Ideal RPMs on an inline 4?

[radlefty]

After riding 30+ yrs on twins and triples, I purchased my first inline 4. A new 2011 k1300s. On all my twins and triples there was a definite sweet spot where you wanted the RPMs for both fuel efficiency and performance. For instance, on my Guzzi I liked to cruise between 4,000 and 5,000 and attack the twisty bits between 5,000 and 8,000. Staying in the right gear with the right RPMs was very important to get the most out of the bikes petformance. On the k bike, the power is so smooth and linear from any gear it doesn't seem to matter whether I'm down at 3,000 or railing at 8,000. Just not much difference in feel. Just turned 1,500 miles on it, with a long ride of 280 miles the other day, so I'm still getting used to it. Love the bike by the way.Appears to be  Perfect ergos for me, great features, and more power then I'll ever use. Just curious where others tend to run the RPMs at?

[miles]

On my K1200R it didn't really matter much what the RPM were for road riding.  It had so much stomp I could use just about any gear any time.

That said, most twisty roads were in 2nd or 3rd gear if I wanted to go fast.

[SLK50]

You've discovered what I consider to be the greatest
attribute of inline fours: namely their broad, seamless
spread of usable power. I often ride in one gear for
mile after mile just rolling in and out of the throttle.

To better answer your question, for me, the ideal RPM
is the lowest I can use where I can roll on the throttle
with sufficient power for the conditions at hand.

My bike has pretty tall gearing so that's about 3000 RPMs
but the actual RPMs aren't that critical.

[Jetpilot5]

If I put mine in 6th and just ride without looking at the tach it seems like I keep it around 4,000 rpm or 75 mph but like Miles pointed out, it doesn't really matter.  The bike is so smooth and there's so much steam on tap it'll pull strongly in any gear unless you're lugging it from 2,000 rpm in 6th or something.  I will say for normal just running around I run between 3,000 - 6,000 rpm and only head farther up the tach if I need a quick pass or want a high speed run.

Good to hear you're enjoying the bike.  I've put just over 1,000 miles on mine in the last five weeks and am sorry the season is winding down.  It'll be next year before I get the chance to really hit some twisties but even on a local ride this thing is fantastic.

[DangerMoney]

If you're reallly curious, put it on a dyno to find out where the max torque is.  

If I'm cruising on the highway on my K1200, I put it in 6th and leave it there. If I want the all the power I downshift to fourth and go to WOT. Otherwise gear choice is speed/aggression dependant.

[X1Glider]

You've discovered what I consider to be the greatest attribute of inline fours: namely their broad, seamless spread of usable power. I often ride in one gear for mile after mile just rolling in and out of the throttle.

So many people think that because an inline 4 typically can rev between 10k and 16k rpms that it also means they have a wider powerband.  When you factor in the final drive ratio, you'll find this isn't necessarily true.  You can take a dyno run from a Yamaha R6 that spins up to 15k and a BMW R1200R that spins to 8500 rpm, overlay them in WinPep with speed on the bottom of the graph and HP or torque on the side and you'll notice that for a given gear, the spread of power is more useful across the range on the twin.  The twin only loses in peak HP, but wins in across the board useable power (given that peak HP ratings are equal).  Obviously a ZX-14 or Busa has the best of both worlds.

To better answer your question, for me, the ideal RPM is the lowest I can use where I can roll on the throttle with sufficient power for the conditions at hand.

I somewhat agree.  It's great for fuel economy and interstate cruising.  In other words, enough rpms to overcome aero drag and have enough leftover for overtaking.


Like you, my most enjoyable days center around one gear.

[radlefty]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. I've test ridden and rented several Inline 4's over the yrs and never really liked them. Too smooth and linear for me. So I was surprised how much I liked the K1300s when I test rode it. The overall package of the bike is just so good that I figured what the hell, I should own at least one inline 4 in my life. Riding seasons almost over here in Mpls so it will be interesting next summer what I think of the motor after taking a long trip on it.  Right now, it seems very odd to me to not have to shift much. In some ways, it makes me feel like a lazy rider. My favorite motor so far was the Sprint 1050 motor. Great combination of visceral feel and power.  Regardless of whether I learn to enjoy the K bike motor as much, I already know that I like the overall package of the bike better.

[The Shepherd]

I usually kept my old K1200S at 4500 rpm, it seemed to be the "sweet spot" you're talking about.

[R Doug]

I usually kept my old K1200S at 4500 rpm, it seemed to be the "sweet spot" you're talking about.

4.5 - 5K was a great "pace" riding sweet spot for my K1200S too.  

To the OP, I believe we're all in concurrence with where the sweet spot is and where it feels good in anger.  

Now, go ride the piss out it!

[radlefty]

4.5 - 5K was a great "pace" riding sweep spot for my K1200S too.  

To the OP, I believe we're all in concurrence with where the sweet spot is and where it feels good in anger.  

Now, go ride the piss out it!

Managed to put on 1,700 miles on before getting hit with 10" id snow last week. Rode 300 miles on Thanksgiving and agree that 4,500 - 5000 is a good cruising pace with the occasional blast to the redline makes for a great riding experience. Now I have to sit back and hope for an early spring.