Highway speeds
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 102
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From:
Highway speeds
I bought this bike with the intentions of making some really long runs on it, I have already set thing on place to ride to sturgis next year and am considering a coast to caost for bike week in daytona. My questin is how fast do other dyna riders puch their bikes on the highway. I still have the factory 5 speed but I am considering the rev tech 6 speed to help get along on the highway without running real high in the rpms. Thing seems to be screaming along at about 80 mph. I ride with my father in law and he has a BMW touring bike and is a member of iron butts association. I dont want to slow him down and heaven forbid I would have to hear it as he is anti harley davidson. So what speed do you cruise down the highway at on long trips? thanks
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: Highway speeds
We ride between 65-70. The bikes would go faster but in my mind, there's no point. It's not just the destination, it's the ride.
Your bike stock would run 80 all day long. I wouldn't spend the money on a 6th gear.
Your bike stock would run 80 all day long. I wouldn't spend the money on a 6th gear.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
RE: Highway speeds
I assume from your earlier post that you have a wide glide. My 06 smoothes out really nicely at 75-80 but it does have a 6-speed. I agree with the sentiment that it is the going, not the gettin there that is good but I do like to ride hard on occasion. I got my Iron Butt Saddlesore 1000 on 1997, 5-speed, Superglide. I do think the 6-speed would make your long distance hauls more comfortable. You might also consider the Baker 6-speed. Evertything I have read about it suggets that it is a quality product. Steve
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 3
From: Hudson Valley- NY
RE: Highway speeds
Open road cruising, I try to maintain about 70-75, mileage drops off like a rock after that. Depends on the road and who you're with, sometimes hit 80-85. My "04 turns about 3000 rpm's at 70, still a lot of tachometer left to fill. Have had it up over 90 a couple of times during the commute home from work and still can't keep up with the NJ traffic on I-287, just feel better and more in control at a lower speed. Someday will crank it up over 100 "just to see what it can do", but that's for another day.
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Administrator Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
RE: Highway speeds
I ride my 05 RK 65 - 70 on the interstate and major highways.
Stay out of the #1 lane, those idiots are going over 100 sometimes.
Stay out of the #1 lane, those idiots are going over 100 sometimes.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 504
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From:
RE: Highway speeds
I dont think I would want to run with a BMW. Them things just whisper along at 80 mph. My wide glide is screaming at that speed. I know it will go faster, I've had it almost to 100 mph before I chickened out. Mine seems to be comfy just around 65 mph. I believe all harleys (twin cams) have the same trannys but run different rear sprockets. Mine is a monster which makes it a rocket off the line, but it suffers at high speed. If I were going to do a coast to coast with a beemer I would switch the rear sprocket.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Highway speeds
gunz.....comin' back from Sturgis this year(about 800 miles) set the cruise @ 85 till we hit Minnesota and the speed limit dropped so we slowed down to 80. Earlier this year on our way back from Deals Gap we smoked all across Tennesee, Kentucky and Illinios, again between 80 and 85. Both my Twin Cams have a sweet spot around 3200 rpms where they really like to run. Have run both the Road Kind and the Dyna @ 90 for entended periods and they love it. Get yourself some earplugs tho for the long rides....it aint the pipes that kill your ears, it's the windnoise. Anytime you ride at or above 65 mph for more that an hour, you're risking permanent ear damage from wind noise. I find that full face helmets just make it worse.