About top speed?

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

Since you haven't had the bike very long, you've probably haven't gone over it with a fine tooth comb.

Other than the obvious problems you can actually see (i.e. disconnected brake caliper), have you noticed any thing odd with the tach bouncing or reading differently under similar riding conditions. Have you noticed the lights slightly flickering while idling? If so, you need to tighten your battery terminals. Some tend to loosen over time. Despite the fact they may appear snug, they may still be able to be tightened and correct the stated issues. You may also want to check your connections on the back of the tach as well.

If all else checks out, it is possible you have a faulty tach or IC Ignitor. You may need to test the rpms externally to see how accurate the tach is.
You can use an inductive pickup clip accessory on a digital multimeter. The clip attaches to the spark plug wire. If the multimeter is good, it can be set up to convert electrical pulses into a rpm format. With this I believe you will be able to tell if there is a different reading between the tach and actual spark output.

(i.e. disconnected brake caliper) lol. Got that fixed with loctite.

Since I've got this bike, which was about 1000 miles ago, its been the same. I've always remembered the 9000rmp mark at 60mph. The lights have not flickered.

Thing is I've got used to the high revving sound, like when it hits 9000 you get this high sound, so I really don't think its the tac, but i'll check the connections.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by Vad18

......Thing is I've got used to the high revving sound, like when it hits 9000 you get this high sound, so I really don't think its the tac, but i'll check the connections.

High sound?
Like a high pitched squeal?

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

High sound?
Like a high pitched squeal?

Like when VTEC kicks in.

The sound of more power, I guess you can call it a squeal, idk, I got ear plugs and wind so I don't remember hearing a squeal. Like the engine noise increases much more after 9000

This is kind of what it looks like, high rpm and @ around 80mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKCeu3XzGw

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by Vad18

i Love when VTEC kicks in?

Link to original page on YouTube.

[EsrTek]

Forgive me if I took it wrong, but seems your not getting full rev range in top gear... (eg. won't go past 11k)
Are you having an issue getting full rev range in any other gear?

Since your on stock gearing, according to gearcommander, stock setup @ 11k in 6th = 89.3mph (add rider and wind, and seems your on target there).


The sound you say makes me think your hearing it starve for air maybe??
Have you checked things like the air filter and if it has the snorkel installed?

Also another thing to consider...Check carbs for gunk, or maybe at least run some seafoam through a tank of gas, see if that helps at all.

[cbinker]

did you ever run 5th to rev limiter?

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by EsrTek

Forgive me if I took it wrong, but seems your not getting full rev range in top gear... (eg. won't go past 11k)
Are you having an issue getting full rev range in any other gear?

Since your on stock gearing, according to gearcommander, stock setup @ 11k in 6th = 89.3mph (add rider and wind, and seems your on target there).


The sound you say makes me think your hearing it starve for air maybe??
Have you checked things like the air filter and if it has the snorkel installed?

Also another thing to consider...Check carbs for gunk, or maybe at least run some seafoam through a tank of gas, see if that helps at all.

Ill try the seafoam. But i really dont think carbs are bad, only 10xx miles on engine.

@cbinker not yet but maybe today. Too many cars yestoday afternoon so could not go over 55 mph

[JasonJ]

Did you pull the plugs? It may be misfiring or having a weak spark event causing the engine to not be able to rev any higher, thus limiting speed.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by Vad18

Ill try the seafoam. But i really dont think carbs are bad, only 10xx miles on engine.

@cbinker not yet but maybe today. Too many cars yestoday afternoon so could not go over 55 mph

try in any other gear just to see if you have a tach issue. 5th will just put you closer to 90.

[cbinker]

did this 4 years ago:
Elevation in that area is around 1620ft.
now my elevation is between 3200 and 5500

ok folks the study is done and the numbers are in.
using my GPS and glancing down at the speedo:
this is what i did i road each gear up to the rev limiter, except 6th, I didnt feel the need to push it much more then i already had, and it is not worth risking my job.
Gear GPS/Speedo
1st: 36.1/40
2nd: 51.9/56
3rd: 65.5/70
4th: 80.0/86
5th: 93.4/100
6th: 99.1/105

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by Vad18

.....These are my current RPMs, I counted while I was changing gears and was engaged in 6th.

