Help understanding the R1200R engine powerband

[websterize]

Jim Ford teaches workshops about riding smoothly and his classrooms are the "invisible roads" of the Appalachian mountains. His classes sound awesome. I spoke with him today at a local dealership's open house, and he mentioned the importance of staying within your bike's powerband for riding smoothly. I didn't get a chance to ask him this follow-up question:

In what sense does powerband apply to the R1200R? Is it an RPM range?

Engine specs on my 2009:
Horsepower 109 bhp @ 7500 rpm
Torque 85 lb/ft @ 6000 rpm

[BigEasy]

The power band is the sweet spot of the RPM range where the bike makes optimum power. I think for this motor it's on the order of 2,000-6,000 rpm. I've never really paid much attention to the actual R's on the tach but that sounds about right. What he's talking about in essence is the rpm range where when you twist the grip the bike makes power NOW. It doesn't have to torque lug to get spinning on the low end and on the high end power doesn't fall off as the motor spins up past a useable point. This engine is easy to keep there IMHO. It's basically a function of picking the right gear for the road/terrain conditions to keep the motor where it wants to/will make useable power.

If you've ever ridden a two stroke you may have a better idea of it. The power band starts where the motor wants to rip your arms out of socket and loft the front wheel. The high end is when the power makes an drastic drop off. If you're a math guy it's the meat in the center of the bell shaped curve.

Jim's classes do sound great, one of these days I'd like to do one.

[websterize]

If you're a math guy it's the meat in the center of the bell shaped curve.

I'm not a math guy, but this makes sense. Thanks.

The 2007-2010 R12R horsepower and torque curves — I've glossed over these data in the past:



There's an informative feature story on Jim here.