BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Yesterday, I had my first "Observed ride", the first of a series of training runs geared towards raising my riding standard to that of an Advanced Motorcyclist, the minimum standard practised by British police motorcyclists.

After my ride (about 40 miles of mixed riding in cool, damp weather), one of the areas that my Observer picked up on was my selection of gears. he said that, in general, I tend to be in too high a gear. He suggested that I should always keep my 1150R engine humming at 4000 rpm+. (I am normally about 750 rpm lower i.e. in the next higher gear).

Personally, I find this rather high, but he assured me that this would not only provide greater torque and acceleration out of corners, but that it would provide better, smoother engine breaking.

He told me that these boxer engines love to be revved (he rides a K1200RS) and that my ride should be smoother if I keep her more in the peak torque band. He did admit that economy tends to suffer slightly !

Thoughts ?

Interesting post, and has been done to death in a number of guises. Always sparks some debate, so I'll throw in my two cents worth.

I spent the last two days in the mountains, and only got back a few hours ago. Very tight and twisty. Spent most of the time rolling on and off the throttle above 4,000 rpm and below 5,500 rpm. Any less and the bike was chugging. Any more just gave me more noise and the risk of spinning up the rear on the leaf-litter and odd damp patch. Just a bit too 'peaky at over 5,500, and doesn't really do much for my style of riding.

So, I agree - When in the twisties, above 4,000 is good. Around town or on the flat stuff, anything above 3,500 suits me fine.

These are very low horsepower engines, but they have good gearing and good torque. You can outride much better machines and riders if you learn to use what you've got under your bum. I'ts great to pass the 'hotties' and then watch them fall way behind when the going gets rough and tight.

+1 on what MIXR said. Loping along at 3 to 4K is OK in traffic or on the superslab but for good performance and fun, 4,000 to 5,500 is the fun zone and will perform like a different motorcycle.

MIXR wrote:
These are very low horsepower engines,

80-85bhp is "very low"????? My how times have changed!!

try getting around with just 40 or so - LOTS of fun!

MIXR wrote: but they have good gearing and good torque. You can outride much better machines and riders if you learn to use what you've got under your bum. I'ts great to pass the 'hotties' and then watch them fall way behind when the going gets rough and tight.

Agree with that.

John: Your observer was right, let the bike rev out a bit more, it won't hurt it, in fact it's good for the engine in some ways.

OK that settles that. Yes I too was surprised at the suggestion that 85bhp was a low hp engine. I remember teh days when the Kawasaki 900 was the hottest bike on the planet at that was (as I recall) 83bhp :-)

Anyway, I have no desire for more bhp; the 1150R is fast enough for all but the insane, IMHO

85 is pretty low. Really, it is waaaay down there. My mate's GSX1400 has around 140 hp. His previous mount was a Blackbird pushing about 185 hp. Now that was a weapon! BUT - I can still out ride him in the hills because he can't use all his horses. Just too risky with nothing but cliffs and guardrails and rock embankments instead of a wide race track. His version of rolling on and off the throttle has him chucking wheelies out of each bend! Lots of fun, but scary as hell.

I am very happy with my 85 hp. I can ride relaxed and still make excellent point times on the camel tracks we have to ride on.

I have friends who can out ride 100+ hp riders with their /2 BMWs in the curves. It's the rider, not the bike when the road gets twisty!

JOHN L i past my i.a.m test 2yr,s ago it's not the bike it's the rider that counts. as long as you use the system of motor cycle control( i.p.s.g.a) to make safe progress at or near the legal limit's with a smooth ride using your forward observation and a riding plan all will be OK. just go for it and have fun

we start our york i.a.m rides on sat the 31st looking forward to that as a qualified observer

I concur that 4k - 5k is the best overall range for keeping a nice clip through the twisties with the R259 boxer engine. On my SV650, this would be too low. While my SV is lighter and more flickable than my R, I find myself having the confidence to go a bit faster on my Roadster. Why? Because it feels a lot more stable and less twitchy. This, coupled with the low-rpm torque of the boxer, is what enables us to keep up with or even exceed what sportbike pilots can manage with their rides. The authors of Motorcycle Online's 2002 review of the R1150R express this very same observation.

The only time I wish I had more horsepower from my R1150R is when I'm cruising in top gear on the highway. Believe it or not, my 325i (with the manual transmission sport package gearing) has higher top gear roll on power from 75 mph upward.

[quote="REDSTAN"] JOHN L i past my i.a.m test 2yr,s ago it's not the bike

Hello Redstan, I dont mean to pirate the string but, what is I.A.M and is there a similar program in the US?

Hi; IAM is the Institute of Advanced Motoring; they offers courses and certification for both car drivers and motorcycling.

Whether it's available in the USA I don't know, but certainly all the reading material is !

I'm a convert !
Yesterday evening's ride back from work took in a lovely road from Riverhead (near Sevenoaks) to Four Elms. It's all through lovely Kent countryside and there is but one settlement on an 8 mile stretch. The speed limit is 60 (National Speed Limit) all the way and I deliberately kept my R humming at 4000 rpm+. YES the bike really tightened up and the stability in the bends (in partnership with my new Conti Road Attacks) was first class!
Thanks chaps

John I. Stephen wrote:I'm a convert !
Yesterday evening's ride back from work took in a lovely road from Riverhead (near Sevenoaks) to Four Elms. It's all through lovely Kent countryside and there is but one settlement on an 8 mile stretch. The speed limit is 60 (National Speed Limit) all the way and I deliberately kept my R humming at 4000 rpm+. YES the bike really tightened up and the stability in the bends (in partnership with my new Conti Road Attacks) was first class!
Thanks chaps

You're with Kentish IAM?? I know one of their new observers They sound like a good group from what I've heard.

Yes the Kent Advanced Motorcycle Group http://www.kamg.org.uk/

They are a highly professional bunch with a real passion for safe (but fast) riding; keeping to the speed limits of course