shift points

[8 LEGS]

At what rpm,s with an automatic tray should I shift gears? Also when should fifth be used? I assume it is like driving a clutched car, I have been shifting arount 4000 or so rpms and it seems to work well.

[Paladin]

it depends on if you want to short shift to save gas or not..

I found that 3500-4000 seems to be the smoothest for me or I get a bucking bronco effect where there seems to be a delay and the bike seems to nose dive then the shift actually happens and fires you back.. wife calls it the " milkshake" effect as she does not know when it's coming so she is not ready for the sudden slwoing and then accelerating

[Bob Denman]

RS or RT? The latter's 991 series engine is tuned to make its peak horsepower and torque 750 to 1000 rpm lower that the RS 990...
it's one of those things that you just have to "feel". You'll know when it's right because it'll just make you want to stop looking for alternatives...
Now as for me; I'm punching the button as soon as I can and it works just fine!

[8 LEGS]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

RS or RT? The latter's 991 series engine is tuned to make its peak horsepower and torque 750 to 1000 rpm lower that the RS 990...
it's one of those things that you just have to "feel". You'll know when it's right because it'll just make you want to stop looking for alternatives...
Now as for me; I'm punching the button as soon as I can and it works just fine!

My bike is a 2012 rt limited

[Corybud]

Shifting on my RS depends on where I am part of the time. If I am in town shifting at 3500 is pretty standard but I like higher shift points on open areas to help keep things cleaned out. The spyder engine is a rev happy engine so it is good to crank it up at least once in a while. Mine really smooths out above 5 grand and pulls great but you get going way fast if your not careful.

[Paladin]

I was told by my guys to " give her hell " everyonce in a while

the motor likes to rev high because it's from an airplane originally and has bee used for racing, and they have been finding lots of clutches ( on the auto too ) are getting burned out because people are lugging the motor/clutch too much

by being in 5th gear and cranking it from say 30 mph to 60 mph without downshifting first

so find what's comfy for you and just play around..

just remember gas milage goes down the higher you rev the motor and the faster you go.

and since gas mileage sux on the RT's I would play it safe..

unless you have lots and LOTS of bucks ( then you can send some my way.. hehe ) I need to pay for my fusion generator still

[Bob Denman]

I thought that you were going to try a flux capacitor first...
No doubt that these engines like to rev... As long as the computers will allow for the upshift I'd have to say that you're okay.

(Try shifting early... it ain't happening!)

[spyderdave]

One observation that I had today riding 2 up with my wife. Sometimes the clutch will slip a lot when shifting at low RPM with moderate throttle. It occurs to me that early shifting should only be done under light throttle, with medium throttle shift at 4,000-4,500. At wide open throttle, shift before 10,000RPM. I bounced off the rev limiter this week while shifting. The bike seemed to hesitate when this happened.

In short, try to avoid the clutch having to slip a lot while shifting the SE5 transmission. If it seems to be slipping into gear, shift a little higher or lighten up on the throttle some during the shift.

[Bob Denman]

Good point Dave!
You'll know it if you feel it...

[davidrtownsend]

I've got a 2009 RS SE5 and I can hear and feel when it's time to shift. The exhaust pitch drops in tone and the Spyder feels like the afterburners are kicking in. For me, that happens just north of 5000 RPM. I always hate to shift then because the engine feels happy at that point.

I've had to retrain my right hand since I installed the Hindle exhaust. Gas mileage? I might as well have a plywood windshield at that point.