Optimum cruising rpm would be the peak of the torque curve but that would be a lower speed than would be realistic to maintain in most places.
From the '09 manual:
North America 3000rpm
Australia 6500rpm

So what's with the downside-up guys getting to have all the fun??

 

Hmm, something is funny about those numbers. I don't think my 06 can have a peak torque at 3k. I cannot maintain speed at 3k on my local hills. 4k yes. 5k even better. I am betting that is is much higher.

 

Misprint in the manual maybe? Wouldn't be a first. Guess I could search out the thread that has some graphs in it.

 

I did a little google search found a few references and it looks like it is about 7k with 8.5k for HP peak

 

Peak of the torque curve is around 6,500 rpm from some curves I've looked at. I wasted some time a while ago comparing the curves I could find and posted in this thread:

https://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum...estions-37339/

 

I just did a 50 miles loop on Monday, 10 miles on an old Forest Service blacktop road, to a gravel road, then 25 miles gravel, then 15 on the highway at 65 and the RPM's on the last leg was right at 7800, it all depends on what gears you are running. 13-45 here

 

I thought that ST was geared a lot higher than that.

Ron

 

^^^ Did ya'll see this??? Deej rode his KLX again. Woohooo!

 

That's right. I even have a picture or 2. I'll post up tomorrow. At the dentist today. My new nickname is General Gingavitus

 

I ain't got no stinkin' dyno or graphs, but I often end up on a decent stretch of pavement while connecting off road sections out in the western U.S. I can tell that my 300 jug equipped KLX with 14/47 gearing likes 7000 rpm. It's smooth at that point, maintains speed even up some decent climbs, and gets good mileage there. With my gearing that's only about 60mph...and that's calibrated to my exact tire size on my Vapor speedo and GPS verified. If I go much below 7000, it labors a bit more on the uphills. If I go much over 7000, it seems to start screaming a bit too much, though it feels like it would do it all day long.

I don't know...there's probably some subjectivity involved with each bike, each rider, and the kind of terrain the road is on at any given time. My KLX is not an urban commuter for freeway traffic, nor is it used for highway cruising. The 60mph cruising speed is fine for me, and I can still gas it up to 80mph if I need to pass someone on a more twisty road. I don't even know what my rpm is at those higher speeds, as I've never looked...usually too busy doing something else...LOL!