I just picked up a new leftover 2008 VFR800 Abs and after putting 400 miles on it in 3 days one of the things I was curious about was the max speed in each gear with stock gearing and tires.
I tried searching a couple forums for this and surprisingly couldn't find it. So I decided to look up the gearing info and work out the math. Thought others might want this info so I should post it.
Assumptions:
12,250 rev limiter. Though redline is less than 12,000, rev limiter seems to kick in at approximately 12,250
Stock 180/55 ZR17 tire has a diameter of 641 mm at standard tire pressure, so circumference is 79.281 in = 6.607 ft
I think if you read the post you will see that the calculations re exactly that - calculations based on theory and maths. Hence the question asking people for real world observations.
[image: View Post]Rollux11, on 02 March 2011 - 06:44 PM, said:
I think if you read the post you will see that the calculations re exactly that - calculations based on theory and maths. Hence the question asking people for real world observations.
Just going by what you wrote: " Though redline is less than 12,000, rev limiter seems to kick in at approximately 12,250...", it sounded as if you had experienced the rev limiter more than once.
Note that a small change in tire diameter/circumference will have a significant effect on these speeds.
So, theoretically a new tire has a larger circumference, so it should make you go a little faster.
Of course it weighs a little more too, so that slows you down.... :biggrin:
I have no real world numbers, and my bike is a 5th gen.
Not gonna hit 167 mph , maybe 147 top speed , or 142 with full luggage, maybe 152 if you have a downhill, a backwind, and are petite.
But I follow all traffic laws, speed limits, and government regulations so you are asking the wrong person.
[image: View Post]2thdr, on 02 March 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Rollux11, on 02 March 2011 - 06:44 PM, said:
I think if you read the post you will see that the calculations re exactly that - calculations based on theory and maths. Hence the question asking people for real world observations.
Just going by what you wrote: " Though redline is less than 12,000, rev limiter seems to kick in at approximately 12,250...", it sounded as if you had experienced the rev limiter more than once.
No, of course during the first 400 miles I have not redlined my bike, I observed the rev limiter RPM from several youtube videos I watched. I know that the bike's top speed is drag limited, not rpm limited, and most vids indicate that the bike's top speed is roughly redline in 5th gear.
Are you intending to redline every gear, I dont see the point, but the bike is over geared enough you wont be able to hit its top speed with stock gearing. But I rearely go over 125 mph, so I used the taller stock gear for fuel economy.
Ive had my 5th gen up to 145 indicated (prolly in the 130's real world) and it felt like there was more to come. I would say the real world top speed of my 5th gen with stock gearing would be 145-150.
Mine is a 6th gen and on a loney, straight section of country road with no turn ins, GPS indicated 145 mph top speed in 6th gear until fear kicked in. I do not who was on my bike at the time as I would never exceed the speed limit in such a careless, wreckless manner... :pinocchio:
ive done about 50ish in first just to see how fast you could go in 1st.
No one is going to hit top speed in 6th the gearing is not right.
I hit 154 in 5th with a slight tail wind,WOT, and almost red line.It took probably over a mile or 2 for it to get there before I was running out of road. And thats probably about 8% off since speedo is wrong.im quite a large feller so i think its pretty good.
Thanks for the info.
Was just wondering myself what speed each gear is capable of. Googled, and hit you post first time. Good stuf!
If the tire diameter you quoted is not rolling diameter, then the speeds you calculated would be a bit higher than achievable.
Maybe the higher gears may be more correct with the tire diameter increasing as speed increases.
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 02 March 2011 - 11:06 PM, said:
Ive had my 5th gen up to 145 indicated (prolly in the 130's real world) and it felt like there was more to come. I would say the real world top speed of my 5th gen with stock gearing would be 145-150.
[image: View Post]DougFromIndy, on 02 March 2011 - 09:42 PM, said:
Not gonna hit 167 mph , maybe 147 top speed , or 142 with full luggage, maybe 152 if you have a downhill, a backwind, and are petite.
But I follow all traffic laws, speed limits, and government regulations so you are asking the wrong person.
I've seen 149 GPS'd w/ both saddlebags on. Indicated 161. Stock gearing, all stock 2005 VFR. Took a few miles of closed highway to get there though, but the bike was so stable it felt like 100. Nothing more in her though, unless I got to a long downhill maybe.
Don't redline it..........ride the power band by shifting once it hits 11k rpm.....I tried both methods and shift at 11k gets ur speed up faster
Also if with panniers....try to load something inside with weight (but not too much)...you can get better speeds if the panniers are not empty....a couple of guys riding FJRs told about that. Said something like if the panniers were empty the aerodynamics of the panniers will push it up increasing drag...but if its loaded with something inside it helps push the panniers down.
Best I could hit with panniers was 235km/h(146mph) and without is about 250km/h(155mph)on the clocks....definately not real speed...no gps on the bike so I won't know