40mph: 6,000rmp
50mph: 7,500rmp
60mph: 9,000rmp
70mph: 10,000 and almost 10,5 rpm.

Originally Posted by Vad18

.....so I really don't think its the tac, but i'll check the connections.

Something is not right. Which one do you believe is the culprit based on your video vs the attached chart. Speedo or tach?
Got GPS?
FYI, tachs can and do go bad. Ask me how I know.

[kxpower?]

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

Something is not right. Which one do you believe is the culprit based on your video vs the attached chart. Speedo or tach?
Got GPS?

The million dollar question in my mind. Should be easy to eliminate speedo error. Also, @Vad18, did you say you counted the teeth on the rear sprocket?

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

FYI, tachs can and do go bad. Ask me how I know.

OK I'll bite. There's gotta be a story here

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by kxpower?

....OK I'll bite. There's gotta be a story here

No big story. I had my tach replaced along with my IC Ignitor back in 2009. No issues since. There is also documented history by a few Ninja 250 owners (mine included) with tach and IC Ignitor problems. Tach replacement has been and still is the first thing Kawasaki will replace to try to fix the problem. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't.

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by cbinker

try in any other gear just to see if you have a tach issue. 5th will just put you closer to 90.

Well I tried the 5th gear till rev limiter, got to 80, then switched to 6th and it went down to 11k rmp @ 80mph, I was able to get to about 90 but slowed down, seems like the tach just don't want work or something.

@kxpower yes, 45 rear, its all stock
@DaBlue1 not my video, just some random youtube video was just showing sort of where its at.

[cbinker]

You should be hitting 90+ in 5th.

[cadd]

How about we do a test of rpm readings during legal (safer) speeds?

I've noticed at 6,000 rpm:
3rd gear = 30mph
4th gear = 40mph

[kxpower?]

Originally Posted by Vad18

Well I tried the 5th gear till rev limiter, got to 80, then switched to 6th and it went down to 11k rmp @ 80mph, I was able to get to about 90 but slowed down, seems like the tach just don't want work or something.

@kxpower yes, 45 rear, its all stock
@DaBlue1 not my video, just some random youtube video was just showing sort of where its at.

Have you verified the speedometer versus a gps, etc? Otherwise there's no way to tell if there's even a problem, without validating your measurement. If you have a smartphone there's a gazillion speedometer apps.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by cadd

How about we do a test of rpm readings during legal (safer) speeds?

I've noticed at 6,000 rpm:
3rd gear = 30mph
4th gear = 40mph

use a GPS to compare how accurate those are.

if i wanted to be safer, i wouldnt ride a motorcycle.

[kxpower?]

Originally Posted by cbinker

use a GPS to compare how accurate those are.

if i wanted to be safer, i wouldnt ride a motorcycle.

Anyone else notice that cadd's 4th gear is 6000 at 40 while the OP's 6th gear is 9000 at 60??? They're both 150 rpm/mph! There's got to a measurement error somewhere in here.

[Alex]

These are those types of things that are a little silly to debate. There is no grey area here: If the engine turns at this speed, and the gearing is set up with this size front sprocket, this size rear sprocket, and has the standard tire size, the final speed is the output of a simple formula. Experimental testing implies that these things aren't inherently obvious, which means some of us are missing the point in the first place.

www.gearingcommander.com will provide all of the information we need to play around with sprocket ratios on our bikes, given a normal size rear wheel. Every other variation that people might see on their individual bikes is due to measurement error (inaccurate tach, inaccurate speedo), or in very rare cases, a slipping clutch that lets the engine turn faster than the rest of the drivetrain as it slips. That last point is extremely rare to cause one of these ongoing issues, as the slippage would be variable and change with throttle position; not the usual behavior of when someone reports these measurement issues.

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by kxpower?

Anyone else notice that cadd's 4th gear is 6000 at 40 while the OP's 6th gear is 9000 at 60??? They're both 150 rpm/mph! There's got to a measurement error somewhere in here.

