What speed revs is the bike/rider happy at.

keithquad

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Uncertain if this has already been asked, however with the 650 what do people tour at?

I've recently been doing more motorway mileage at circa 5000 revs plus a bit more. For those of you that have used the bike for long tours what would you advise, lower revs than this?

The bike seems fine at this but if I was to be travelling at this for, let's say 6 - 8 hours would this be thrashing it too much?
note I'm only at these revs for circa max 2 hours

Interested for your thoughts. Cheers.
 
Running the bike at 5000rpm for 2 to 3 hours is no problem at all, most of our touring holidays involve a 270 mile run down to Dover via A1-M11-M25-etc and the only place the engine ever gets stressed (rider also) is at the Dartford crossing. I usually fill with super fuel before a long motorway journey.
Caution though, I usually get 210 miles before reserve, this has easily got me from Leeds to Stanstead services on the M11 previously. This year I was riding into a gusty headwind and the fuel gauge dropped from OK to 0 just after leaving Cambridge. I just made it to the services and put 15.5l of fuel in. Working the engine hard fully luggaged at 5000+ drinks petrol.
 
I'm with Sooty - sitting at high revs drinks, a lot. However i don't think it causes any problems with the bike - i've done a swift trip home from Scotland (~500 miles and over six hours riding) at high revs with no ill effects...

S
 
Filling with super for a long motorway journey is probably all in my mind. In a previous years I ran in to very heavy motorway congestion and spent over an hour filtering or standing still, the day was very hot and the engine started to feel rough. It only costs £1.50 extra per tank full so I give the bike a treat now.
I have been told, but cannot confirm, the ECU is rider adaptive, IE it monitors your normal riding style and maps to suit, if this is the case suddenly blasting down the motorway will be a shock to the system, in my thinking the super offers a bit of a cushion against pre detonation.
I don't bother with super for normal riding except in France and Spain where I find the std petrol causes rough running, especially at altitude.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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