What exactly constitues lugging the engine?

I bought the bike to improve gas mileage over using my car to get to work, and as an occasional weekend fun cruiser.

That's not to say I don't get on the throttle now and then .

I'm just curious what exactly constitutes lugging the engine? I'm interested in short shifting and light throttle use to maximize gas mileage, without overworking the engine.

Thanks!

To me its any time the engine shudders when you give it gas, roughly under 2500 RPM in a gear

Riding around in any gear under 2000 rpm. If you are going to get on the throttle, I would not reef on it under 3000 rpm. I ride to/from work through mostly 30 mph zones so that is around 2100 rpm in 4th. I do not ride fast anymore, too old and the cops around here look to bust folks on old ratty bikes. It is a la de da ritzy town that figures anyone not on a new harley, does not live here and they don't want that kind of people riding through their town.....chris3

Ok, so on the other side of the spectrum... what exactly constitutes over-revving the engine?

I guess I should start with the backstory. I have an '84 BMW 325e. This engine only revs up to 4500 rpm. It is designed as a low-rev high-torque engine that is economical, yet sporty. I'm used to shifting at around 4000 rpm.

The bike cruises down the highway here at 4000 rpm, and I'm used to my car. I feel like I'm beating on the bike by letting it rev like that. I'm sure I'm not... But I guess what I'm asking is what is the maximum sustained RPM that should be allowable on the bike at highway speed?

Again, '79 KZ1000 LTD.

I figured I would just reply in this thread as opposed to making a new thread.

4000 RPM is real nice.


Any thing between 3500 and 5500 should be real sweet.


If the bike's set up correctly it'll run like that all day with no problems.


Occasional jaunts to redline are to be expected.

KZCSI

Excellent, that's exactly how I'm doing it too.

Of course, redline is to be expected once in awhile. I'm a firm believer that engines DO need to get wrung out every so often. It is bad to NOT do it at least once per hundred miles or so.

I know with the gear ratios you'd be moving along pretty quickly at 5500 in top gear on the highway.