FZ-07 Shift points - Engine lugging

[HatGuysFriend]

So the FZ-07 manual as these listed as the recommended shift points when riding for max fuel economy.
 
1st to 2nd- 12 mph
2nd to 3rd- 19 mph
3rd to 4th- 25 mph
4th to 5th- 31 mph
5th to 6th- 37 mph
 
Interestingly these are the same as the FZ-09. But there is no way I can shift at these numbers. My engine severely lags, especially going to 6th gear, because that puts it at around 2-3k rpm. Does the FZ-07 pull fine and have plenty of torque at these speeds for everyone else? Or are these numbers just crazy?

[mjh937]

I saw that in the book and it made me chuckle. I have never been in sixth gear at 37 mph. It seems nutty to me.

[hippiebikerchick]

First, second and third I can see but the others seem way too low. Fourth gear is a much wider gear so it can be used longer. I rarely use sixth unless I'm going over 70 on the freeway.
I've never lugged the bike in the classic sense but I can tell when I'm in too low of a gear.

[GAZ]

I did 600 miles like this. Obviously I went above if needed but my bike never saw 7k+ RPM until 600+. Wasn't hard to do this at all since the powerband on this bike is great. I easily got 60MPG this way now I get 50MPG as I'm not really in ECO mode that often.

[stefano225]

I used 6th gear twice in 1400 miles on the highway that was ,most of the time I ride back roads.Recently I started using fifth gear that's why my new avg is 52 mpg before I was getting 46 mpg .

[aeisan]

HA! Around town, I probably spend more time in 3rd gear at 37MPH than any other gear! Maybe 4th if I'm just cruisin', but even then I'm usually a bit into the 40s before I cruise in 4th. That's also probably why I only get ~44MPG, but GPM (grins per mile) is a far more important metric than MPG to me.
 
3rd gear seems to the the "do all" gear for me. I probably spend 80% on my time in that gear unless I'm being super sporty or on the highway.
 
I try to stay away from letting the revs drop below 3k much.  2000-2500 RPM seems to be about where it starts to lug for me.  

[stefano225]

HA! Around town, I probably spend more time in 3rd gear at 37MPH than any other gear! Maybe 4th if I'm just cruisin', but even then I'm usually a bit into the 40s before I cruise in 4th. That's also probably why I only get ~44MPG, but GPM (grins per mile) is a far more important metric than MPG to me.  
3rd gear seems to the the "do all" gear for me. I probably spend 80% on my time in that gear unless I'm being super sporty or on the highway.
 
I try to stay away from letting the revs drop below 3k much.  2000-2500 RPM seems to be about where it starts to lug for me.  

That was exactly why I was getting 46 mpg,most of the time never used 4th gear always let it rev to high rpm before shifting   .After seeing all this avg in the higher number I decided to change riding style meaning low rev quick shifting and using 4th and 5th more often that's when you get more mpg and the Eco is on.Almost every time I'm riding I get stuck behind cagers anyway.  

[Guest Ralph]

Not noticed those in my manual but yes mine is happy at those speeds and revs
if just drifting along, but if you want to accelerate except very gently I would
go down 2 or 3 gears depending on circumstances, just banging the throttle wide open
in those gears and speeds would be at best a waste of time.
Had a play wile out today and those speeds in gears are way below what I use even when
riding like a granny.

[mjh937]

What is this ECO indication that you are speaking of ? Actually I figure if I see that I am doing something wrong.

[Guest Ralph]

 
 
It's a built in game, depending on how you ride you try to keep it on or off.
 

 

[YZEtc]

Those recommended shift points have been printed in Yamaha Owner's Manuals since forever.
Consider them pretty much generic.
If I see the ECO on my meter, I know I'm riding through a town or following slow traffic through a town.For me, too, 3rd gear is being used most, and I estimate 90% of the time.4th is used to get from one twisty road to the next.5th and 6th are engaged once in a while just to make sure they are still there. 
For me, 5,000 - 8,000 RPM is used 95% of the time and feels like the sweet spot for strong torque.This bike was originally designated MT-07, after all, and MT stands for Master of Torque.For real.

[crazycracka501]

Believe it or not, the FZ-07 can take of from a stand still in 6th gear  

 video feed 2:18    Yes those speeds do lug the engine, but it is torquey enough to handle the load. I get about 42 mpg not because I'm always on the freeway at 80 mph or just hot dogging it on empty desert back roads. Never really went slow enough to find out.

[wr250x]

With so much torque would it harm anything to just start off in 2 nd gear?

[jerryv]

Great video review .. that guy can ride his pants off.
 

[crazycracka501]

With so much torque would it harm anything to just start off in 2 nd gear?

Really just wear out your clutch faster, other than that probably not much.

[HatGuysFriend]

Those recommended shift points have been printed in Yamaha Owner's Manuals since forever. Consider them pretty much generic.
If I see the ECO on my meter, I know I'm riding through a town or following slow traffic through a town.For me, too, 3rd gear is being used most, and I estimate 90% of the time.4th is used to get from one twisty road to the next.5th and 6th are engaged once in a while just to make sure they are still there. 
For me, 5,000 - 8,000 RPM is used 95% of the time and feels like the sweet spot for strong torque.This bike was originally designated MT-07, after all, and MT stands for Master of Torque.For real.

Good to see I'm not crazy then with the shift points. I use 5th and 6th all the time, but thats habit coming from a Ninja where the only useful gears are 1st and 5th. haha.[a style=height:20px;width:40px;opacity:0.85;border:none;background-color:transparent;background-image:url(data:image/png][/a][a style=height:20px;width:40px;opacity:0.85;border:none;background-color:transparent;background-image:url(data:image/png][/a]