Riding at 5000RPM

[MJB]

I enjoy riding the bike at 4000-5000rpm. I like the sound, the feel and the ride compared to riding at 3000-3500rpm
When I am on the HWY I do pop it up into 6th gear and enjoy the extra bass milage

Question

So by riding at 5,000rpm am I doing damage to the engine?
I do take the bike up to 6,000 quickly (but not that quickly) to change gears

[deilenberger]

Sounds fine to me. Boxer engines aren't damaged by RPMs..

[GBag]

When I take my bigger trips in the summer I routinely spend most of the days with the tach reading 5k. I've put over 40k on both my bikes this way and never had a problem.

[r1200rclassic]

I am still breaking in my bike for the first 600 miles and I'm trying hard to avoid lower RPM except sometimes thats nearly impossible with city traffic... I try to rev it into the 55-6500 range as often as I can... I don't hover into that range as of yet, but I do try to rid on the freeway between 3500-4500.

[websterize]

At 5K, you're near the middle of the powerband, where the bike is most responsive.



The 2011+ DOHC data might be slightly different.

[MJB]

Thanks
This is good to know because the bike sure performs better at 4-5000rpm than putting around at 3,000rpm

[famousperson]

Thanks
This is good to know because the bike sure performs better at 4-5000rpm than putting around at 3,000rpm

I "putt around" at 3,000 rpm in the city, shifting up at 5,000 rpm. I find the bike really sluggish below 3,000 rpm and see no need to rev it higher than 5,000 rpm. That's quite comfortable FOR ME (I'm sure everybody has their own personal preference).

[tinytrains]

I am still breaking in my bike for the first 600 miles and I'm trying hard to avoid lower RPM except sometimes thats nearly impossible with city traffic... I try to rev it into the 55-6500 range as often as I can... I don't hover into that range as of yet, but I do try to rid on the freeway between 3500-4500.

I have an 09, but my manual explicitly said NOT to exceed 4000 RPM for the first 600 miles. My dealer even checked the computer to see if I was doing so. The Max RPM is evidently logged.

[r1200rclassic]

I am still breaking in my bike for the first 600 miles and I'm trying hard to avoid lower RPM except sometimes thats nearly impossible with city traffic... I try to rev it into the 55-6500 range as often as I can... I don't hover into that range as of yet, but I do try to rid on the freeway between 3500-4500.

I have an 09, but my manual explicitly said NOT to exceed 4000 RPM for the first 600 miles. My dealer even checked the computer to see if I was doing so. The Max RPM is evidently logged.

the manual says 5500 for the first 200 miles, and 6500 2nd, 7500, 3rd 200... after 600, it's top of the arc. That's for the 2012.

[MJB]

the manual says 5500 for the first 200 miles, and 6500 2nd, 7500, 3rd 200... after 600, it's top of the arc. That's for the 2012.[/quote]

What page of the manual gives that info.
My manual states don't go over 4,000rpm for the first 600 miles.
Now I have a 2007, but I don't think the engine is that different.
Even if you go to the BMW Motorad site and download a manual, the info is the same...4,000rpm max for the first 600 miles.

Now others on this forum will say "ride it hard" "ride it like you stole it"

I'm just wondering where in the manual the info you stated is?
I mean the bike red lies at 8,000rpm, so why take it too 7,500 at about 400 miles?

[r1200rclassic]

the manual says 5500 for the first 200 miles, and 6500 2nd, 7500, 3rd 200... after 600, it's top of the arc. That's for the 2012.

What page of the manual gives that info.
My manual states don't go over 4,000rpm for the first 600 miles.
Now I have a 2007, but I don't think the engine is that different.
Even if you go to the BMW Motorad site and download a manual, the info is the same...4,000rpm max for the first 600 miles.

Now others on this forum will say "ride it hard" "ride it like you stole it"

I'm just wondering where in the manual the info you stated is?
I mean the bike red lies at 8,000rpm, so why take it too 7,500 at about 400 miles?

Your bike is the prior engine. The newer engine is 8500 redline and the reason for the schedule increase I was told by my dealer is to insure proper seating of the piston rings and not continue to consume oil.
I'll look up the manual when I get home and post the page, but again, if your bike isnt the 2010-2012 range, it's a different book

[r1200rclassic]

Ok, so here is the exact wording from chapter 5, page 61.

--------------------------------------------

The first 1000 km
While running in the motorcycle,
vary the throttle opening
and engine-speed range frequently;
avoid riding at constant
engine rpm for prolonged periods.
Try to do most of your riding
during this initial period on
twisting, fairly hilly roads, avoiding
high-speed main roads and
highways if possible.
Comply with the rpm limits for
running in.
Running-in speeds
<5500 min-1 (Odometer
reading 0...200 km)
<6500 min-1 (Odometer
reading 200...400 km)
<7500 min-1 (Odometer
reading 400...600 km)
maximum engine rpm for
short bursts (Odometer
reading 600...900 km)
Do not omit the first inspection
after 500 - 1200 km.
5
61
z

[Tarmac]

Dude, grow a pair and red line your bike off the line, through at least the 1st 3 gears, at least once per ride. Not doing this could damage your testosterone levels.

[tinytrains]

the manual says 5500 for the first 200 miles, and 6500 2nd, 7500, 3rd 200... after 600, it's top of the arc. That's for the 2012.

Cool. I wish the earlier models gave that much freedom.

[Clem]

+1 what r1200rclassic said.

Got her in December.
I varied the RPMs constantly up to 1000kms
Mountain & twisties. Had the dealer change the oil.
He said, "Wring it Out !"
So, I rode it like I stole it,
changing the oil&filter every 3000kms with dino 20W50.
Had dealer change oil and inspect her at 10,000kms.
She's got 12,600 kms today, I didn't top it up, and the oil level
is only about 1/8 of an inch below the very top of the sight glass.
Runs like a Singer sewing machine from 4-8 grand.
Man, I love this bike!

[Texas42]

600 miles that took 2 days, now I ride it like I stole it, dealers orders. 5K is really smooth and the gas mileage is not bad at all. 50K on the 2007 GS and doesn't use a drop of oil between changes. 65K on the previous GS it never used any oil and ran strong. Only have about 6K on the 2012 R1200R but it runs great, still uses a little oil, but I think that will stop at about 12-15K miles just like the GS's.

Don't worry 5-6K is not being hard on the motor.