Honestly, I think cruisers should come with tachometers just like sportsbikes.
I know my 2005 Vulcan 500 has the same engine as the Ninja 500 and sometimes I would like to push it to its limits. I am afraid I might blow the engine if I overrev it. So I am planning on installing a tachometer but I need to know the redline. Please help.
You won't over rev your engine. It has a rev-limiter so you don't blow it up. You should actually run up to it once in a while just to clean carbon deposits from the engine.
You will find the rev-limit when in gear and run the throttle wide open…preferably not in first gear. When you do this you will come to a flat spot where the bike won't go any faster or your throttle is open all the way.
It's not ALL motorcycle riders that do this… but a good number of them do. Their bikes are just so offensively loud sometimes! I'm curious what their motivation is; why they feel they need to do that.
OK, there have been some really useful responses to this question. I've seen a lot of "Loud bikes save lives", and in fact, I have heard this before. But really - THAT loud? Seems a bit excessive for that purpose. Might there also a degree of simply wanting to be seen? Motorcycle riders: Can you attest to this? And if so, why go to such extreme lengths for this purpose? What gives?
They are obnoxious & self centered, just like people with boom cars.