I have a 06 1200c Blackcherry/blackpearl.I seen a post yesterday about shifting and I was a little unsure.Have the bike for 2 months first bike.This is how i try to shift please tell me if i am way off. 1st 15mph/ 2nd 15mph to 25/ 3rd 25 to 35or so/ 4th 40 to 50/ 5th 50 and up.Could use any pointers I can get. Thanks!

 

utz,

Sounds like you're pretty much following what it says in the manual. The important thing is to not "lug" the engine by going too slow in any of the gears. I have the 1200R with tachometer and have found anything below 2,000 RPM in most any gear pretty much is "lugging" the engine. It's easier for me to take readings off the tach to know what's best, but I also glance at the speedo and pretty much find that the manual is keeping you in the 2,000-2,500 RPM range with the recommended shifting speeds. I have a lot of experience with 25 MPH because that is the speed limit on the entire island I live on 6 months every year. At 25 MPH I am right between 2nd and 3rd gears. Second gear at 25 MPH is a little higher in RPM than I like and in 3rd gear it is lower than I like. I know this probably isn't helping you a great deal because you have no tachometer. I think they should be mandatory on all bikes - they make getting to know your bike and its shifting points so much easier...

 

wow, we seem to get a lot of these shift point discussions here. Since I've been riding and driving manual transmissions for over 30 years, I guess it's just second nature to me at this point (I've never owned an automatic transmission, as my primary vehicle).

Maybe the Motorcycle saftey classes should add this to their content.

 

Your speeds and shifting points are correct for flat, level riding. If you're going up a hill and follow that guideline you're probably going to lug the engine. In that situation you want to go to a higher speed. Likewise, you can go to a lower speed when going down hills. The whole idea is to not cause the engine to strain itself. If you give it gas and it sounds like it's laboring, you're in too high of a gear. Drop it down one and notice how much more responsive it is. It does take time but it will all come to you.

The other side of the coin is that if you're out for "performance" you might choose to stay in second gear to around 50. I hope that doesn't confuse things too much.

 

Thanks for the help.I think saddle time will help.Only have 500k on it.