For V7 III Riders-Best RPM's For Up/Down Shifts

[Guzzi Gal]

Alright, most of you know I'm a complete beginner, and haven't received shipment of my new bike yet.  I've been reading about how to properly run/break in a new motorcycle engine, and discovered many inconsistencies (major can o' worms).  Before you ask, I went to my dealers site first, since he wrote the "Guzzi bible", then read my owners manual cover to cover (partway through the service manual too), searched WG, and read the posts shown below.  Almost without exception you're warned not to lug during this stage.  EVER! 


That said, what RPM's equal the approximate shift up/down points for each gear?  I know this sounds stupid to some, but I truly don't know.  Shifting "by ear" will come as I learn Anni's song, but until then I need some guidelines to keep me from effing her up.  Also, how long do I "warm" her up before taking off?   

Once again, thanks for the help, and for being such a kind group of people. 

https://www.motointernational.com/service/engine-break-in-and-first-service-on-a-v7

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=91790.0
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=80365.0
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=90278.0

This guy's method was mentioned several times.

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Then I did a Google search on breaking in a new motorcycle engine", and started reading from the top.

[oldbike54]

 Start it , put it in gear , and ride away . Don't rev it too hard , but make it do some work for "ring " seal . Don't overthink this , modern engines aren't like engines from the old days .

 Dusty

[Bill]

A common problem for new Guzzi owners is they shift too soon and the bike lugs. Guzzi's like higher RPM's than other twins. For a start point I Suggest 4000 RPM for Up shifts. The motor will "talk" to you. If it's lumpy, you're shifting too early. The sweet shift spot is where the engine is smoothest. Enjoy your bike.
Bill

[malik]

I'm in favour of the "run it hard" school. This means lots on acceleration & deceleration in the lower gears. Hilly & twisty is a good idea - guarantees lots of variation in engine speed. Try to keep your freeway time to a minimum in the early days. If you don't have hiily &/or twisty in your neck of the woods, see if you have access to a race track & book in a track day or two. My '14 V7 Special spent it's first 5,000km of life in Tasmania where all the roads (but two) are hilly & twisty, and that seemed to have worked out well - no oil used between services.

I'd change gears between 4,000 & 5,000 rpm. That seems to be where the V7 likes it.

Warming up period may depend upon the individual bike (& the ECU). The newer V7s have the choke/fast idle controlled by the ECU. My single throttle body V7 required a longer warm up time than the the 2TB V7 Classic. Say, 2 - 5 minutes, otherwise it would tend to stall. That was later changed with a Beatle map (& long use), so that now it only requires a minute or so - still more than the V7 Classic, which is start & go (but the ECU is different).

Relax, have fun & enjoy the process.

[Tom]

 :1: on what's been discussed.  Don't let the rpm's go below 4K.  You'll bike's engine will love you for it.

[Kev m]

IF you give it throttle and it shakes instead of accelerating, you're lugging it, downshift.

Generally speaking I run my V7 in the 3-4k range, I try not to give it much throttle below that, I have no problem running it a good bit higher.

[oldbike54]

IF you give it throttle and it shakes instead of accelerating, you're lugging it, downshift.

Generally speaking I run my V7 in the 3-4k range, I try not to give it much throttle below that, I have no problem running it a good bit higher.

 Don't the newer small blocks pull cleanly from 3K RPM'S ?

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Don't the newer small blocks pull cleanly from 3K RPM'S ?

 Dusty

Uh yeah, was I not clear. I mean I tend to hold rpm in that 3-4k range and tend not to go WOT much below that point.

But the new V7 will pull, gently, from high 2's, especially if someone smaller than me is on em lol.

[Guzzi Gal]

Lugging I understand, being a lifetime bug driver.  I just didn't want to damage the engine whilst playing "find the sweet spot" for the upshift.  I suppose the idiot light will help me figure it out too.   

Thanks, you're the best!

[pete roper]

Basically what Dusty said. The bad old days where you were running poorly cam ground cast pistons in cast iron bores are long gone. Modern Guzzis, well, for the last thirty five years or more, have uses a nickel-silicon coating on their bores and most pistons are forged and ground far more accurately than in times of yore. Seizures are really a thing of the past no matter what the piston speed.

All the engine bearings are plain or 'Slipper' bearings that require no run-in, they either work or they don't and the valvetrain and cam interfaces are all, comparatively slow moving and lightly loaded compared to most modern motorbike engines.

The gearbox and final drive are likewise fairly impregnable, probably the thing that will take longest to bed in is the shoddy, cheap suspension!

Basically just ride it *Normally*. Don't lug it around at wide throttle openings at low engine speeds and don't spend a lot of time bouncing it off the rev limiter and you'll be golden. If you can find a steep hill that you can ride up in third or forth starting at about 3,000 rpm do a few full throttle pulls from there through to 5,500 or so. This will blow the rings out against the bore and help them to bed which will help prevent oil consumption issues later.

Really though just ride it where it feels smooth and happy. It's not some sort of weird 'White Man Ju-Ju' it's a motorbike which is essentially two wheels and a horn! Enjoy.

