You don't want to shift at peak horsepower, you want to shift so that the horsepower you're at when you shift is the same you'll get in the new gear. That applies the maximum horsepower to your acceleration.

I haven't seen a horsepower curve for the S2000, but it feels to me like 8900 is about optimal for most gears, since they're spaced almost the same. I computed the optimal shift rpm for my Ducati M900 once, based on the gearing, and it came out to 8800 from first to 2nd and closer to 8200 for the rest of the gears. Of course, unlike the S2000 engine, that engine has a big flat torque curve and any shift point above about 6500 is close to optimal.

For the S2000, you mainly want to be sure that you're still in the VTEC range when you grab the next gear.

 

That's cool. I wasn't really hitting Vtec before in my Lude but I'm always finding ways to do it these days. Though I really hate being in traffic and hanging getting stuck at 4000rpm and I don't exactly want to downshift.

Anyways though I definately feel a kick. It doesn't seem to be a whole lot. So I'm thinking the S2000 will definately give me more oomph. Okay I think I'm becoming more and more obsessed. I really need to get myself a S2000.

 

I have not hit VTEC since my rebuild, but I cannot wait to try it out again. I am over the second breakin period, just babying the little white thing for awhile.

Use to keep RPMS around 8300-8500 for shifting. Now you guys have me thinking about leaving work early. HMMM - sunny and over 32 degrees, actually it is 46, I'm out of here later.

 

For maximum acceleration, you should shift at redline in all gears. It's not only a matter of the power curve, it's a matter of keeping the mechanical advantage of the lower gear as long as possible. At the same RPM, the car will always have a higher delta V in a lower gear.

Physics aside, going to redline in first is one of the fundamental thrills of the car. The VTEC surge is more muted in the higher gears (because of the mechanical advantage thing).

 

Ditto. I usually shift around 8500 rpm in 1st, then 9000 in 2nd, sometimes 9000 in 3rd. I've never hit 9000 in 4th, 5th, or 6th

Sometimes I miss the VTEC point in 1st if I shift too slow

 

I hit 9K in 1st gear for the first time yesterday - didn't even mean to it happened so quickly. I ended up bouncing off the rev-limiter...that'll wake you up. I am continually surprised out how quick this car accelerates - as others have said it definitely gets stronger with mileage.

That's the only time I've taken any gear to 9K - I typically shift just before then when I'm in the VTEC mood. Even so, I'm usually far over the speed limit by the time I've hit 3rd...

 

What tox said-- touching the limiter is the thing to do. While the torque is falling off past 8300, you still get more torque to the wheels in the lower gear at 9100 than in the higher gear at 7000.

I gained a -lot- of time at the autocross once somebody told me to take 1st gear a lot higher than I'd been doing. Doh!

-dB

 

Wow. I just wish I have a S2000 now. I want to rev! It's gonna rain all weekend long however.