Newbie question #1 engine rpms at freeway speed

[fj11.5]

hey harvy, mine runs at 3650 3700 at 100kmh with 18/38 gearing

[DeltaFlyer]

even though I know it is not hurting anything, and much much smarter than me fellas designed it to run that way, that small part of me is still asking, "Why the hell can't I gear it to do 3,000 revs at 100kmh, it has more grunt than a trailer load of pigs, it could handle it."

Mate, it's like you read my mind.

....

How's that 'new' bike of yours going? ...was it in as good nick as the seller described it? ..it looks real nice in the pics.

[dogtired]

...and yes, I did discover the undocumented warp drive system that is activated when the tacho hits 6000  scared the bejesus outta me! 

ahahaha!
ummm, exciting isn't it? 

How's that 'new' bike of yours going? ...was it in as good nick as the seller described it? ..it looks real nice in the pics.

Very happy with the bike, still making friends with it, we aren't firm friends yet, still coming to grips with the step up from 67 horses to 130 odd. I am used to doing all my playing at under a hundred miles an hour... and the temptation is there, it gets to a hundred so bloody quick, and effortlessly. Pulling it up from about 130 is an interesting experience too!

I am learning a hell of a lot about throttle control too when coming out of corners... in the tight technical twisties it will break loose in the lower gears with very little provocation. Something I am not used to. On the Bonnie it is just a case of crank it on to full noise just short of the apex and it will pull you out of the corner with a minimum of fuss, this you have to feed the throttle into it gradually, slowly getting the feel of it. Hell of a learning curve if it gets loose in a big way and spits me off! I still don't "trust" the bike to be scraping pegs like on the Bonneville, but that will come with time. I am liking the ergos of the bike for sliding your arse about on the seat when cornering, seems like a "natural" movement, although I don't do it a lot, bad hips, it is like someone knifing my groin some days.

As for condition, for a 27 year old bike it is in pretty good shape and was roughly as described, a couple of little things, but on the whole it is good. Everything seems solid suspension wise, no gremlins, it has the usual wonky tacho and fuel guage, probably just bad earthing, need to investigate that. But the bike did come with the original tool pouch and manual, so I am pretty happy about that, people who don't care for their equipment generally lose stuff like that.

[Harvy]

I managed to run the Gateway coming home this evening and glory be - it wasn't a parking lot....... so 100kph shows ~3420 rpm on my Acewell 3969 digital dash. It's calibrated to front wheel/tyre circumference and is quite acurate for speed (set up with new front tyre so maybe a little out). Rear wheel is 180x55/17 with front and rear tyres being Conti RoadAttack 2 with probably 1/2 to 3/4 tread...... 18/38 gearing.

Cheers
Harvy

[ribbert]

I am learning a hell of a lot about throttle control too when coming out of corners... in the tight technical twisties it will break loose in the lower gears with very little provocation. Something I am not used to.

Time for a 17" wheels and modern rubber!

[keand3]

Time for a 17" wheels and modern rubber!

[X-Ray]

Dog, the highest gearing you are going to be able to fit on OEM FJs is 18/38......any bigger at the c/s or smaller on the back wheel is going to cause the chain to chew through something - either the sprocket cover or the top of the swingarm.

That will get you below 4000rpm at 100kph - I think its 3810rpm..... will have to check next time I'm out of the city, or on the freeway.


Harvy

Yep, that right Harv. I've put 18/38 sprockets on mine and the RPMs have dropped from around 4100 to 3700 @ 110Kmhr. The acceleration is still good of course,