Pete

[Tom]

 

[trippah]

As far as warm up- about the time it takes to put your helmet on.

[Guzzi Gal]

The gearbox and final drive are likewise fairly impregnable, probably the thing that will take longest to bed in is the shoddy, cheap suspension!

Basically just ride it *Normally*.

If you can find a steep hill that you can ride up in third or forth starting at about 3,000 rpm do a few full throttle pulls from there through to 5,500 or so. This will blow the rings out against the bore and help them to bed which will help prevent oil consumption issues later.

I average a weight of 130, so I don't think the suspension is going to get much of a workout.  I doubt my bony newb bum will be able to tell how poor the ride is anyway, having nothing but the Metropolitans for comparison.  Me riding *Normally*, is pretty cautious, and deliberate.     

Before I posted this question, this was my break in plan.  After dropping off the kids at school each morning, I'll gear up, and take a short ride up South Mountain, keeping the RPM's under Guzzi's recommended 4500 limit .  At the top, I will chill, take in the view, and let Anni cool down, then head back down.  This will result in a 20 mile round trip, with an elevation change of around 2000 feet, and some nice twisties thrown in for kicks.  My breaks would get a workout, the speeds, and gears would vary, and I would get to practice daily on mellow, low traffic roads.  As I gain confidence, speed will increase, thereby working the engine a little more each ride.

Here is a view of the lesser twisties. 



 

[oldbike54]

 No need to let it cool down , in fact it is probably better to do the 20 miles in one shot . Gets the oil good a hot burning off any contaminants .

 Dusty

[Guzzi Gal]

No need to let it cool down , in fact it is probably better to do the 20 miles in one shot . Gets the oil good a hot burning off any contaminants .

 Dusty

I will do a summit flyby, and let her cool at home.  Speaking of oil (and filters).  What do you all like to use, why you like it, and where do you get it? 

[Socalrob]

As far as warm up- about the time it takes to put your helmet on.

Literally 1000 feet from my garage door I may need to knock it up to 85mph to squeeze between the right two trucks running 75 on the freeway.  I feel ok with the choice to let it warm up for the time it takes me to back it out of the garage, and put my helmet and gloves on.

[Socalrob]

Don't the newer small blocks pull cleanly from 3K RPM'S ?

 Dusty

Sweet spot on my VIII is right at 4100 RPMs for freeway drones.

My engine pulls much smoother from 4k than 3k.

[pete roper]

Literally 1000 feet from my garage door I may need to knock it up to 85mph to squeeze between the right two trucks running 75 on the freeway.  I feel ok with the choice to let it warm up for the time it takes me to back it out of the garage, and put my helmet and gloves on.

An oil pressure relief valve is a wonderful thing!

[Huzo]

I will do a summit flyby, and let her cool at home.  Speaking of oil (and filters).  What do you all like to use, why you like it, and where do you get it?

You remind me of the first "rush" you get when you can't wait to push the kids outta' the door and off to school so you can play. Reminds me a bit of why we do this stuff.

[elvisboy77]

I average a weight of 130, so I don't think the suspension is going to get much of a workout.  I doubt my bony newb bum will be able to tell how poor the ride is anyway, having nothing but the Metropolitans for comparison.  Me riding *Normally*, is pretty cautious, and deliberate.     

Before I posted this question, this was my break in plan.  After dropping off the kids at school each morning, I'll gear up, and take a short ride up South Mountain, keeping the RPM's under Guzzi's recommended 4500 limit .  At the top, I will chill, take in the view, and let Anni cool down, then head back down.  This will result in a 20 mile round trip, with an elevation change of around 2000 feet, and some nice twisties thrown in for kicks.  My breaks would get a workout, the speeds, and gears would vary, and I would get to practice daily on mellow, low traffic roads.  As I gain confidence, speed will increase, thereby working the engine a little more each ride.

Here is a view of the lesser twisties. 



 

Sounds like a great plan to me!

[Guzzi Gal]

 

You remind me of the first "rush" you get when you can't wait to push the kids outta' the door and off to school so you can play. Reminds me a bit of why we do this stuff.

  'Xactly!

[stonelover]

GG- Kev m and I seem to agree.  On the road I usually run between 3500 and 4K.  When merging with higher speed traffic I'll run it up to 5K or 5500.  5th and 6th gears are closely spaced, so I seldom use 6th below 50 MPH..  An indicated 80 MPH on freeways shows 5200 RPM and the engine does not protest.  Very happy between 3500 & 4500.  My warm up is putting on helmet and gloves before backing out of the garage.  We're all different, but that works for me and the ECU.  Don't be alarmed if you hear a lot of cool down popping in your first few miles.  This will diminish as things bed in.

Happy Trails!!

[SportsterDoc]

I avoid acceleration under 3,000
I avoid running over 6500 for rapid acceleration, but otherwise shift about 5K for brisk acceleration.
Most of the time I am 3K to 4K running around town.

I would expect about the same, without a tach, running by ear.