Shift points to keep up with normal car speed
It moreso depends on how you twist that rist, shift points will never be similar to that of a car. You should shift where the bike feels good for you.
I used to short shift my GSXR, shifting around 3-4K sometimes less, I still do it sometimes, but the bikes happy place for shifting is around 7-8K and up.
I used to short shift my GSXR, shifting around 3-4K sometimes less, I still do it sometimes, but the bikes happy place for shifting is around 7-8K and up.
alaskanflyboy
Premium Member
As others have said, I shift around 6-8k on the tach. It becomes more of a feel thing after a while. The power band runs from about 5k to between 8k and 9k. You'll eventually "feel it in the throttle" when you notice that it's taking more movement for less power gain.
In traffic, I typically cruise in whatever gear keeps me around 6k at the road speed. That way, I still have some power band left to accelerate without downshifting if I need to get on it quick. I avoid 7k just because of the resonance that develops there on our bike.
In traffic, I typically cruise in whatever gear keeps me around 6k at the road speed. That way, I still have some power band left to accelerate without downshifting if I need to get on it quick. I avoid 7k just because of the resonance that develops there on our bike.
I have been shifting up based on speed, following what the fz6r manual recommends, and dont recall my RPM going over 3 or 4k.
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motorsports/owners-manuals/2013/fz6r
Page 48
Shift up points:
1st -> 2nd = 20kph/12mph
2nd -> 3rd = 30kph/19mph
3rd -> 4th = 40kph/25mph
4th -> 5th = 50kph/31mph
5th -> 6th = 60kph/37mph
I wonder why they would recommend these? fuel efficiency?
I'll transition to shifting based on RPM, and hopefully will be able to keep up with the vehicles around me.
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motorsports/owners-manuals/2013/fz6r
Page 48
Shift up points:
1st -> 2nd = 20kph/12mph
2nd -> 3rd = 30kph/19mph
3rd -> 4th = 40kph/25mph
4th -> 5th = 50kph/31mph
5th -> 6th = 60kph/37mph
I wonder why they would recommend these? fuel efficiency?
I'll transition to shifting based on RPM, and hopefully will be able to keep up with the vehicles around me.
Last edited:
Today, I shifted based on RPM. From stop light, start in 1st & rev up to 5k, shift to 2nd & rev up to 6k, shift to 3rd & rev up to 6k. At this point I was going 55mph, the speed limit on that street. Now, do I continue going in 3rd, or further shift up to 4th, 5th, and then to 6th, to maintain consistent speed but use lesser rpm and maximize fuel? What is a good practice once you achieve the desired speed limit, to shift up or not?
I shift around 7k or so; when I first got the bike I was treating it like a car and shifting early (around 4k)....then at the end of the tank I saw I averaged ~30mpg 
Read on here that the bike likes to be between 6-8k, so I just keep it in that range while riding. For most cruising around town at 45-50mph I'm in 3rd at just under 7k. On the plus side fuel economy has settled to 45-46mph the last couple tanks
To "keep up" doesn't really require much...unless you run into BMW M series, Twin Turbo Mercedes, some of the newer 400hp sports cars, etc. For all other cars it's a pretty quick bike relatively speaking; so much so that I don't really worry about being overtaken by cars around me while I'm filtering to the front of stop lights. Just clean starts and smooth shifting and you're good to go!
Read on here that the bike likes to be between 6-8k, so I just keep it in that range while riding. For most cruising around town at 45-50mph I'm in 3rd at just under 7k. On the plus side fuel economy has settled to 45-46mph the last couple tanks
To "keep up" doesn't really require much...unless you run into BMW M series, Twin Turbo Mercedes, some of the newer 400hp sports cars, etc. For all other cars it's a pretty quick bike relatively speaking; so much so that I don't really worry about being overtaken by cars around me while I'm filtering to the front of stop lights. Just clean starts and smooth shifting and you're good to go!
