SuzukiSavage.com - Shift points

Jen YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 15 Long Island, NY/Central PA Gender:	Shift points 09/08/13 at 08:18:36 I recently got a copy of the manual for my '06 S40. The recommended shift points seem a bit strange- 1st to 2nd- 12 mph 2nd to 3rd- 19 mph 3rd to 4th- 25 mph 4th to 5th- 31 mph It says to downshift from 5th to 4th at 19 mph. That seems so off. Thoughts? Are you really in fifth at 31mph?!? And stay in 5th all the way from 30 mph to top speed?!? Thanks guys
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arteacher Serious Thumper Offline Ride as if your naked and invisable! Posts: 2581 London ontario Gender:	Re: Shift points Reply #1 - 09/08/13 at 08:30:17 Those shift points are designed for max fuel efficiency, so the manufacturer can gain points with the EPA. The manufacturer can average these figures over all vehicles they manufacture to submit to the EPA. The bike will tell you when to shift up or down after you get used to it.
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Re: Shift points
Reply #2 - 09/08/13 at 08:44:11

Jen, ever ridden on the back of one? Have you listened to the engine when the driver shifted? That's what you should learn to do, listen to the engine for shift points. Art is telling you true.... the book will tell you to shift sooner than the norm, and you won't be "breaking the bike" by shifting at higher rpms, just don't gun it till it screams then shift, THAT would be bad.

I have told many a rider its a bad habit to look at your rpm or speed when you shift, it takes your attention off your surroundings and your eyes off the road in front of you.

I almost never look down, only to make sure i'm not over the speed limit, most times i'm just keeping up with or slightly behind traffic.

If you are learning to ride, yes, you might have to look to learn the sound pattern and when to shift, but do it in light traffic if you can, or in a large parking lot (took my wife to walmart after 8pm and on weekends real early.

Hope this helps...

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Jen

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Re: Shift points
Reply #3 - 09/08/13 at 08:56:57

Thanks. I've been shifting based on listening to the bike and was concerned because my shift points don't match up to the manual. I get out of first pretty fast, maybe at 12-15 mph and am in second to around 25 mph, shift to third and stay there until 45 or 50 which is as fast as I've gone for like a few seconds. My max speed has really been 40 mph. I'm new!!

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old_rider

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Re: Shift points
Reply #4 - 09/08/13 at 09:15:04

Sounds like you got the hang of it just fine.

You will find once you get into fourth that you can run it all the way to 70-ish till you might have to shift again, I've hardly ever used fifth gear here with the speed limits at 55mph.

I did however use fifth gear on the interstate when traveling to north Carolina and back. Fourth to fifth didn't make much of a difference, just enough to take the rpms down a little.

Keep practicin' ! and take an MSF course if you can, if not to learn better habits, it can bring down your insurance. In some states they give discounts for MSF and advanced MSF courses.

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Jen YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 15 Long Island, NY/Central PA Gender:	Re: Shift points Reply #5 - 09/08/13 at 09:56:28 I took the MSF class and got my license (to drive 12 mph in a parking lot). We didnt learn how to shift or stop except for emergency stops.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Shift points Reply #6 - 09/08/13 at 10:36:17 Hard to say you got a decent class,, Thats pitiful
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Jen YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 15 Long Island, NY/Central PA Gender:	Re: Shift points Reply #7 - 09/08/13 at 19:42:18 The class was great for what it was. The instructors were fantastic. They really shouldhave a class that focuses on street riding.
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Re: Shift points
Reply #8 - 09/08/13 at 19:53:56

They do, just not through MSF.

Shift points? My bike has been without a speedometer for, hmm... a long time. 1st gear steady cruise is roughly 15, 2nd is roughly 25, 3rd is roughly 35-40, anything above that use 4th and stay at the surrounding/leading traffic speed. Have not gotten a ticket yet, excessive speed or mechanical violation. Tank got destroyed in 2005, replaced in early 2006.

5th is basically useless. Forget you have it.

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Rembrandt

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Re: Shift points
Reply #9 - 09/10/13 at 21:59:59

I don't understand what's wrong with fifth gear. Fifty miles an hour and over I'm in fifth and find I still have lots of power. I can easily pass a car that's going 55 in fifth without even downshifting. When I crank the throttle, I can go from legal highway speed to 70 to 85 miles per hour like greased lightening and then ease off the throttle after I've passed. Of course, I usually don't have to accelerate this rapidly for basic passing, but the bike is certainly capable of such rapid acceleration in fifth gear. Just my experience. How do you guys tend to ride this great bike?

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28416 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Shift points Reply #10 - 09/11/13 at 00:25:12 Isn't it incredible?... Suzuki paid somebody with a calculator and probably some kind of degree,.. to come up with those numbers?... 1-15mph.... 2- 20mph... 3- 30mph... 4- 40mph... 5- 50mph... Suzuki?... you owe me triple what you paid the that other guy... I don't have a degree,.. but I have been certified... ...clinically......
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Re: Shift points
Reply #11 - 09/11/13 at 04:25:35

Rembrandt wrote on 09/10/13 at 21:59:59:

I don't understand what's wrong with fifth gear. Fifty miles an hour and over I'm in fifth and find I still have lots of power. I can easily pass a car that's going 55 in fifth without even downshifting. When I crank the throttle, I can go from legal highway speed to 70 to 85 miles per hour like greased lightening and then ease off the throttle after I've passed. Of course, I usually don't have to accelerate this rapidly for basic passing, but the bike is certainly capable of such rapid acceleration in fifth gear. Just my experience. How do you guys tend to ride this great bike?

Well,, sometimes Ride it nice & easy, sometimes ride it like something mean & scary is chasing me, Sometimes use a clutch.. sometimes not. Pinning its ears back & running thru the gears was just a part of nearly every ride/

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Re: Shift points
Reply #12 - 09/11/13 at 20:03:20

Jen wrote on 09/08/13 at 08:56:57:

Thanks. I've been shifting based on listening to the bike and was concerned because my shift points don't match up to the manual. I get out of first pretty fast, maybe at 12-15 mph and am in second to around 25 mph, shift to third and stay there until 45 or 50 which is as fast as I've gone for like a few seconds. My max speed has really been 40 mph. I'm new!!

Jen you've got a better grip on this than many other riders. Just keep on like you are and you'll be fine!

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Re: Shift points
Reply #13 - 09/11/13 at 20:07:23

Rembrandt wrote on 09/10/13 at 21:59:59:

I don't understand what's wrong with fifth gear. Fifty miles an hour and over I'm in fifth and find I still have lots of power. I can easily pass a car that's going 55 in fifth without even downshifting. When I crank the throttle, I can go from legal highway speed to 70 to 85 miles per hour like greased lightening and then ease off the throttle after I've passed. Of course, I usually don't have to accelerate this rapidly for basic passing, but the bike is certainly capable of such rapid acceleration in fifth gear. Just my experience. How do you guys tend to ride this great bike?

To paraphrase an old saying.....I ride it like I stole it! No, I don't wring it out to redline all the time but I twist it up and get up to cruising speed before most riders are getting out of 2nd gear. To me there are only two speeds.....stopped...and "GONE"

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Blinky-FSO Serious Thumper Offline Three Eyes Are Better Than Two Posts: 528 Kentucky Gender:	Re: Shift points Reply #14 - 09/12/13 at 07:41:16 To me there are only two speeds.....stopped...and "GONE" Well said Zar. I putt along when driving a car but, once on the bike, I have whatever the wrist equivalent is to a lead foot. I wonder if there is a name for that. Good hunting
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