40 mph is also at 6,000 @ 6th for me.
I guess everything is okay.

[kxpower?]

Originally Posted by Vad18

40 mph is also at 6,000 @ 6th for me.
I guess everything is okay.

No everything isn't ok he's in 4th gear is what I'm pointing out.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by cbinker

use a GPS to compare how accurate those are.

if i wanted to be safer, i wouldnt ride a motorcycle.

If I wanted to be safer, I wouldn't be on the internet. I'll be sitting in my closet hugging my firearms wearing a tin foil hat. What's your point? Why are we testing out speedo to rpm readouts at 90mph on a public road when we can do it at SAFER (legally and physically) speeds of 30-40mph....just to help the OP to get a general idea to see if his speedo or tacho is off....or perhaps his gearing isn't stock.

No need for a GPS. I hit a radar speed sign that reads out "your speed is XX". My speedo is relatively accurate for my needs. Off by 1-2mph at 30-40MPH.

[adouglas]

Um... maybe the clutch is slipping a bit? Just a thought....

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by cadd

If I wanted to be safer, I wouldn't be on the internet. I'll be sitting in my closet hugging my firearms wearing a tin foil hat. What's your point? Why are we testing out speedo to rpm readouts at 90mph on a public road when we can do it at SAFER (legally and physically) speeds of 30-40mph....just to help the OP to get a general idea to see if his speedo or tacho is off....or perhaps his gearing isn't stock.

No need for a GPS. I hit a radar speed sign that reads out "your speed is XX". My speedo is relatively accurate for my needs. Off by 1-2mph at 30-40MPH.

those radars are off 1-2 mph also.

[cadd]

So that means my speedometer is spot on!!!!

.....or 10% off

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by cadd

So that means my speedometer is spot on!!!!

that is +/- 1 or 2, you could be 4 mph off.

and just an FYI, Speed Limits are a suggestion of safe operation, there are times in the section of road labeled 75mph, that the safe speed may only be 40mph or if there is no one around for miles and miles and miles you can safely operate a vehicle at 100 at short bursts. hell in my area i have been on rides where i did not encounter anyone for 10 miles. those are the areas i go when i want to test speeds.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by cbinker

that is +/- 1 or 2, you could be 4 mph off.

and just an FYI, Speed Limits are a suggestion of safe operation, there are times in the section of road labeled 75mph, that the safe speed may only be 40mph or if there is no one around for miles and miles and miles you can safely operate a vehicle at 100 at short bursts. hell in my area i have been on rides where i did not encounter anyone for 10 miles. those are the areas i go when i want to test speeds.

See....but that's because you live in SD!!! If I get caught going 100mph by a cop with a radar, I'm not looking forward to have my bike confiscated and be Jerome's bitch for the night in a holding cell. But that's just me. Perhaps I'm just a big vagina. But I don't find the risk/reward ratio appealing to me in my situation. But if you feel that you know the roads well....with little to no traffic at and pretty sure there aren't any 5-0s in the area, by all means.

But I personally wouldn't risk it because I have too much on the line. I don't want my insurance to be sky high. I don't want to go down at 100mph if an animal suddenly jumps out and my crappy braking skills makes me yank on the brake lever without preloading the front contact patch first.

I've seen what an 80mph crash looks like on a drag strip....in a car...when they hit the wall. I just don't want to ever put myself in that situation if I don't have to on a bike. But that's just me.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by cadd

See....but that's because you live in SD!!! If I get caught going 100mph by a cop with a radar, I'm not looking forward to have my bike confiscated and be Jerome's bitch for the night in a holding cell. But that's just me. Perhaps I'm just a big vagina. But I don't find the risk/reward ratio appealing to me in my situation. But if you feel that you know the roads well....with little to no traffic at and pretty sure there aren't any 5-0s in the area, by all means.

But I personally wouldn't risk it because I have too much on the line. I don't want my insurance to be sky high. I don't want to go down at 100mph if an animal suddenly jumps out and my crappy braking skills makes me yank on the brake lever without preloading the front contact patch first.

instead of you being a jerk about it next time, maybe you can appreciate the things more skilled riders do and share with others. I have been riding for 9 years and have had over 30 track days. I also live in a pretty isolated area with little traffic in certain areas. So please stop getting on your high horse and jumping to conclusions about things you dont know about. Just appreciate the information that is shared. not to mention the title of the thread is asking about top speed...

