Shifting guide...

[jbprince]

Just curious if there is a rule of thumb to follow for shifting vs. speed...

I have an 06 Vulcan 500 LTD, its a 6-speed... I try to listen to the bike to shift but as a beginner I was wondering if there was another way to kind of know what gear I should be in... I havent been able to open the bike up so I dont see me really needing 6th gear for a while... when I have downshifted though, sometimes it feels like Im in a lower gear then I should be in... any advice...

[Septimus]

Your manual should have a guide with recommended speeds at which to shift. You can pretty much pick it up just by listening, though.

[storysunfolding]

You'll get a feel for it. Shift up when it becomes too loud or at worst you aren't going any faster. Downshift when you feel it's starting to lug or you want more power.

[jbprince]

I bought the bike used and the seller couldnt find the owners manual when I went to pick it up... havent had a chance to buy a new one yet... accepting free copies

[Flesher]

Some bikes have numbers or markers at various mph points on the speedo of when you are at redline for a given gear. Don't know if the vulcan does though.

[zed]

Hey jb, you don't have your location posted under your avatar so I don't know whether you want MPH or KPH. Post it up and I will post up tomorrow what the manual says and what I generally do.
Also let me know if the bike is past the break-in period(500M or 800K).

[Wrider]

Usually the manual tells you to shift pretty darn low in the RPM range for any kind of power, at least that's my experience up here in the thin air (6K ft.) I usually just go with noise, powerband, and how I feel like riding!
Wrider

[shane-o]

Just curious if there is a rule of thumb to follow for shifting vs. speed...

I have an 06 Vulcan 500 LTD, its a 6-speed... I try to listen to the bike to shift but as a beginner I was wondering if there was another way to kind of know what gear I should be in... I havent been able to open the bike up so I dont see me really needing 6th gear for a while... when I have downshifted though, sometimes it feels like Im in a lower gear then I should be in... any advice...

by ear and feel is the best way, tacho is only useful on an open road or track, when your "ringing the ti.ts" of ya bike IMHO

[jbprince]

Hey jb, you don't have your location posted under your avatar so I don't know whether you want MPH or KPH. Post it up and I will post up tomorrow what the manual says and what I generally do.
Also let me know if the bike is past the break-in period(500M or 800K).

Im in the States... the bikes has about 2700 miles on it...

[zed]

Here ya go jb

Going by the manual;
Vehicle speed when shifting up
1st to 2nd 9 mph
2nd to 3rd 15
3rd to 4th 21
4th to 5th 27
5th to 6th 34

While the manual doesn't specifically state this, I believe these are the minimum mph at which to shift up.

What I generally do(converted from kph);
1st to 2nd 10 mph
2nd to 3rd 25
3rd to 4th 40
4th to 5th 55
5th to 6th 65

Going by the manual;
Vehicle speed when shifting down
6th to 5th 19 mph
5th to 4th 15
4th to 3rd 12
3rd to 2nd 9
2nd to 1st 9

I don't know quite what to make of this table. Possibly they mean the lowest mph to shift down at?
I downshift somewhere between the manual's upshift speed and my upshift speed depending on conditions.

You may already know this but the Vulcan 500 engine is a de-tuned Ninja 500 engine.It's quite happy revving high(compared to a V-twin).
If you need any other info from the manual, let me know.