9000 rpm... is it safe?

[S2000Crazy]

Hey Guys,
Stupid question. Keep in mind, I just picked up my S2000 just over a week and she's sleeping till summer. With the short time that I drove it, I got it up to 7000 rpm in third gear. The engine sounds like it's gonna blow up. Is it harmful to the engine if it hit 9000 rpm? I'm just scared but at the same time curious. At 7000 rpm it really kicks!!! Can't image it at 9000 rpm.

Oh... it has 95K on it, the engine is well broken in. Thanks.

[Java Junky]

Aaay Craze, welcome to the site.
About the 9 thou: it sounds like youl're talkin' about an earlier version (AP1) 2000cc model which has the taller redline, but even that one lists 8900 if I'm not mistaken.
The later version with the 2200 motor (don't get Go started) has roughly a thou less.
Either way, bringin' it to 9 is ungood n' will have mother Honda bouncin' you off the rev-limiter (extremely embarassin' if there are other motor-heads aroun') n' be aware that once li'l Stewie gets into the throes of VTEC, she tops out in a nano-second.
But as far as windin' it tight, alodda folks get a wee bit nervous with the higher Rs that the bike engines n' similarly built engines pull. As many of us know, these particular engines, in stock form, will pull tall Rs all day long, n' some of the site brethren (we know who you are) r' doin' it with forced induction with exceptionally good reliability. They should be along shortly so I'll let them fill you in on that end of it.
Oh, even though it is a Honda, keep in mind that it does have that 95 on the clock n' treat it accordingly.
Be well.
Java

[gomarlins3]

Once you reach 9000 RPM's you are on the back side of your power curve. Most of the AP1's hit peak HP at about 8500, so riding it out after that is not getting you anywhere quicker. I have bounced off the rev limiter numerous times during autox's and I don't like to do it, but it happens.

[Scott]

The F20C is made to rev to 9k. It's build to withstand such high rev's, so it should be safe.

Haha...in all seriousness, like any car, you can safely run it to redline once it's fully warmed up, and as long as the engine is in proper working order. Would it be wise to keep it up that high in the rev's? Probably not for an overly extended period of time. But there's nothing wrong with bringing it up that high once in awhile.

[spa01s2k]

It takes awhile to get used to the high RPM, but the more you do it the more you'll love it.

[ger2k]

hahahah coming from driving a mazda, its scary at first to go that high, but when you do you start to like it. dont over estimate the endless reving though, youll hit the rev limiter and youll feel it. happy revving

[S2000Crazy]

Thanks Guys for all the replies! I'll sure to hit 9000 eventually and I'll do it accordingly. Thanks again.

[MattG]

IIRC the engine is limited to 9K electronically. The point at which you will damage your engine is more like 11K. I have heard of a couple of people that had F20C engines revving to 10K.

Even though the limiter is set to 9K it is still possible to mechanically over-rev the engine and do damage that way. Mechanical over-rev has nothing to do with throttle position, and usually this only happens when people accidentally shift into the wrong gear (eg shift from 6th to 3rd instead of 5th when going too fast).

[Vezna31]

I bounce my limiter at least once or twice per track day, usually second gear. I have a dozen track days and 93k on the odometer.