Best Engine RPM for Gear Shift?

[rob.uk]

I'd be very grateful for hints and tips on the best engine RPM for gear shifts. Mabe a) for fuel economy b) for best engine life.

This may sound like a daft question, but I've had my '02 (UK) ST1300 for less than 6 months, and I notice that the engine is very smooth and quiet (just high speed whine from the counterbalance shafts) in the range up to about 4,500 rpm. There tends to be a lot more low down vibration in the range 4,500 to 7,500 rpm, and above 7,500 rpm the engine vibrates so bad that I've never tried it. Is this a common experience?

Also has anyone dyno'd an ST1300, in which case could you publish the torque/ hp/ fuel consumption graphs?

Many thanks for your feedback.

Rob

[Mellow]

Rob, you might want to adjust your counterbalancers.... it's easy and really smoothes out the engine... even more so...

[dond]

Rob, you might want to adjust your counterbalancers.... it's easy and really smoothes out the engine... even more so...
Yes....Counter balance adj AND a careful throttle body (STarter valve) sync will work wonders.

[NormanPCN]

Don showed me how to do a throttle body sync. I and/or the bike are sensitive to TB adjustment. I rememeber that when we started the TB adjustment, Don did not think the sync was too bad but I did feel a difference after adjustment. We used the Morgan Carb tune which is made in the UK. :)

I would say that if you want to tweak the engine for max smoothness I would do a TB sync first and then check the balancers.

[rob.uk]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your suggestions. Sounds like your St1300's are smoother than mine. Is balancing the countershafts and syncing the throttle bodies something I can do myself, and if so please could you point me to anywhere on the web with nice step by step pictures and/or narrative?

:chatter:

Best,
Rob

[Mellow]

The counterbalance adjustment is simple...

Here's a link to a how to:
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/ST1300_b.html#Engine

I've never done a throttle body sync so I can't speak to that.

[NormanPCN]

The TB sync is something you can do yourself, but if you have never done it then you will want some pics or someone to help. I did not think of taking step by step pics when Don showed me how to do a TB sync. The service manual does describe the TB sync. They call it a "starter valve" sync.

The balancer sync is trivial. The TB sync is a bit of a pain since you have to take off the airbox to get to the throttle bodies. All that effort to do something that takes a minute.

[rob.uk]

Mellow, Norman, Don - and Mark@Calsci

Thanks so much for your help and advice. The counterbalance shaft balancing looks strightforward with Mark's step by step guide, so I'll do this Sunday, see what difference it makes. Meanwhile if anyone more competent than me does a carb sync, please take lots of piccies to help lil' ol me ?

Cheers, Rob

[AgSTreak]

Rob keep us posted. I adjusted my CB's but my ST was already smooth so it was hard to feel any real difference.- john

[pdfruth]

I rarely ever look down at the gauges when I'm running thru the gears. I rely on engine sound and overall feel.

But when I have looked down, I seem to like the 5k-6k RPM range when driving more aggressively. And 4k-5k RPM range when driving more conservatively.

[beastie]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. My dealer has been in business for over 40 years and delivers well set up bikes. My blue beaST has been smoth since day one. I did a conservative break-in and didn't go up to the red line until I had 10 miles on it. :D

I shift at whatever rpm the situation demands and it is always smooth.