I'm sure that this could be conducted better. In any event, there is a paucity of info on the subject here.

Wondering if there are any wear-and-tear or fuel economy implications for shifting at a particular engine speed. I have a S2R 800 and allegedly, the limiter kicks in around 11K. So, for instance, if at a constant speed, what RPM range would you comfortably maintain through town?

I appreciate your time.

If you think your limiter is at 11k you are in for a rude (read: throw you over the handle bars) surprise a few thousand RPM earlier.

At a constant speed I try to keep my revs somewhere between 4 - 6k.
Anything below 4k is lugging the engine.
Anything above 6k your getting close to time to shift.

same, i usually keep my rpms around 5k on average when city riding.  if i'm pushing it and doing some canyon racing i'll shift around 7-8, but my rpms generally stay above 4k.

I put my two votes in for 2,500 and 3,500.

With the amount of low-end torque from the 1100DS engine in my bike, it feels prefectly comfortable down that low.

Even rolling on the throttle and accelerating out from 2,500 rpm is no problem.

4.5k is like buttah. '98 M900

11k is for 4v's. not us

4.5k is perfect, but 3.5k is also fine. Depends on where you are. I do 3.5k at nights adn 4.5k  during the day time. Theres a lot more up and go at 4.5k then there is at 3.5k, to me atleast. (day time = more cagers)

Any kind of serious load on the motor....sudden hard acceleration, riding uphill, etc.....causes my engine to lug below 4k.  It probably doesn't help that I bring an extra 200lbs to the party. 

Quote from: hyphen on October 01, 2008, 11:10:35 AM
same, i usually keep my rpms around 5k on average when city riding.  if i'm pushing it and doing some canyon racing i'll shift around 7-8, but my rpms generally stay above 4k.

+1 on this, that is pretty much exactly the way I choose to keep the RPMs as well.  I like to be within the powerband at all times, even if I am just cruising I will be between 4500-5500, so I am always ready for surprizes and ready to take evasive action.

I normaly keep it at around 3.5-4, but I've been running some experiments on gas mileage so I have a few questions to add

-you guys and gals who are running at around 5+ on a normal basis, what kind of mileage are you getting and what oct. gas do you load up with?
-do you consistently engine brake when coming up to a stop or simply slowing down for a turn?

I've been trying to figure out what happend to my mileage.  I bought the bike at 11k miles and have since put on 6 more.  Started at 45ish around town and now (after finally fixing that exhaust leak) consistently get 39-41.  I can only assume it's the difference in how I've learned to ride since I bought her.  I've been trying to run at a fairly consistent rpm on 89 gas (about 10 tanks worth, all at the above mileage), and I'm gonna switch to 91 soon to see if i can up it a bit. 

Don't mean to thread jack, Domingjm2, just figured I might add to what you had already mentioned.  Oh, and like He Man said, our limiter kicks in at around 9 (maybe a bit over), though i can't be sure as any time I'm on the throttle that hard, the tach is the last place I wanna look. 

i generally cruise around 4K...

it works well on a 2V Duc.

The options on a Duc are awesome.   Nate gave me shit for riding around DIMBY in second gear at 8K on our ride.

So I short shifted the next section and never rode above 5K.

Absolutely haulung ass at 4.5 tops.

(I know I'm rich...sorry for the eyes of the guys behind me...but it does run smooth).

rev to 11K or hang out at 5.   same speed on the road (track is different).

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Quote from: Statler on October 01, 2008, 04:29:16 PM
The options on a Duc are awesome.   Nate gave me shit for riding around DIMBY in second gear at 8K on our ride.

So I short shifted the next section and never rode above 5K.

Absolutely haulung ass at 4.5 tops.

(I know I'm rich...sorry for the eyes of the guys behind me...but it does run smooth).

rev to 11K or hang out at 5.   same speed on the road (track is different).

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

there is a very logical reason for lowering rpm.

the bike is less affected by throttle adjustment.

Try it...

ride your favorite loop...

click it up a gear...

it will be more fun.

I ride with my fingers on top of the brake...not over, but on top of...

the result is veeeery good throttle control.

minute inputs easy.

If anything I am a pansy for rolling on.

But for high rpm, it's not jerky at all...it's smoooooth.

so for me it's fun to ride at high rpm.    just not un for those behind on group rides.

(although after vibrating out my shifter control at DIMBY, those in front had to wait while I got fixed, so those in front got screwed too)

more track time needed.  preferably following ducpainter on his new track scoot.

What I don't understand is why Ducatis run lower RPMs than IL4s. I mean wasn't the desmotronic thing invented for higher RPMs?

Great. Just what I was looking for. So the consensus is that there should be no engine wear implications in consistently cruising at 5K compared 3.5K? I always try to be as kind to my vehicles as I can be. However, I don't have any knowledge to support my practices. Thanks all, for the input. Much appreciated.
Jimmy