vet riders crusing RPMs?

[Tfrank59]

now that I've been riding this flat 6 for about 7 months/7k miles, I'm thinking it's happy right around 3k rpms cruising--is that what you vet valk riders do, or something higher?  It's lugging below 2500 and I'm just not comfortable cruising much above 4000, so I tend to stay between 2500 and 3500.  thanks for your feedback.
Tom

[salty1]

3000 to 3500 rpm is a great cruising speed for me also, assuming it's legal.  

[IamGCW]

3123 for me.  Unless it is a relaxed country ride, then less. 

Actually 3-3.5K is where we normally hang, some in our group have taxi tires and their rpms are less at the same speed.  My tire is a GYTT.

Gil

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think the bike is pretty comfortable anywhere in the 2000-5000 rpm range. Just a matter of where you are comfortable

[Cracker Jack]

I run at whatever SPEED makes me happy for the road/law conditions. Whatever RPMs that produces is fine with my bike since she is happy at anything above about 2000 RPMs.

Cracker

[Pete]

To me they are seem happy at any RPM.
Although above 3000 they like fuel.
For pleasure riding I usually stay below 3000.

[Jess from VA]

The bike runs happily at higher revs than most other bikes (nee Vtwins).  Cruising at and under 3K is fine.  But when you are cranking and banking curves and mountains, running at higher revs gives you wonderful control, varying speeds and slowing into corners with only the throttle grip and rarely needing to touch the brakes at all. Once on the freeway in 5th, we all shift for nonexistent 6th from time to time, but she will run at 4K and higher all day (if you can afford the performance awards).

The sweetest spot on the bike is 3d at 3K, then nail it.  Racing is bad business, but if you happen to be doing roll-ons with a friend (who is safe), try to time your roll-on from 3d at 3K (esp if he's on a twinkie). 

Remember that 5th is considered overdrive. 

[PhredValk]

3500 on main hiways where the speed limit is 110KMH, 3000 in Ontario where the speed limit is 95. My understanding is 3000 to 3300RPM is the sweet spot for mileage, and my mileage does suffer a bit at 3500.
Fred.

[old2soon]

99 I/S full tank of fuel and I have hit reserve in 120 ish miles or so. Not ONLY was twistin the Phatt Ghurls tail I was YANKIN on it!   Little more time with her and you will find out she LIKES bein rode hard some then ride it harder.   MIGHT NOT be good practice but I was coming home from my brothers place in North Illinois and I was on I-55 South left lane showin a buck 25 both feet on the road pegs right hand on the throttle left hand on my leg and we were both happy!   They WILL use more fuel above 3200 Rs BUT I didn't buy her lookin fer fuel mileage. When I got her OR she got me-I had NO idea how many smiles per gallon or mile I'd get.   Sometimes it's TOO easy to git to dat C-note range on these things. I'd LIKE to tel you I cruise sensibly when I'm riding-really would like to tell ya that!!   Trick is to have fun-I just happen to be a speed freak-NOT drugs-honest to GOD speed. And THAT'S what these things provide-SPEED.   RIDE SAFE.

[Ricky-D]

To say that the Valkyrie engine is "lugging below 2500rpm's" is completely misplaced.

With proper throttle control the Valkyrie engine can operate without incident well below

2500rpm's and smooth accelerations from below 1500rpm's in top gear are not injurious

to the bike nor the engine. If your experience departs from this characteristic smooth

operational template, well, there is certainly something wrong with your Valkyrie.

***

[Tfrank59]

Okay, maybe lugging was the wrong word.  She maintains a "smooth operational template" from idle to the highest I've revved her.

[heavyd]

My 97 has 125k km on it and routinely cruises for hours at a time at 4-4500 rpm

[Kunkies]

I agree with heavyd, if you are on an interstate with a 65-70MPH posted limit if you aren't pushing 4k RPMs you are being passed consistently.

3500-4000 RPM highway
love to cruise between 2500-3000 (I call this the sweet spot)

[Tfrank59]

Okay, well thanks everybody that chimed in. I'm actually pushing her a little bit higher than I had been as a result of your feedback.  I took her out for about 100 miles yesterday, mostly 40 to 60 mile-per-hour range, and I was running often between 3 and 4K rpm's.  But she's a strong smooth runner pretty much throughout the range.  Great bike I love it!