[cadd]

Me being a jerk? How so? This is how our bantering started.

Originally Posted by cadd

How about we do a test of rpm readings during legal (safer) speeds?

I've noticed at 6,000 rpm:
3rd gear = 30mph
4th gear = 40mph

Reasonable, correct? If you had ONE goal (rpm readings at certain speed). And there are two options of proving it (a safer vs a more risky option), as a skilled rider with many years of riding and countless track days, wouldn't you want another rider (the OP) to be as safe as possible? By doing a 30mph or 40mph rpm reading in 3rd and 4th gears respectively, we can help him determine if his speedo/tacho may be reading incorrectly or perhaps his clutch is slipping. If we can come to this conclusion with a 30 or 40mph experiment, why do we have to make him run 90mph?

Instead, this is how you responded

Originally Posted by cbinker

use a GPS to compare how accurate those are.

if i wanted to be safer, i wouldnt ride a motorcycle.

First of all, this isn't about YOU. Additionally, assuming riding a motorcycle is a given (since this thread is about top speed ON a motorcycle), wouldn't anyone want to ride as safely as he/she can?

That comment rubbed me the wrong way...but whatever. Life is short. Hence my firearm tinfoil hat response as a joke and my explanation of why I suggested the 30-40mph test instead of 90mph test.

I also responded with

Originally Posted by cadd

No need for a GPS. I hit a radar speed sign that reads out "your speed is XX". My speedo is relatively accurate for my needs. Off by 1-2mph at 30-40MPH.

Originally Posted by cbinker

those radars are off 1-2 mph also.

Source? Link? How do you know what band (x, k, ka, etc) that particular radar uses (that’s in my neighborhood)?

Originally Posted by cadd

So that means my speedometer is spot on!!!!

.....or 10% off

You see my happy face and sad face? I’m all “chillaxing” here.

Originally Posted by cbinker

that is +/- 1 or 2, you could be 4 mph off.

Of course you know my neighborhood well and you know that the radar's 2mph error is inverse to my speedo's error. But normally, if something is off, it isn’t off by mph. It’s an error by percentage. Notice that going 100mph and being off by 2mph is only a immaterial 2% error. However going 10mph and being off by 2mph is a massive 20% error.

Originally Posted by cbinker

and just an FYI, Speed Limits are a suggestion of safe operation, there are times in the section of road labeled 75mph, that the safe speed may only be 40mph or if there is no one around for miles and miles and miles you can safely operate a vehicle at 100 at short bursts. hell in my area i have been on rides where i did not encounter anyone for 10 miles. those are the areas i go when i want to test speeds.

Thanks for the info. But.....

Originally Posted by cbinker

if i wanted to be safer, i wouldnt ride a motorcycle.

So....what is it? I'm a tad confused. Do you want to be safe? Or not safe? I'm assuming you don't want to be safe from your statement above. I'm not sure what your point is there. You're telling me that if the speed limit is 65mph and we're in a state of emergency with 18" of snow falling, going 65mph isn't safe?! Wow, never thought of that myself. Thanks for pointing that out.

Originally Posted by cbinker

instead of you being a jerk about it next time, maybe you can appreciate the things more skilled riders do and share with others.

Like what? Like this?

Originally Posted by cbinker

...or if there is no one around for miles and miles and miles you can safely operate a vehicle at 100 at short bursts. hell in my area i have been on rides where i did not encounter anyone for 10 miles. those are the areas i go when i want to test speeds.

Ok. You skilled guys keep doing that. That's ok with me as long as my friends and family aren't on the same road you're on.

So....if you go out in public to do short 100mph burst runs and test your speeds on public roads.....what do you do on the track? You follow the speed limit and signal when you're entering corners?

Please tell me Mr. Skilled rider….I've never been on a track before. My mental picture is guys/gals with no mirrors, painter's tape on lights, water instead of coolant, riding in a fast pace in a controlled environment at the limit of traction. But since you seem to advocate testing speed in public, I assumed your track doesn't allow fast riding?

