Highway RPM

I'm pretty sure this is normal, but wanted to check anyway. I do mostly back road and in town riding with my '78 650 so I don't usually get it up to highway speeds, but on the highway my RPM is about 5500 at 60mph. Reaching for 6th gear.. oh wait. Normal... or?

No, not normal. In 5th gear at 60 mph the engine should be turning 4500 rpm. Either you clutch is slipping (what motor oil are you using?) or someone has changed the sprocket sizes. Ed

Royal Purple Max Cycle 10W-40 High Performance Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

Too high. Must be a bullet light to light. :woohoo:
Steve

Haha.. she's quick on the streets. But on the highway? Feels like I'm driving a 250.

Next time you need a chain, change the gearing. I'm at 3500 at 55.
Steve

I'll look into that. I just did another highway sprint just to recheck and I was incorrect. Must have glanced at it wrong. The rpm at 60 is in fact 4500-4700. I think I just expected a little less "effort" at that speed. It's definitely not comfortable for an extended highway cruise.

Went to a 41 tooth rear from a 42 years ago just to drop the rpms a "little" and threw on a 15 tooth over the stock 16 a bunch of times just to play around but always went back as it rev'd to high................. compromised when i replaced the chain and sprokets and went back to stock and am happy with that.......... Ok I see your at where you should be and I know what you mean ..... I musta searched for 6th gear probably a thousand times over the years. :laugh:

I keep looking for 6th at 80 and 5000 RPM.
Steve

swest wrote: I keep looking for 6th at 80 and 5000 RPM.
Steve

Yeah I must say I looking for sixth gear on the hwy as well. Now don't quote me on this, but my shaftie is at 4k @ 60 mph I think?

Ohhhhhhh 6th, oh where art thou 6th gear!!??

I can't tell 100% because of needle flutter and my speedo reads about 59mph at 55mph but I think my KZ1000a is around 4200-4300 rpm at when actually at a true 60mph

I've never looked for 6th gear, since 1979 :ohmy:
I'm at 80 MPH = 5000 RPM also, doesn't feel over rev'd
Travel on the highway extended distances all the time :silly: