BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

What is the best rpm to shift at? I saw a review about the Honda VTX1800. The review suggested the best rpm for shifting the VTX is when the power curve flattens out. I think the motor had maybe another 1000 rpms before it red lined. I have seen two or three different power curves for the R1200R. So, what is the best rpm to shift at for max acceleration?

Also, I just realised that I have not been using all of my throttle under hard acceleration. So, my bike is even faster than I thought. How light can the front become under full acceleration?

Just learn to feal the engine when it passes it's peak output or the rev limiter will let you know

The front end can be very light in 1-2 gear.

I would have to agree that just before the limiter kicks in is the best place to shift. YRMV.
If you let it bounce off the limiter, you can just quick shift without the clutch or removing any throttle if you time it right...

Then again, you shouldn't listen to anything I say really.

Mine is not noticeably light in any gear under hard acceleration. Maybe I just don't notice it. It only comes up if I make it.


Mark

Thanks for the input.
I think I'll put it in second and run it up to near the red line so I can get the sound of the motor at the shift point. I can't seem to be able to take my eyes off the road under hard acceleration... but that's probably just me. The bike sure pushes you back in the seat ... it's fun. Thanks again.
Robert

"I can't seem to be able to take my eyes off the road under hard acceleration... but that's probably just me. "

That sounds like good policy to me.

Mark

+1. If I am riding at or near my and/or the bike's max, the last place I am looking is down. This bike is so quiet and smooth that it can get you in plenty of trouble as those qualities help make her sneaky fast (tech term). All the electronic BS in the world will not replace well practiced and competently applied skill sets. Get to know her a bit and then ride her like you stole it.

Cheers

Hi all,

Along the same lines... I'm curious what R1200R riders consider to be "optimal cruising" rpms, in any given gear.
I may not be asking the question in the right way. Sorry.

On my last bike (F800ST), I tended to keep the rpms around 4500, on average (3rd gear an up).

I'm still new to the R1200R and learning what feels good on the bike.

Thanks,
Jeff

papasong wrote:Hi all,

Along the same lines... I'm curious what R1200R riders consider to be "optimal cruising" rpms, in any given gear.
I may not be asking the question in the right way. Sorry.

On my last bike (F800ST), I tended to keep the rpms around 4500, on average (3rd gear an up).

I'm still new to the R1200R and learning what feels good on the bike.

Thanks,
Jeff

Anyplace from around 3,200-4,600. There is a slight buzz point in some gears right around 4,000, so I tend to avoid that.. but I've also been known to go 20-30 miles at 80MPH in 5th because I didn't realize I was in 5th and the engine is just so darn smooth..

Run it where it puts a smile on your face. You're happy - it will be happy.

Thanks, Don.
Sounds about right.
Yeah, the engine is REALLY smooth in 5th at cruising speeds. I have to remind myself sometimes that I have that 6th gear to bump up to once I'm up to highway speed.

Don,

"Run it where it puts a smile on your face", that sums up a book full of technical data, ride reports and analysis. Experience makes life simple. That said, "ride it like you stole it" is pretty darn good advice as well.

Doug

Good info for a r1200r noob in this thread. Any updates to this topic for the 2011 with updated engine? The rev limiter is set to 8500 rpm, is it a good idea to take it near that before shifting? I have close to 3k miles and may have been shifting too conservatively at 5k to 6k rpm. Is this bad for the engine?

redwing wrote:So, what is the best rpm to shift at for max acceleration?

From a physics persective, you need to apply force over distance and time to accelerate continuously (F=mA is only an instantaneous measure). Force over distance and time is power, or work rate. Force is torque on a rotating system...torque times rpm equals power.

Max sustained (ie, a few seconds) acceleration of the bike will occur at maximum power. On our bikes, maximum power is right near the redline.

The boxer twin is a very versatile motor. You can run it at high rpm's and have lots of fun, or shift more conservatively for better mpg (and still have fun). Some days I find myself using 6th gear more than others and running higher revs. I doubt if shifting at higher or lower rpm's will affect the engine.

redwing wrote:What is the best rpm to shift at?

I'd been tempted to ask that question for a long time, but was sort od embarrassed to, 'cause I figured that I should know the answer intuitively. It looks like I am conservative. I seldom come close to the red line, probably habit from my low-revving/vibrating English bike/Harley Sportster days. I find myself up-shifting at ~5000, possibly 5500 at times (like when getting on a freeway). I down-shift at ~3200 - 3500. The bike lugs badly below that (you can start up in second, although I hate to think what I'm doing to the clutch when I accidentally do).

Most of my riding has been in the city, where over 4000 is kind of noisy and rude, so that's the point where I cruise. When I'm on the open road I don't pay attention, although like others I have to remind myself to shift into 6th at highway speeds.

Peter

Noisy and rude? Doesn't sound like a BMW at any rpm's...

jkhomes wrote:Noisy and rude? Doesn't sound like a BMW at any rpm's...

To my ears, anyway, being on the bike with the helmet visor open. I don't know what it actually sounds like from the sidewalk.

I don't know where everybody rides where they can run it to red line or to the limiter before they shift. I usually don't pay attention to the rpms I just shift where it feels right and that spot has been different on every bike I have owned. That's the way I have done it for 30 years. My first bike didn't have a tach and my second one didn't have a tach that worked.

Today I watched on my way to work and I find I am shifting around 4500 rpm. I got out of town and ran it up to about 7K in 2nd gear and was doing 70+ and 3rd gear was really getting up there. That isn't good in town as I would be getting performance awards everyday. So, where do you guys ride that you can red line it before shifting?

ipokebadgers wrote:So, where do you guys ride that you can red line it before shifting?

I don't think anybody is saying they actually do that. Redline would be where you would shift for maximum acceleration. In theory.

In practice, most people shift the same -- 4-5k.

That makes since. I am a moron.