nielsm
Well-known member
Depends on what you are used to. On my other two boxer bikes, it’d be rare to shift <4K RPM as you are way out of the power band and would end up lugging the engine and using more fuel. Redline on my GS is ~8500 and on the /5 is about 6500 but only a 4 speed (it is 50 years old!). On my S1000R, I’m usually shifting in the 6-10K RPM range & redline is 12K.I never understood why a rider would rev out a bike to over 4k rpm before shifting (unless running from an officer of the law). I shift by 2.5k rpm usually and get good gas mileage.
Big twin cruisers like the R18 and most Harleys & Indians are all about low end torque and the big pistons typically limit max RPM. For example, the R18 has a redline of only ~5700 RPM and max torque is at 3K, so the RPM range of usable power is much smaller than non-cruiser bikes.
My R18 is my first bike with a much smaller RPM range. It’s been an adjustment to getting used to shifting so early on it. The torque is so addictive though & sweet spot is 2500-3500 where it really pulls & elicits out loud giggles.