would be along soon So come on Cargo, enough of the trademark succinct response. I'm genuinely interested in how you use the motor. Ignoring acceleration into the higher end, when you're just going along at a fair pace whereabouts in the rev range do you look to have the motor spinning along at? Round 10-11ish?

[cargo]

I've not riden a ZXR on the road for sometime now............but I would suppose that you would need to be keeping to the speed limits and so should use the gearbox to give you the right revs for what you are likely to want to be doing.

Motorway cruising...........70 mph stick it in top and save fuel........if you do need a bit more speed you have the time to change down one and away you go.


Fast B road stuff having fun.............. you'd want to keep the bike "singing" ZXR dont do too much below 6K so keep it really sweet and keep it over 8K that way if you need to roll off for a corner or slow car you still be able to take off again without a gear change.


I had one of my bikes on the dyno on Friday...........................curve looks really sweet from 7K From 8K it pulls like a train all the way to 14500 and more

It' a tiny bit rich at the very top and a tiny bit lean at about 12500 but I reckon thats a reasonable compromise..............and certainly good enough to try on track and see how it feels...........flatsides of course.
I've learned lots from doing this my dyno guy is ace lets me sit in on the runs and do the adjustments myself and I've getting understand whats going on
He even let my two sons watch a run or two from inside the spound proof room

I've got another bike with a different engine and I'll be setting it up soon too.............this one will be even better..................faster.

[Tom mccrea]

Cargo if youre tinkering away in the garage and need someone to hand you tools and toad let me know, i might even pick up some knowledge...

[Whitey]

The thing is though after getting of a 125 it pulls faster than that even at 3k revs, also on long rides its nice just to toddle along

[Jamz]

The thing is though after getting of a 125 it pulls faster than that even at 3k revs, also on long rides its nice just to toddle along

Well I was talking about the way I ride my ZX9R, too!

[zxrob]

I only use mine on track so below 10k you might as well get off and walk

Rob

[lindaloo76]

All of it!

The way I see it, the rev counter is there for a reason, and the bike is designed to use it fully! That's the same on every bike. As long as you warm it up before you're revving it up near the redline then it shouldn't be a problem - and I've had several very high mileage bikes that will vouch for them loving it, too!

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!! ....... ya gotta give it a handful bloody hell...thats what they are made for!!

[razzcolio]

random question and forgive me for being a noob, but what sorta revs is best to pull off the line at? i cant seem to get it right atm, if its too low it bogs downand nearly stalls. to much and she screams and my ears bleed...