I shift up to top gear. No need to put extra strain on the engine it's not like 6th is overly tall anyways, the FZ has short ratios stock an it has no trouble pulling itself out of a hole at low rpm.
If I am in stop and go traffic and will be doing a lot of shifting, I usually go to about 6K to 7K RPM and shift 2 gears when I pull the clutch in. So, 1st to 3rd, then 3rd to 5th. I do this because of left wrist injuries. Clutching a lot causes wrist fatigue. When it gets really bad, I have to stop for 10 to 15 minutes to rest.
You youngsters who haven't crashed a lot yet can ignore this advice.
You youngsters who haven't crashed a lot yet can ignore this advice.
When taking off from a stop light I shift to 1st, and from 1st rev to 6k and then shift to 2nd. If I pull the clutch even 1/3rd way for this shifting, the rpm falls back to 4k. Then I rev it back to 6k.
To keep abreast of the car in the next lane, the sequence of 'press clutch, shift to 2nd, clutch release+open throttle' has to be done fairly quickly to recover the fall in rpm. What is the best way to shift up when speeding up in traffic? How much to press on the clutch - full, 1/2, 1/4 or a tiny squeeze, when shifting up?
To keep abreast of the car in the next lane, the sequence of 'press clutch, shift to 2nd, clutch release+open throttle' has to be done fairly quickly to recover the fall in rpm. What is the best way to shift up when speeding up in traffic? How much to press on the clutch - full, 1/2, 1/4 or a tiny squeeze, when shifting up?
Last edited:
Consider those recommendations as the minimum(i.e. don't shift from 1st to second until after reaching 20kph/12mph). You don't want to "lug" the engine.
and, sixth gear is more a cruising gear, if doing 55mph, then yes, pop it up to sixth... if in traffic, sometimes 5th is where to stay just to keep ready to go if needed....
the 6R engine is tuned to run around 6krpm... it actually gets better fuel economy in that sweet spot... there are years worth of threads discussing it... it seems counter-intuitive, but that's just the way it is tuned...
of course, I now have no bike and the bike I'm looking at getting is a twin, so I gotta learn this all over again... lol! twin doesn't like high revs of the I4, but has lots of torque down low
and, sixth gear is more a cruising gear, if doing 55mph, then yes, pop it up to sixth... if in traffic, sometimes 5th is where to stay just to keep ready to go if needed....
the 6R engine is tuned to run around 6krpm... it actually gets better fuel economy in that sweet spot... there are years worth of threads discussing it... it seems counter-intuitive, but that's just the way it is tuned...
of course, I now have no bike and the bike I'm looking at getting is a twin, so I gotta learn this all over again... lol! twin doesn't like high revs of the I4, but has lots of torque down low
Do clutchless changes once your moving. Just back off the throttle a smidge and kick it up a gear, get it right it's smooth as.If I am in stop and go traffic and will be doing a lot of shifting, I usually go to about 6K to 7K RPM and shift 2 gears when I pull the clutch in. So, 1st to 3rd, then 3rd to 5th. I do this because of left wrist injuries. Clutching a lot causes wrist fatigue. When it gets really bad, I have to stop for 10 to 15 minutes to rest.
You youngsters who haven't crashed a lot yet can ignore this advice.
Couldn't agree more! I used to only downshift clutch less, but find myself up shifting that way a lot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
It's not a semi tranny. There is a reason it has a clutch, I hear the Can-Am spider is semi. Maybe try that?
Okay, thanks for the input! I'll worry about my bikes tyranny and engine. Never said I do it all the time, just from time to time. When the pressure is off the shifter I see no difference between clutched and clutch less. Had my bike since April 2011 and zero problems. Change your oil and take care of maintenance and the bike will forever.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
once you learn how... it is fine!
Clutchless Shifting - Riding Skills Series | Sport Rider
"clutchless upshifting is a skill worth learning."
Clutchless Shifting - Riding Skills Series | Sport Rider
"clutchless upshifting is a skill worth learning."
I was gonna find an article but I'm at work. Thanks brother.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk