Dear Crabby: What's with motorcyclists revving their engines? (2024)

FAQs

Why do motorcyclists have to rev their engines? ›

And, after reading a whole bunch of stuff about the matter, I found a pretty clear online consensus: Motorcyclists rev their engines because they don't want to stall — especially with new or recently repaired engines that have not been “broken in” yet — or, in the cases when that probably isn't an issue, because they' ...

Revving the engine is often necessary to keep the engine running, as many engines built to high performance often idle so rough they will die if not revved; it also helps prevent stalling the engine at the drop of the green.

You're giving the engine gas to do what it does best. Your car revs and makes that trademark noise when the RPM increases. This puts your engine fluids under pressure. That pressure helps make sure your car's engine is lubricated, which means the engine can shift and hold gear.

Motorcycle engines have very short strokes, which characterizes with: It allows higher RPM (because piston has shorter distance to pass, which means shorter cycle time, which means higher number of RPMs) Higher maximum power per same displacement (but torque is not higher) Higher fuel consumption.

When you rev your engine, you place additional and unnecessary stress on your car and its engine. This is imperative when it's cold outside—revving your engine before it has had time to warm up is especially damaging, as the engine's oil hasn't had sufficient time to circulate and properly lubricate your car.

This is usually done to clear the intake and valves of any residual fuel or fuel vapour not burned off . It's more common in older style pushrod engines and large displacement engines. Leaving unburned fuel in the combustion chambers can lead to spark plug fouling and hard starting the next time you go to start it.

The main reason why you may want a high revving engine is simple. Higher revs equals more power, which is particularly nice to have, especially in a sports car. A simple way to go about creating a high revving engine is making sure the bore is larger than the stroke.

Over-revving can cause damage to your valve train by causing a valve to stay open for too long – this leads to valve float. Valve float occurs when a valve is stuck in between open and closed. This will cause an immediate loss of power.

Do they need to? It all depends but generally, no. If the motorcycle engine is in need of a tune up it may be necessary to rev the engine at idle to prevent it from stalling. If the engine is working properly then there is no practical reason to rev the engine when idling at say a traffic light.

RPM And Fuel Efficiency

As mentioned earlier, the higher the RPM, the more fuel the engine is going to consume. However, when keeping environmental and cost considerations in mind, fuel efficiency is now of paramount importance. Keeping track of the car's RPM while you drive is suddenly more important than ever before.

Why is revving illegal? ›

Revving the engine results in sound and smoke pollution and you can be pulled over and also liable for serious action depending upon the severity of pollution control law.

' The Latin noun came from the verb (to turn or roll back), from the prefix re- (back) and the verb volvere (to roll), and its origin can be traced all the way back to the Proto-Indo-European wel- (to turn or revolve).

For the most part, it is not bad for a motorcycle engine to be revved whether it be in neutral or in gear. However, a single high rev should not last more than a few seconds because that can cause damage to the cylinder walls and pistons as they overheat.

The idea was that a loud bike would immediately direct attention to the biker which, in turn, would make car drivers give them the space they need in order to ride safely. Nowadays, motorcycles are custom-built to have louder engines and exhaust pipes as both a style and a safety issue.

The muffler and exhaust pipe on a motorcycle are short so there is little time and space for sound to be absorbed unlike in a car. A motorcycle engine is exposed to the elements and there is no way for it to stop the noise unlike a car which usually has the engine encased in a compartment.

Revving a car engine might sound cool, but it's not the best idea for your car engine. It can cause additional wear and tear, car engine damage, waste gas, and isn't good for the environment.

They're trying to show off to the girl, either implying that they are into her and want her attention, OR that she's a random bystander and they wanna show off to just anyone. It could also mean that they are messing with each other (other guys) and are just having fun.

Press the accelerator pedal with the clutch pushed in. The engine will rev even without increasing the car's speed. Put the car in neutral: To rev the engine, you can also shift the manual transmission into neutral. Put the stick shift on your car in neutral.

Rev matching is used when down-shifting to smooth the transition between gears and prevent shock loads through the transmission. It's a useful skill for the road and track for both cars and motorcycles.

To rev your engine without moving, turn on your car and put it in park or neutral, then press on the gas. If you're revving while in neutral, engage the e-brake so your car doesn't roll forward or backward. To rev your engine while driving, shift into neutral and press the gas while your car coasts.

Is it bad to Rev engine before turning off? ›

Aside from wasting fuel, increasing your tailpipe emissions, and contributing to noise pollution, revving the engine before shutoff also accelerates the wear on the engine's moving parts, especially the pistons and crankshaft.

Sudden high RPM can break the upper ring. The slower injection and smooth combustion of a diesel reduces wear at the top of the cylinder so there is less flexing and breakage of rings, which gives longer engine life.

Revving your engine will not make it warm up any faster, but it will subject your engine to increased stress before the oil has had the chance to circulate properly. You should also avoid accelerating too quickly until the engine has fully warmed up.

A high RPM (revolutions per minute) can put a significant amount of stress on an engine, potentially leading to reduced engine life and increased wear and tear. At high RPMs, the engine's internal components are moving at a faster rate, which can cause increased friction and heat.

No, revving your engine while you're in park is generally not bad. You can also rev it in neutral without hurting it—just be mindful of how much you're revving your engine, and for how long.

Is it good to floor your car once in awhile? It is good to get on it once in a while, to keep some of the carbon loosened up. It also helps keep the transmission from getting gummed up.

