30mph cruising, what RPM/gear ?

[GrinningGSer]

The R1200 engine has so much torque that it will pull in almost any gear, but I find that at slow constant speeds. like 30mph., my engine feels that it is 'hunting' at about 2000rpm and I cannot call it smooth. Fine at 3000rmp and above

Vacuum balance seems OK. 1200mls on clock

Do I have a problem or should I use higher revs, i.e. different gear?

Not used to a boxer yet you see...

 

[Fanum]

Have you had your fuelling map updated???

Sounds like a problem a lot of the guys were having early on with a grotty map- I understand there have been several updates that should be done at the time of a service.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Have you had your fuelling map updated???

It is a Feb05 bike, and after searching build date using a link on this site, seems to be a Nov2004 build. Do dealers update software as a service routine or only if asked ?

 

[GSmonkey]

If you've come from an inline 4, it does take a bit of getting used to as its a tad lumpy.

Easy way to tell if you've had the update is to accelerate to 4000rpm in 2nd gear, come off the gas and let it slow. If all of a sudden it surges forward at 2500rpm almost exactly, it hasn't got the update. If there's a very slight surge at 3000rpm, its the updated map.

 

[GSmonkey]

Whilst riding to work I noted that I cruised at about 3000rpm rather than 2000rpm.......maybe you want to be down a gear.

 

[Davel]

Drop it a cog - that's what I do!

 

[Engineer]

Drop it a cog - that's what I do!

I find that 3000rpm and 30mph is smoothest - however the bike is still pretty responsive at 3000 rpm so if you sneeze you are suddenly doing anywhere between 20-40 mph!

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

30mph cruising, what RPM/gear ?

Do they go that slow?........ Glad I've got an 1150

 

[JayGee]

at 30mph I'm in 3rd gear, it'll take 4th but it's not as smooth. Pulling from low down seems to have got smoother as the miles have accumulated, at 1000miles it was very rough now at 4000miles it's a lot better.

 

[GrinningGSer]

3000rpm at 30mph

That would be second gear at 30mph then GS Monkey and Engineer ?
My bike is very smooth at this rpm but does not like 2500rpm at 30mph. i.e. 3rd gear, and yes it surges when decelerating, again at 2500rmp.

Something is definately not comfortable at 2500rpm and I think that I must go to the dealer and see whats up. I would have thought that a 'new' bike would have the latest software mapping, if that is what it is

 

[GSmonkey]

If you've got a surge on decelleration at 2500rpm you need an updated map......bike is much more rideable after that.

 

[Dave Price]

I generally use 4th at 30mph on the flat and 3rd if there's an incline. However, as the miles have gone on (7500 miles) I now find that it's quite happy in 5th or even 6th.
Make sure that there isn't wear in the front screen mounting pegs, as the vibration caused at 30mph in 4th or higher, makes the bike/engine feel and sound awful.

 

[Mr K]

Eek! I use 2nd or I ride too fast......

 

[laughingBob]

At 30mph I'm usually in 3rd which is just under 3k rpm but, on any incline I drop it down to 2nd.

 

[third oilhead]

My 12 likes it best when I keep the revs above 3,000 rpm. If you like to putt around at 2,000 rpm, get a Harley.

 

[oddball]

2nd gear at 30mph for me. Not noticed any surging at all with mine, what I did notice was the on/off fueling of the fuel injection but this was only because I was runing a big Vtwin with carbs before.

30mph on the 1200 is like trying to hold back a wild animal, the bike wants to be travelling not pootling.

 

[TheJoker]

Wait till your bike gets more miles on it, it's much happier doing 2000rpms after it's done some 6000 miles or so... it's quite rough in the beginning...

so, 30mph gears 1 through to 6, depending on situation

 

[clerici]

30 mph? - the gear I use depends upon whats going on - for open quiet suburban roads or where the 30mph village limit seems to go on until the next county its 3rd - where there's a lot of activity and I might need a quick response - acceleration or braking - then 2nd.