- Posts: 24
- Thank you received: 0
When to shift?
- kzartz
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
So we gun it at the start of an freeway onramp and the next thing I know he's slowly pulling past me around 3rd gear.
I didn't think too much of it as his bike is pretty well tuned up for some racing and I'm still working out a few maintenance kinks, but the question stuck in my head:
What is the most optimum RPM that I should change gears at to get from 0 to (insert ungodly MPH here) in the shortest amount of time?
I think I saw a doc in the filebase that shows the specs on a stock KZ900(I understand that my bike is now 30 years old and that it may not perform to the stock numbers):
torque tops off at 7500RPM
horsepower tops at 8500RPM
Would I shift at top torque, or top horsepower to get the most out of it?
It's not that I'm planning on riding my KZ into the ground (or some other vehicle), but I'd just like to know the optimum operating range.
got pods, got 4-1 exhaust if that makes any diff.
Tim
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- ltdrider
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1232
- Thank you received: 17
I always thought that 8500 was the best shift point for max acceleration. The bike spools up so fast that it's kind of tricky, what with that and my jumpy tach. Do you have the stock 15/35 sproket setup?
'76 KZ900 LTD (Blaze)
'96 Voyager XII (Dark Star)
'79 KZ650 Cafe Project (Dirty Kurt)
Greensboro, NC
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- kzartz
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 24
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tjettim
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 341
- Thank you received: 2
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Lorcan
- Offline
- User
- Speed Loony
- Posts: 580
- Thank you received: 59
760cc - 8.69@162mph
810cc, 211mph www.750turbo.com
www.stormdragbike.com
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wireman
- Visitor
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- mrbreeze
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 24
- Thank you received: 0
Back in the day when I cared about hole shots and such I ran the police sprocket. Which were 15/41s if I remember correctly.
If you can get a bead on the RPM that wants to take the front tire off the ground in the lower gears. That should be the RPM that pulls the best in the higher gears.
I have ridden both the 900 and the 1000. There IS a distinct difference. The 900 wraps up quicker. It's kind of like comparing a 283 Chevy small block to a 350 or 400.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wireman
- Visitor
its the lighter crank in the 900;)ltdrider had a good point... you more than likely got out sprocketed. Not to take anything away from those ol' CB750s. They will defiantly run a hole in the wind.
Back in the day when I cared about hole shots and such I ran the police sprocket. Which were 15/41s if I remember correctly.
If you can get a bead on the RPM that wants to take the front tire off the ground in the lower gears. That should be the RPM that pulls the best in the higher gears.
I have ridden both the 900 and the 1000. There IS a distinct difference. The 900 wraps up quicker. It's kind of like comparing a 283 Chevy small block to a 350 or 400.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tjettim
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 341
- Thank you received: 2
The 79-80 4 valve Hondas were alot faster
than the older ones.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BSKZ650
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 2064
- Thank you received: 14
77 kz650, owned for over 25 years
77 ltd1000, current rider
76 kz900, just waiting
73 z1,, gonna restore this one
piglet, leggero harley davidson
SR, Ride captian, S.E.Texas Patriot Guard Riders.. AKA KawaBob
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wireman
- Visitor
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- kzartz
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 24
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.