Consistently redlining your car can cause serious damage to not only your tires, but also your engine. For those with manual-shift modes or manual transmissions, it can be quite easy to redline (whether on accident or on purpose) and eventually cause your engine to wear down prematurely.

In most cases, a motorcycle will shift smoothly at an engine rpm of 5,000-7,000, but judging by speed and the sound of the engine is always a more reliable option. Moving faster increases the pitch of the engine, and once the pitch is high enough you can safely upshift.

Nevertheless, it's wise to warm up the engine first. But here's the thing—don't let your motorcycle idle too long! You could be doing more harm than good if you do. Today's engine-management systems make it so you don't have to worry too much about things like warming up your bike's engine.

Yes, full throttle running does increase the wear and tear on the engine (and other components).

Does cruise control save gas? ›

Generally speaking, yes. Cruise control can help you become more fuel-efficient and can help you save an average of 7-14% on gas thanks to its ability to maintain a continuous speed. In comparison, the constant change in acceleration and deceleration of the driver placing their foot over the pedals can eat more gas.

The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly.

Pressing the accelerator pedal gently will help you save gas. Following this rule of thumb allows for more efficient driving. Aim to take about five seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 15 miles per hour from a stop. For a manual transmission, use a moderate throttle position and shift between 2000 and 2500 rpm.

A person must not start a vehicle, or drive a vehicle, in a way that makes unnecessary noise. This includes unnecessarily revving a vehicle when it is stationary or repeatedly opening and closing the throttle when the vehicle is in motion.

Avoid Pushing The Engine Too Hard

A general rule is to keep the engine under 4,000 rpm within the first 500-1000 miles, after which you can gradually dial things up. Doing a full acceleration during the engine break-in period puts strain on the piston rings and gas cylinders, which could accelerate engine wear.

Vroom. We now so associate the word vroom with the revving of an engine that for most people it immediately brings to mind images of cars.

By revving some more. A Tesla Model S, for example, can rev up to 18000rpm. With a fixed-ratio drivetrain, the motor adds 1kmph of speed for every 90rpm. Compared to an internal combustion engine, 18000rpm is downright bonkers.

If we're looking for exact figures, the average motorcycle engine can last a good 10 to 15 years, any major breakdowns or accidents notwithstanding. In terms of mileage, those figures translate to roughly 100,000 to 160,000 km.

A new University of Florida study shows that a revving motorcycle engine can be louder than a rock concert or a chain saw, and just as damaging to hearing.

How bad is redlining your motorcycle? ›

Longer answer: Redlining is OK, provided you're doing it in a specific sort of way. Banging off the rev limiter is bad, revving the snot out of an unloaded engine is bad, and riding around with the engine at full song for no reason is... well, not bad, but it's not great.

With the spark plugs positioned 180 degrees from each other, each of the two pistons fire on every-other revolution to produce an exhaust noise that is even, smooth and balanced. Harley-Davidson engines are unusual in that they have a V-shape and only a single pin to which both pistons connect.

Each piston fires on every other rotation of the crankshaft and with the sparks plugs at 180° from each other; this provides a smooth, even rhythm sound.

A Thrilling Drive

For some, the sound of an engine equates to sportiness and power. The louder the sound, the greater the thrill. They know their vehicle is standing out. The engine noise also gives them something to play with and feel sporty even if they're just driving through traffic.

MTT Turbine Superbike - LOUDEST BIKE EVER.

Get a Full Performance Exhaust System

Another great tip on how to make your motorcycle exhaust sound deeper is to get a full performance system exhaust. That means getting your bike headers with fewer curves running down to the muffler part. Make sure that your muffler has no restrictions or baffles in it.

The engine is designed to have an operating range. Redline simply indicates the maximum speed your manufacturer thinks is safe for you to ride. Anywhere within the range is fair game.

Depending on the local rules and norms, it can be illegal to rev a motor in a manner where it can be perceived to be making unwanted noise. This can be for any vehicle. If the motor has to be revved, let that take place at a garage or out on the highway away from anyone who might take objection and raise a stink.

Yes. Revving too hard puts a lot of strain on every single engine component. If done too frequently, this will cause the components to wear out prematurely, and may cause component failure, which may lead to major engine repair work.

This is a way of expressing respect towards the other motorcyclist. It's our way of saying, “Hello! Keep the rubber side down, keep both wheels on the ground”. It signifies that the rider is wishing the fellow rider to stay safe and ride safe.

Is it good to let a motorcycle idle? ›

Nevertheless, it's wise to warm up the engine first. But here's the thing—don't let your motorcycle idle too long! You could be doing more harm than good if you do. Today's engine-management systems make it so you don't have to worry too much about things like warming up your bike's engine.

For most motorcycles, 8000 to 11000 rpm's are a standard affair, and all current sports bikes rev happily at these ranges and push the redline a wee bit more too. But you are not here for these, are you?

Most modern-day motorcycles have rev limiters out of the factory, which cut fuel or spark to maintain the rpm at a safe level.

Old Harleys had to be revved at idle so they wouldn't stall. These days, it's just for attention or simply because the rider loves how his pipes sound.

Typically, engines idle at about 600-800 rpm. Older engines may go up to 1200 rpm or more while warming up. But if the engine is revving up while idling, even after it's sufficiently warmed up, you might have a problem. High idle speeds waste fuel, cause extra wear and tear on your engine, and can be unsafe as well.