Triumphrat

pupkin · 10-28-2005

I will be getting my 1st service done in a few weeks. Just wondering how hard you guys ride the bikes. My old Kwak 550 liked to run at high RPM, 5-6000RPM through the gears. The T100 seems similar in behavior but still doing break in at 3-4000RPM for now. This bike seems to shift extremely smooth from2-5. 1st to 2nd is a little less smooth but nothing extrodinary. Took it out last night 35 degrees, lots and lots of fun.

Shakey · 10-28-2005

No idea, I ride a TBA without a tach. I would guess I'm around 4500-5000 RPM most of the time. The engine doesn't like to be lugged like my old American twins, yet redlining it does nothing except put you into the rev limiter. There's a point at which the engine just sounds like it is making no effort and is smooth as silk. It the sweet spot I try to keep it in.

asphyx9 · 10-28-2005

around town, I shift between 3500 to 4500 RPM, and stay at 3500 rpm or higher just in case I need to blast off. On the highway, I am around 3500 to 4500 as well, unless I am being crazy then it is all the way up to redline (but not for sustained riding however)

When I am riding aggressively, I will go right before the rev-limiiter as my queue to shift.

Just like Shakey said though, I think my Thruxton's sweet spot is around 3000 to 3500 RPM. Low enough so the engine is not working too hard, high enough so I can get out of trouble if I need to.

RaceDweeb · 10-28-2005

One of the strongest pieces of advice I give to standard/T100/Thruxton owners is to spool it up! The NTB engine works best (IMHO) above 5000rpm. "Stand that needle straight up" is what I say. The engine is happiest when it sounds like it's going to hand grenade. Seriously!!!

Mike

Bryan · 10-28-2005

Your engine loves running at it's maximum amount of torque and that goes for any engine. On the Bonneville/T100/America/Speedmaster the maximum amount of torque is at 3500 RPM's on a stock engine. When your cruising that is the best place to run it.

RedBird · 10-28-2005

Mine seems smoothest at 5000 rpm, and that is where I try to ride it most of the time. Occasionally I will cruise for miles at 5500 rpm. I would not recommend cruising at a constant rpm until you get a few thousand miles on your bike. I dislike interstate highways and do most of my riding on 2-lane roads. One draw-back to this is, at 5000 rpm, I am well above the speed limit on most 2-lane roads. :-D

Larry

Copper · 10-28-2005

Mostly between 3500-4500, but Race Dweeb is right... When I really just feel like screwing around, I push her up over 5,000. There is a noticibale kick in the pants around 5500, she just flies!

gypsy56 · 10-28-2005

hey copper:
I've noticed that too. At about 5500 rpm, it kicks HARD.
Like a four barrel on an old muscle car.
Must be the cam profiles.

1409 · 10-29-2005

Red-line, every Chance I have.. Are bikes love RPM..

Hooligan RPM range is what I call it...

04BB...

badrufus · 10-29-2005

RaceDweeb is right IMO. Despite its retro appearance, the Bonnie Black/T100/Thrux is not a cruiser, and it likes to rev higher than many riders think. I have found that earplugs help, in that they tone down noise that might otherwise act as false feedback to slow down. My dealer told me to keep it under 4000 for the first 200 miles, then under 5000 for the next 200, then start running it through the range. I think the Owner's Manual recommends avoiding WOT, but the Triumph mechanic told me to rev it up to redline a few times before bringing it in for the first service. You can certainly do this without WOT. He said if you don't do that, the engine bits won't bed in properly. He even said that he had been told that if the customer doesn't want to do that, the mechanic should take the bike out at the first service and do it themselves. What I discovered in that break-in process is that the bike ran beautifully up to redline, no flat spots, lovely torque all the way. I also discovered the utility of the tank pads--when you roll on throttle at 60 to 70 mph, the bike flies, and with the flat seat, the only way to stay put on the bike is to grab the pads with your knees.

Don't abuse the bike, but realize that it likes to run in the higher rev range; otherwise the redline wouldn't be as high as it is. Except for idling, starting out, slowing down, I am rarely below 3500 rpm. Lovely bike!