Thoughts after 1st long ride on my HM796

[LeFauxTard]

Went on an 80-mile ride for the first time. I had a blast on the twisty back roads. The bike seems to be happiest between 4k and 6k rpm (I'm still taking easy on the engine). I was wondering how low of an rpm can I go in 2nd gear. Stop and go traffic is not the greatest on this bike.
Also, there seems to be a "crunchiness" feeling on the gear shifter when going from 3rd to 4th gear (similar to going from 1rst to 2nd), as if it's a 2- stage shift.

Thoughts?




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[kcasner]

I wouldn't go any lower than 1500rpm's, when not under a load, but personally keep it above 2k rpm unless idling.

The transmission on my 1100 feels rough between shifts, and it has 4k miles. From what i've read, this is normal.

[Seven9Six]

Originally Posted by LeFauxTard

Went on an 80-mile ride for the first time. I had a blast on the twisty back roads. The bike seems to be happiest between 4k and 6k rpm (I'm still taking easy on the engine). I was wondering how low of an rpm can I go in 2nd gear. Stop and go traffic is not the greatest on this bike.
Also, there seems to be a "crunchiness" feeling on the gear shifter when going from 3rd to 4th gear (similar to going from 1rst to 2nd), as if it's a 2- stage shift.

Thoughts?




Sent from my Motorcycle iPhone app

The idea is to not lug the engine in any gear while you are breaking it in. Doesn't matter about RPMS's. Stop and go on a stock geared 796 is torture. We all changed the gearing. The gearbox crunch is three things. One...the shifter pivot has ZERO grease from the factory. We have determined the Ducati workers used all the grease for their hair. Two....the chain slaps the swingarm when the chain clearance is too much...and Three....the gearbox itself takes a few thousand miles to break in.

[dbmike]

My trans finally began shifting smoothly about 5-6000 miles. Higher rpms (like you found, 4-6000 rpm) help whether going up or down. I normally shift between 4-5 thousand for all except between 1st and 2nd in slow neighborhoods. Unloaded in 1st or 2nd can drop the rpm below 4k. Loaded in any gear needs 4 k minimum for smooth running.

Stop and go is the worst on my 796. Everything else is great.

14 tooth front sprocket helped.

Mike

[vroooom]

yeah i find it really bad in traffic and especially if it's climbing AND in traffic—duh! i'm terrified of the motor stalling on me which would probably make me drop the bike or something that. is everyone resolving this by using 14-tooth sprocket? that's what you meant by "gearing" right?

wouldn't the chain slapping worsen with the smaller sprocket? no solution? when it's not loaded it's already resting on the plastic piece on the swing arm.

which part of the shifter pivot should i be greasing? regular black grease is fine i presume? I thought those are bearings on there.

it's a totally different bike when the rpm gets close to 4k. below that and it's one shaky ride. my tranny, i feel, is getting better. now it's not as hard finding N but usually i still need to go to 2nd first to drop to N. from 1st to N isn't very easy.... and it's notchy like what everyone posted.

sorry if i'm asking too much.

[lavi]

Originally Posted by Seven9Six

We have determined the Ducati workers used all the grease for their hair.

Funny!

[LeFauxTard]

OK I lubed the ball linkages on the gear shifter with white grease.
Great improvement in the shifting. It went from biscotti to ricotta