New to C90 - question about shifting gears

M

Mr Mangoes

New member
Hi,

I just got C90 and I was reading the owners manual. For shifting gears it says:
Up
Gear | MPH
1->2 | 12
2->3 | 19
3->4 | 25
4->5 | 31

Down | MPH
5->4 | 19
4->3 | 12
less then 12 use clutch

I don't have tach on it, so I am trying to use the speed and my own feel.
I tried the above but the bikes seems like it will die. My feel is that I need to shift up at higher speeds.
Can any of you give me your advice or if you have a tach, see at what speed you shift and let me know the numbers? :) I would appreciate that.
What's the Max PRM or overspeed RPM anyway?

Thanks.
 
Those charts are always absurdly slow. Follow the sound and feel of the engine, and eventually you'll intuitively know its power characteristics and shift accordingly. All modern bikes have rev-limiters, and you'd be way beyond reasonable if you hit it on a cruiser anyway. I'm guessing it's around 6000. Anyone?

Welcome. Please fill out your profile.
 
Welcome!
Ignore the chart in the owner's manual- it is designed for maximum miles-per-gallon, minimum noise, and minimum tailpipe emissions. The C90 makes peak torque at about 4500 RPM- the manual has you shifting WAY below that.
Just ride around, and do like you do with a car- shift when the seat of your pants tells you to shift, based on how hard you are accelerating. You can't over-rev the motor- the rev limiter kicks in at 5800 RPM if I remember correctly.
 
Yeah that is a retarded chart. I have a C90 myself. Just shift it to where it doesnt lug. The limiter kicks in at 6000 rpm. I just shift where it feels right, but I can tell you that the MAX speeds in each gear are as follows.

1st--40 mph
2nd--70 mph
3rd--90 mph
4th--whatever you can get.
5th--basically an overdrive gear.

So any shifting below these speeds should keep you safe.

How do you like the c90 btw?....I am loving mine.
 
My normal shifting but varies with conditions.

1st> 20to 30
2nd> 30 to 50
3rd> 50 to 70
4th> 60 to 70
5th> 70 and up

to me the bike feels like it is lugging a tad in 5th at speeds below 65. I do take it somewhat easy around town since my pipes are pretty loud.
 
eft,

Those shifting points are low even for my C50. Normal shifting for me is:
Up
2nd @ 20
3rd @ 30
4th @ 40
5th @50-55

Down varies, but a reverse of the above is not uncommon for me except for 1st. I won't engage it until under 15mph.
 
I have an '07 C90, and it seems to go down the road easily at 45 mph in 5th gear. It doesn't seem to lug down at that speed when I twist the throttle. It takes right off. I just installed V & H Longshot pipes and Bully Stage 3 controller package from GMan Industries, and now it REALLY takes off.
 
45 in 5th??? You must be lugging or maybe I am just used to the higher rpm from my older bikes. Anyway that seems way too low for 5th. 3rd would be about right plus you will have the rpm to get away fast.
 
Had an '05 C-50 and would ride in town in 5th. No problem unless I had to get on it, then had to downshift.

The '07 C-90 just is not at all happy in 5th unless moving at 55 or 60 or faster on a hill.
 
Last week I thought I would try and drive 45 in 5th just for S&G's. With WOT there was nothing, big fat zero acceleration, which I knew would be the case. If you have a problem in town and need to get out quick while in 5th, well your gonna get hit!! I honestly cannot see any reason to ride in 5th except on the open HWY. 5th is more akin to an overdrive in this bike. 60 to 75 in 4th is no big deal!!
 
I lump around town all the time. I have to watch the shift between 1st and 2nd as it really needs to be around 20 to keep from lugging. and over 40 in fifth. If there is alot of trafic it's no more than 4th in town.

I think it's fun to tourque around town.
 
Agreed. As for me I want to always be ready to get out fast. Too many times I have had a cager on coming up on my a$$ and I wanna be gone if they don't see me.
 
In Southern to Middle New Hampshire we have some fairly decent mountains to go up and down - really puts the C90 to the test when we are just out cruising - of all the bikes I've owned this C90 purrs like a kitten - no tach on mine so I just shift when it feels right - I'm 6'3" and my wife is 6', together our total weight is roughly 400lbs - the C90 at almost 1500cc does not hesitate at all when climbing some fairly decent grades in 4th... As mentioned above in previous posts, give it some time and you'll know the how's, why and when's to shift...

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