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Question: Is there any problem if a motorcycle is ridden at its maximum speed for several hours?

(Posted by: Smiling Buddha on 2010-03-08 08:40:31)

My bike's top speed is about 85 kmph.Is it Ok to ride it at 80kmph speed for like 2 hours continuously?

Posted by: Steve Y on 2010-03-08, 11:30:37

It is widely agreed that cruising speed is generally about 3/ 4 of maximum rpm. Your bike's top speed may not necessarily correspond to maximum rpm in top gear, however. For instance, I had an old VW Beetle that would cruise all day at top speed, because it was so high-geared, and the intake was so restricted that there was no way it could approach even 3/ 4 of maximum engine rpm in top gear. My present bike has a claimed maximum speed of 160 km/ h, and it cruises very happily at 120. If your bike has a rev counter (tachometer) you should be able to figure out its cruising speed. If not, I would assume 60 - 65 km/ h as a safe cruising speed for extended periods.

Posted by: TheMechanic on 2010-03-08, 08:49:09

No, only if you rev it too high. As long as it does not reach the red bars on the revometer or the bike overheats due to wrong mixture in the radiator/ not enough radiator fluids, it should not hurt the engine. The bike should be fine.

Posted by: CommanderCrusty on 2010-03-08, 08:56:05

Theories are made to be tested. Try it and find out. Just be willing to slow down or stop if you need to.

Posted by: charliehorse2@sbcglobal.net on 2010-03-08, 09:05:41

Should be no problem if you have kept up your maintenance (oil changes and plug changes)

Posted by: Easy on 2010-03-08, 09:09:19

It is not good to put that much strain on a engine. If the revolutions per minute (rpms) are not at the red-line on the TACHOMETER (not revometer) then it will be ok but it definitely puts more stress on the engine parts. You also need to closely monitor your coolant temperature and always keep it full. Also long periods of wide open throttle will cause your oil changes and other maintenance to need to be much more frequent. What size motor is this? Your owners manual may recommend a colder spark-plug if you only do wide open riding.

Posted by: motog0d on 2010-03-08, 09:36:12

If your bikes top speed is 85 and you are riding it at 80 then chances are you are riding the bike very close to the rev limit. Riding on the limit for extended periods is not great for any vehicle. Imagine running a marathon at full speed for example. Depending on your bike there are a few things that could be happenning. If your bike is a two stroke bike the engine will be flooded with 2T oil along with quiet a substantial amount of fuel. given the limited amount of space in an engine compartment, for a given increase in fuel input the amount of air obiously reduces and given a 2 stroke has to burn the 2T oil as well it inherently needs more air than a 4 stroke. So on a 2 stroke motor at higher speeds you will see a lot of unburnt hydrocarbons being emitted this would be unburnt fuel + unburnt 2T. Not great for the engine. A 4 stroke however is better off, riding at higher speeds will not cause the engine to emit unburnt hydrocarbons and heat management on a 4 stroke is also better. But since it's a smaller machine it probably would not have been designed to take such extreme riding. Given that the vehicle does a max of about 85 it's handling abilities will also be very close to it's limits at 80. From what I have seen on many of the 100 cc machines is that they start to show signs of engine damage, you would find that an abused engine starts to show signs of starting trouble. This is because the engine looses compression and it's not until considerable damage is done that it start to manifest as starting trouble. You would also find abused engines knock or rattle specially noticable during cold starts. If you plan to keep your motor for long treat it well.