Hi gang.....
Haven't been around for a while...... been riding my butt offthankfully though..... good summer in NJ....

anyway.... been crusing alot on the highways, and with a buddy of mine that has a Road king, and he has 6 gears and obviously a bigger engine.... Well, he likes to cruisebetween75-85.... so do i...BUT,,,, can the sportster handle it.....

I have an 2007 XL50.... It sounds likethe trans is runningfast and hard at those speeds.....

THE QUESTION OF THE DAY IS.... CAN WE CHANGE THE GEAR RATIOS TO HELP .... HMMMM....???? anyone know???

70 puts me at about 3100rpm
75 at 3300 or so....
80 at 3500.....

Is this all to much for the bike...... Do I need a bigger bike if this is where I like to cruse at....speed wise that is....


jim D

 

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The rev limiter doesn't hit til 6000 rpm.

I did about a 100 mile stretch the other week at 90-100 mph. it seemed fine. I normally like to run anywhere from 60-70mph most crusin I do. Hell ,I don't thinkthey start runnin good til you hit 55 or so.[sm=jawdrop.gif]

 

i ran it at like 80-90 for 10 hours tominnesota.

 

Can the Sportster handle those speeds? Absolutely. You won't break it by riding it at 75-85.

Do you need a bigger bike? I say no. Sportsters have plenty of power. You don't seem concerned about power, just about the fell/sound of the high RPM's at speed. Short of doing some transmission work to have taller gears installed (which is likely a very pricey endeavor that will introduce a host of other potential problems that far outweigh having the work done in the first place), your options are to not worry about it, or look for a bike with taller gears stock, or a 6 speed.

You'll get used to it over time. Relish in the fact that, at those speeds, to accelerate quickly you only need a little twist of the throttle, where your 6 speed bretheren must downshift in order to get similar results.

 

Just remember, not too long ago the 1200 (74 cu. in.) engine was the largest Harley made. Today's 1200 has got much more power and reliability than the Panhead or Shovelhead of the same size.

 

I just got my bike and I'm more than happy with the power. I have no doubts about highway cruising speeds.

 

I think it's relative.When you start out,hearing the bike at 60mph may sound like it's winding,but after you cruise at 75-80mph for a few miles,listen again and you'll think the engine is asleep at 60mph

 

I like 70-75 from a riding comfort perspective, the Sportster can handle that all day.

 

Around 75mph for me and a lil higher, the mirrors seem to reach a harmonic balance and stop vibrating Last week I did try to get up to 100, the bike did not like that one bit, wobbled back and forth , then again neither did I . I cruise around 75-80 on the highway, otherwise I'd get flattened. I don't think the evo motor has any problems keeping up at all. Not sure if a 6th gear would even benefit.