07-13-2015, 11:59 AM
I'm sure you will get a lot of differing opinions on this one 
My uninformed opinion is that since the "power band" on the bike is north of 4000 RPM, that is where the motor is "happiest' in terms of load. Don't confuse vibrations with an unhappy motor. Vibrations come when the various parts of the bike "harmonize." On this bike, I get most vibrations between 3900 and 4500 RPM. On my KLR it is at a bit lower range. But both bikes settle down above a certain point and get smooth again.
Long ago, I commuted on a long street with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. On my CB 400, that speed sat right at the point where I felt like I should shift up. But when I did shift up, the bike was somewhat less responsive. Anyhow, I was on the fence as to which gear to cruise in until the day I very nearly got hit. I was in the higher gear and when I needed to get going RIGHT NOW, the bike just sorta chugged out of the way. From then on I've kept the RPM up.
My uninformed opinion is that since the "power band" on the bike is north of 4000 RPM, that is where the motor is "happiest' in terms of load. Don't confuse vibrations with an unhappy motor. Vibrations come when the various parts of the bike "harmonize." On this bike, I get most vibrations between 3900 and 4500 RPM. On my KLR it is at a bit lower range. But both bikes settle down above a certain point and get smooth again.
Long ago, I commuted on a long street with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. On my CB 400, that speed sat right at the point where I felt like I should shift up. But when I did shift up, the bike was somewhat less responsive. Anyhow, I was on the fence as to which gear to cruise in until the day I very nearly got hit. I was in the higher gear and when I needed to get going RIGHT NOW, the bike just sorta chugged out of the way. From then on I've kept the RPM up.