[Man_Ray]

Hellllllooooo, first post, my 2006 Ninja 500 is my first bike and I am loving this thing!

Kawi:

I bought it used with 528miles on it. I now have 735+miles. Since the bike is still has under 1000miles I keep it under 6k in the rpm range. Everytime I ride, I keep the engine moving from around 3000 to 5500rpms as much as possible - just trying to vary the speed during the break in.

Since the bike redlines at 11000rpms, my question is what is the range do you keep the bike in after the 1000miles? I have been told that with this engine you can keep it between 6000-9000rpm for "regular" riding and 7000-10000rpms for more spirited riding. And every now and then hitting up to 10500-11000rpms for fun.

Thoughts?

Peace,
Man_Ray

 

[knightslugger]

Generally speaking, anything over 40 MPH i'm in 6th gear. town riding it's usually 4th.

 

[McBiggity]

myself and fellow ex racer's shift around 9.5k-10k. and try to keep the rpms above 7k.
EX's don't like redline.

 

[fog]

11,000 for fun? Ok if for fun you mean engine rebuilding.

FOG

 

[Guest]

I guess it depends if you want to A) Save gas/wear 'n tear, or B) Stay in the power band.

In the city, I stay in the power band, so that if an idiot in a car doesn't check their blind spot, I'm gone before they even realize I was there...Power band being 7-10 (it's good enough power..)

On the highway, I keep the RPM's low (after a spirited acceleration to my cruising speed of course)

I've been off my bike 3 months now for winter, and sadly can't remember what my crusing RPM for 80k (50 mph) was...5,000 RPM in 6th? wasn't it? I suck.

 

[Man_Ray]

I guess it depends if you want to A) Save gas/wear 'n tear, or B) Stay in the power band.

In the city, I stay in the power band, so that if an idiot in a car doesn't check their blind spot, I'm gone before they even realize I was there...Power band being 7-10 (it's good enough power..)

On the highway, I keep the RPM's low (after a spirited acceleration to my cruising speed of course)

I've been off my bike 3 months now for winter, and sadly can't remember what my crusing RPM for 80k (50 mph) was...5,000 RPM in 6th? wasn't it? I suck.

Wow that was fast!!!

Ok! 11,000rpms = BAD. Won't be going there then.....So 7k-10k seems to be the consensus as to the power band. With "Keep it above 7k" as a general rule. Although 40mph in sixth seems to be lugging it...IMO.

Shifting at 9.5k-10k? Maybe because the engine is still new and tight, I can't imagine what the thing must sound like at that speed. I haven't had it up past 65mph and have not been on the freeway yet - I'm waiting until after the break in period for that. But I don't think I'm going past 70mph for awhile.

After I hit the 1000mile mark, do you work your way up the tach a-little at a time? or just start twisting the hell out of the throttle?

Thanks all!
Peace
Man_Ray

 

[bitzz]

WOT all the time.
Ya' want to slow down...gear down.

I also have the worlds biggest collection of trashed EX motors.

 

[knightslugger]

Although 40mph in sixth seems to be lugging it...IMO.

The engine is pretty smooth right @ 40MPH.  doesn't have a TON of get up, but it's still faster than most cars.

Shifting at 9.5k-10k? Maybe because the engine is still new and tight, I can't imagine what the thing must sound like at that speed.

Think of a lawnmower on high.  if you've got pipes, think of a A-10 Warhog opening up with the main cannon... like a loud and long Fart.

 

[Guest]

Shifting at 9.5k-10k? Maybe because the engine is still new and tight, I can't imagine what the thing must sound like at that speed.

Think of a lawnmower on high. if you've got pipes, think of a A-10 Warhog opening up with the main cannon... like a loud and long Fart.

It sounds like a lawnmower to the rider. For people around you, it sounds....like nothing. My buddy drove beside me with his window open last summer, while I opened the bike up to pass him, doing 10k rpm.

