RPM Range

[lilseth0014]

I have a 2002 ninja 500 with 2,700 miles on it. And im learning more and more about riding. But im curious about the rpm range. In a car i try to stay around the 2-3 grand range. But what is the correct rmp range on my bike. I dont want to over rev it. I stay around the 4-5 grand range. and

[Yeorwned]

The correlation between revolutions a minute in your car and on your motorcycle are almost complete opposites. The larger the engine displacement, the slower it needs to spin. For example, a tractor trailer engine red lines at 4500 RPM while a new zx6r red lines at nearly 17000 RPM.

Your EX500R safely operates up to 13000 RPM and your power band doesn't even kick in until 4~9k.

[Lawn Masters]

Originally Posted by Yeorwned

Your EX500R safely operates up to 13000 RPM and your power band doesn't even kick in until 4~9k.

COMPLETELY wrong.

by 12k rpm, your EX500's motor will be DEAD. there is no rev limiter, and the big end bearings are a weak link on this motor. 11.5k rpm and higher will KILL the connecting rods. and the powerband kicks in at 6000-9800rpm just so you know.

just cause the tach SAYS 13K rpm is the max doesnt mean it'll run to that safely. besides which, it wouldnt go past 11.5k even if it wanted to because the CDI sequence terminates there, and all spark is completely random past that point making further revving completly impossible.


DONT EVER rev past 11k on the tach where the redline BEGINS on an EX500, trust me. it'll hurt like hell when you bend over to replace your motor.

[eidian]

No need to worry about going past 11k on-the-tach: the CDI box can't handle anything past 10k. FOG said (and you, Lawn) that in the 500R forum and I witnessed it first-hand when I did it by accident in 1st gear once. It's really quite shocking at first when the engine just stops until it gets to below 9k.

[jakdobelbower]

wherever you feel comfortable is fine i know the bike vibrates like hell further up on the range so i used to lug it around town

[Lawn Masters]

Mine all went to 11k, maybe 11.5 on the tach when I slammed the throttle wide open a couple times. this was 2nd gens too, not the first gen models. not tryin to say you're wrong, but that mine did 11.5k on the tach. somehow they didnt go boom, but I was VERY fortunate too.

[eidian]

No one's saying anyone's wrong--we're just telling our experiences. I've heard that there are variances in the boxes which could account for our different "overload" points.

[doebag]

Have a look in this thread as well


http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...ising-rpm.html

[jakdobelbower]

in the end ride where your comfortable it wont hurt the bike unless your at about 10 grand and up

[Lawn Masters]

Originally Posted by eidian

No one's saying anyone's wrong--we're just telling our experiences. I've heard that there are variances in the boxes which could account for our different "overload" points.

You're quite right.

I dont see any reason to ride above 10K anyhow, the power starts dropping off at 9800, so yeah.

[nomadfool]

No matter what bike you have they all have a power curve and you nee to find yours and use it. You tack my red line at 11,000 but theremay not be nothing there. My ZX-6R red lines at 16,500 but the power falls off at 15,250 so winding any further is useless wear and tear on the engine and for competition purposes you just wasting time.

Google the internet for your power curve (ex. Ninja 500 HP Curve) and see where the power drop is and that is really your red line for practical purposes. You can watch the Tach and tell where the power comes on at. So there you are.

[Yeorwned]

Originally Posted by Lawn Masters

by 12k rpm, your EX500's motor will be DEAD. there is no rev limiter, and the big end bearings are a weak link on this motor. 11.5k rpm and higher will KILL the connecting rods.

Motor dead at 12k? Hardly...these engines are extremely resilient and do not simply blow up because you spike it every once in awhile.

[Lawn Masters]

Originally Posted by Yeorwned

Motor dead at 12k? Hardly...these engines are extremely resilient and do not simply blow up because you spike it every once in awhile.

I know plenty about this particular bike, enough to know that 12k rpm is well into its effective redline, and will result in damage on a level you dont want to know about. think about what happens when you run a motor with no oil. rod bearings will disintegrate, and your rods will probably come through the cases. on the EX's design, the big end bearing is the weak link, and that speed causes them to just open right up and FACK your motor without lube.

[Yeorwned]

This is the great part about the Internet. Everyone's an expert.