VN 500 LTD top gear issue

[flw]

VN500 LTD '07

My bike has standard pipes so on the highway so I cannot hear the rpm's of the bike. Since I can do 65 mph in both 5th and 6th gear, after a few minutes of riding, I forget which gear I'm in. I go to shift and discover I'm already in 6th. I also have no tack and wear a full face helmet.

Is it common for those with stock pipes and full face helmets to do this after a few minutes or so on the highway? I have no real difference in engine vibration between gears at those speeds.

Thanks for your experience

[storysunfolding]

VN500 LTD '07

My bike has standard pipes so on the highway so I cannot hear the rpm's of the bike. Since I can do 65 mph in both 5th and 6th gear, after a few minutes of riding, I forget which gear I'm in. I go to shift and discover I'm already in 6th. I also have no tack and wear a full face helmet.

Is it common for those with stock pipes and full face helmets to do this after a few minutes or so on the highway? I have no real difference in engine vibration between gears at those speeds.

Thanks for your experience

It happens. Never hurts to check as 6th should give you better mileage. I'm sure there's a tell in the feel or sound that you just haven't been able to pick up yet. Try some ear plugs with low and high filters, It'll cut the wind noise and allow you to hear other things a bit better- which may include your tone.

With the vstrom whenever I want to use the engine I just tuck in... which is really funny looking on a vstrom as your in perfect position to be touching your toes.

[Nalian]

VN500 LTD '07

My bike has standard pipes so on the highway so I cannot hear the rpm's of the bike. Since I can do 65 mph in both 5th and 6th gear, after a few minutes of riding, I forget which gear I'm in. I go to shift and discover I'm already in 6th. I also have no tack and wear a full face helmet.

Is it common for those with stock pipes and full face helmets to do this after a few minutes or so on the highway? I have no real difference in engine vibration between gears at those speeds.

Thanks for your experience

I do it all the time even though I can see my tach and hear my pipes. At least once a ride on the highway, just to make sure I'm in 6th even though I can see I am. I might be a little crazy though.

[safety-boy]

65 is right in the powerband for the Kawa 500's fifth gear. I don't go to sixth unless I am on the highway typically.

If you want to make sure, just try shifting. Nobody will notice if you're wrong

--Dave

[flw]

From the manual, it reads that you should up shift from 5th to 6th at 34 mph/55 km per hour. It also reads that you should down shift from 2nd to 1st at 9 mph/15 km per hour.

For your 900 what your saying may be dead on right but mine is the 500.

Thats the my manual. If I down shift to 1st at 9 mph I'd wear out my body in no time flat not to mention the the unessessary wear on the front fork seals over time.

Its just another case of the manual not reflecting reality.

BTW the speed when shifting chart, in my manual, is on page 49 for the EN500C.

[storysunfolding]

not to mention the the unessessary wear on the front fork seals over time.

You're going to have to explain that one to me.

[flw]

It would be like riding over rail road tracks over and over. The huge dip my bike takes at about 10 mph downshifting to 1st gives you the, "I'm not sitting in my seat anymore feeling and I'm on the verge of being launched out of it".

I cannot tell you how far my front forks are being compressed but enought that you know not to do that again. I've also locked up my rear tire once doing that from about 12 to 15 mph on my first day by accident. I thought I was going to 2nd gear.

[JCS]

On downshifting into first: You just need to work on your shifting, clutch work and rpm matching a little more. It will smooth out with practice. No lurching will be the product of smoothness.

[safety-boy]

For your 900 what your saying may be dead on right but mine is the 500.

Actually, that is on both my 500 and on my old 454 (the 454 is the same as your 500).

An engine that small will wind pretty high. You redline on the Ninja 500 at 11,000 rpm, and it is most comfortable between 5,000 and 7,000. I believe the redline is the same on the VN500 - they have the same engine.

Redline on tachos is not gospel, but not far off on the 500. It is a engine that winds really high to get the speed you want. It takes a bit of getting used too, especially if you are coming from a car where you shift at 3,000 to 4,000 rpms typically. You can be lazy with the shifter in a car, and you can be pretty lazy on the 500, but to perform best, it does rev high.

Last on shifting, mph as a shifting guide is pretty inaccurate. I think Kawa goes by mph on cruisers since most do not have tachos.

--Dave