He described it sounding like "a bag, flapping in the wind."

 

[Guest]

So 7k-10k seems to be the consensus as to the power band. With "Keep it above 7k" as a general rule. Although 40mph in sixth seems to be lugging it...IMO.

Shifting at 9.5k-10k?

Usually my rpms are between 4000-5000. I weigh about 250 with gear on. 4000 rpms is about 49-50 mph in 6th, thats not lugging it, but you need to downshift to accelerate fast. 7000-10000 rpms pulls like mad, but for long life and economy I'd say keep it under 6000 for normal riding.

Rich

 

[AntiAndy]

When i first got my EX i used to shift at around 5K and keep it at 5K when cruising.
Since then ive gotten faster, i dontlook at my RPMs when i shift anymore but i believe it is at around 8-9K.
On the street i change up between 4th and 6th, and obviously on the freeway its 6th ar around 9-10K.

Sure it might not save and keep the engine as if i would shift at say at 4k and cruise at 5, but thats the way I ride, besides the EX is my learning bike until the day it breaks down or I crash it, movin up toa 4 banger after that (if i can afford one)

(edit:remember to take your finger off of shift when typing a number, even if the next letter needs to be capped, because it doesnt make sense to cruise at %K RPM's)

(edit of the edit:wow, it doesnt make sense to cruise at $K RPM's either, damn its way too early for me.)

 

[bobthebiker]

my style of riding, I was typically doing around 55mph in 6th gear at 4500 rpm, shift at around 5-6k, and only go up to about 10k at most, though I did hit a false neutral one time that skyrocketed to 11.5k and I somehow didnt blow it up.

 

[Lucky#13]

though I did hit a false neutral one time that skyrocketed to 11.5k and I somehow didnt blow it up.

It'll make your heart skip a beat

 

[username182]

He described it sounding like "a bag, flapping in the wind."

LOL!

I haven't had my ex for very long, but I notice you probably want to stay around 6-7k rpms around town, seems to be thats where the "power" is.

 

[bobthebiker]

though I did hit a false neutral one time that skyrocketed to 11.5k and I somehow didnt blow it up.

It'll make your heart skip a beat

aint kidding there. I was off the throttle so fast it wasnt funny. then I kinda prayed to all the gods at once that nothing got damaged. one of em must have been listening because all it did was make the cam chain rattle I had a little more annoying.

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I get it moving in first, then wring it's neck in 2nd, then shift all the way to 6th with one clutch pull then I dump it and lug it around.

I like the way the bike feels and sounds when it lugs around. I also like getting the best possible MPG.

 

[Guest]

Wait....you mean the bike shifts gears? I'd heard there was more than one, but when I push the pedal down, it only goes into one gear, and won't go down any farther?

 

[AntiAndy]

Wait....you mean the bike shifts gears? I'd heard there was more than one, but when I push the pedal down, it only goes into one gear, and won't go down any farther?

u gotta really jam on it to get it into second and further.i mean really really hard kick, lean your weigt right and hit the shifter as hard as you can (lean cause if u dont the bike will swirve left..but that is how hard ur supposed to do it.)

 

[Lucky#13]

Wait....you mean the bike shifts gears? I'd heard there was more than one, but when I push the pedal down, it only goes into one gear, and won't go down any farther?

u gotta really jam on it to get it into second and further.i mean really really hard kick, lean your weigt right and hit the shifter as hard as you can (lean cause if u dont the bike will swirve left..but that is how hard ur supposed to do it.)

NO KIDDIN' ??? No wonder I stay at 9-11k rpms . Just think what I'll be able to do with..did'nt you say 5 more gears . 8))

 

[Guest]

If only it was as easy as the shifting in my Protege - I just shift it into 5th and drive...5 is the highest number, so it must drive the fastest. I haven't even touched 1 yet, cause I'm that fast. Although, I'll admit I'm too afraid to touch R (which must stand for Really fast)