red line

[garyrc]

maybe a dumb question but on the 79 xs 1100 how important is it to back off at red line. the reason i ask is i never go there been close but always back down due to been afraid of damage. allthogh it seems to want to keep going

[chevy45412001]

give 'er

if it's going to break it's gonna break any ways....lol. I take mine above very freq. sometimes by accident ....ooopppsss.

[garyrc]

but my question is is there a little play there ..or is red bad

[Dragonrider]

There's a little play there...what happens is the valves start to float around red-line and power will begin to fall off.

Go too high over and something will go sproing eventually....

[RUSH]

unless your in 5th gear, Id shift up. If you are in 5th, make me your benificiary?
Ive bounced around redline a few times when hotdogging it. Its hard not to when the gearing is so close, but why flog an old horse? I usually keep it below 7 grand only because a shift miss at those rpm is not good for the tranny.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Gary,

Like Danny said, the springs are not strong enough to prevent floating at that speed or above, and so the pistons came come in contact with the valves....not a good thing. I run up to 8.5K, but not over it, don't want to rebuild my engine AGAIN.
T.C.

[7911special]

you can bury that tach but i wouldn't try it again i was doing a little showing off and when i looked back at the tack i wasn't near the numbers, i let off right away but you could tell it hadn't been that high before with all the nice carbon smoke everywhere.....

[flb_78]

My XJ has seen 10 grand a few times. Love that exhaust note.

[strom]

I hit mid redline a few times... never intentionally. No problem.
I wouldn't keep it there tho....
BTW: Whats the speed at 7500 RPM?

LP

[garyrc]

dont know in 5th .i was talking about shifting 1st 2nd 3rd, my normal riding is at 80mph at 4,800 rpm. in 5th on the highway of course

[beechfront]

only time i run it up to or past redline is if i don't plan on shifting

[RS Thornton]

Call me a stick in the mud but why go up there. Peak torque is at ~6500 rpm so once you are up to the red line you really do not any benefit. Plus those springs are good but they will let the valves float. You can get away with doing it but one bent valve stem is all it takes to ruin the party.

Gary, i hope you are getting the picture that the bikes will tolerate it but it is best not to make a habit of running it there.

[garyrc]

i have no intention of running it up there but was just wondering if it could take it if could take it. the main reason i ask is all the other bikes i have had have had rev limiters i know this one does not so that is why i asked.. thanks