example , 80km / h in top gear equates to a lowly 1800rpm , while 160km / h shows only 3500rpm on the rev counter . Most bikes tend to be around 4000rpm at 100km / h . So , short-shifting is the name of the game , but this torque monster really does give new meaning to the term ! Fourth gear is great for open road overtaking with meaningful thrust from 60km / h all the way to 180km / h . However , you do need to be 20km / h inside each end of those numbers to be in the low vibe zone , after all , they ’ re very big pistons flailing around inside those pretty cylinders . Around 2500-3500rpm is the super sweet spot for this engine . Changing down at revs a little too high has the R18 rocking noticeably to the left as the engine inertia is forced to rapidly slow . It ’ s a fun feeling once you ’ ve adjusted to it , but something of a little wakeup call until you reach that point . Interestingly , at 100km / h in top gear chopping the throttle does almost nothing to slow the bike , very much like a two-stroke feeling , but
56 KIWI RIDER