Originally Posted by cbinker

I have been riding for 9 years and have had over 30 track days.

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME again?

Originally Posted by cbinker

So please stop getting on your high horse and jumping to conclusions about things you dont know about.

If you advocate on breaking the law, I'll judge you.

Speaking about high horses….

Originally Posted by cbinker

So please stop getting on your high horse ....

It seems like your horse and my horse are the same size. You have a blue horse. I have a red horse. Both with 250cc motors, no?

Originally Posted by cbinker

....and jumping to conclusions about things you dont know about.

So knowing that the speed sign radar in my neighborhood being 1-2mph off just from reading my post isn’t jumping to conclusions? Do as I say not as I do?

Originally Posted by cbinker

Just appreciate the information that is shared. not to mention the title of the thread is asking about top speed...

Just because the title is top speed, doesn't mean it's ok to advocate running top speed on public roads.

And I do appreciate the info that’s being shared. What makes you think I don’t?

[cbinker]

you bore me. and this again is about TOP SPEED and the bike cutting out before it. if you dont like the topic, find a different thread.

[csmith12]

At ease gentlemen.

Cadd tell me these things;

What type of oil you running and when was it changed last?
Miles on bike, more specifically... miles on clutch
Clutch cable within spec? Also note that the clutch cable can be in slack spec and still majorly out of tension spec for clutch pack operation.
Check your brakes... are they draggin'? Got free wheel spin?

The only other thing I can think of is a high rpm vacuum leak.

[kxpower?]

[broilmebk]

So I guess this thread just become about cadd?

[250rr]

Check your speedometer/tachometer Intercoupling L-Bracket. I think it's tweaked.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by Vad18

(i.e. disconnected brake caliper) ....when it hits 9000 you get this high sound, so I really don't think its the tac,

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

High sound?
Like a high pitched squeal?

Originally Posted by Vad18

..... I guess you can call it a squeal, idk, I got ear plugs and wind so I don't remember hearing a squeal.

I'd like to hear this noise you hear. The reason way is because the speedo cable can squeal if the inner shaft is somehow binding against the outer cable too much. Because the speedo (which is a mechanical eddy current speedometer) works by electromagnetism, it is not solidly linked to the needle. If for some reason the cable or magnet speed cup were faulty, an improper reading could occur.

Usually speedo cable squeal happens at a lower speed and is very audible, but I had and old car that would produce a squeal after 60-65 mph. Now this may not be the case with your bike, but it's an easy thing to check.

What you can do is remove the speedo cable from the wheel and pull out the inner shaft, inspect it to make sure it is properly lubed and that there is no evidence of metal to metal contact along the shaft. Also make sure that the cable is not bent or binding anywhere. Take note which end of the inner shaft goes where and re attach the speedo cable, test ride and see if there is any difference.

Just something check to try to rule out a speedo problem.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Cadd tell me these things;

What type of oil you running and when was it changed last?
Miles on bike, more specifically... miles on clutch
Clutch cable within spec? Also note that the clutch cable can be in slack spec and still majorly out of tension spec for clutch pack operation.
Check your brakes... are they draggin'? Got free wheel spin?

The only other thing I can think of is a high rpm vacuum leak.

OP, I believe these questions were meant for you.

[csmith12]

lol, sorry Cadd, yea... you got that right.

[Vad18]

Originally Posted by csmith12

At ease gentlemen.

Cadd tell me these things;

What type of oil you running and when was it changed last?
Miles on bike, more specifically... miles on clutch
Clutch cable within spec? Also note that the clutch cable can be in slack spec and still majorly out of tension spec for clutch pack operation.
Check your brakes... are they draggin'? Got free wheel spin?

The only other thing I can think of is a high rpm vacuum leak.

Changed @ 1000 miles. 10W-40.
Miles on bike: 1183
When I move bike, I hear the front brake slightly touching, could that be it?

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by Vad18

.....When I move bike, I hear the front brake slightly touching, could that be it?

Slight touching is normal.