Gears too tall
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
I am hoping someone on the forums has a good cost effective solution to the problem i am having when riding. In Canada most roads in town have a 50 or 60 KPH speed limit. Even at 65KPH if i shift into 3rd gear the motor is lugging. In 2nd gear i think (no tach) i am probably around 4k rpm. The same problem exists for me on the highway, at 90KPH (80 is the limit) i cant shift into 4th gear without feeling like the motor is lugging. This is my first HD, and maybe i am just not used to all of the power being so low in the rpm range, but it just feels "wrong" when i gear up in either case. Has anyone else run into this, and if so, what did you do to fix it?
Thanks in advance,
Jay
Thanks in advance,
Jay
Next, there's zero reason/benefit to turning 4,000 rpm for city cruising. You'll just wear your engine out faster, use more fuel, blow oil into your intake tract, and heat up you engine unnecessarily. Besides, at 4,000 rpm, you're on the downward side of the torque curve, unless you're modded.
Since you're cruising, you might want to make 2200-2600 rpm your target range. At high speed cruise, you should be close to 55-60% of your redline.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
From: Guelph, On
Thanks for your reply Bigbadpoppa. Good to know that there is nothing wrong with my setup. Gearing is just very different from bikes i have had in the past, but this is my first HD. Not having a tach is also something new to me. As others have suggested i may just add one, or get a tuner that provides RPM information. I was not ever suggesting that the engine was lugging at 30KPH, what i said was that even at 60KPH shifting into 3rd gear made me feel like the engine was lugging. I have ridden mostly sport bikes before this bike, so this is a rather radical departure in terms of where the power is made and how things are geared for me. Was coming to these forums for information, as i had read a couple of posts suggesting that changing the rear, or both pulleys was a very good upgrade to consider.
Thanks again for those that provided constructive replies.
Jay
Thanks again for those that provided constructive replies.
Jay
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 130
From: Vancouver
Yah i feel for u. Ive been also riding sportbikes all my life too. Took me a little bit to finally figure out the sweet spot...and that sweet spot band is much smaller compared to 16K rpm sportbike.
getting a tach helps. I have a digital one that came with my 2015.
getting a tach helps. I have a digital one that came with my 2015.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 106
From: -)
You could go with the combo tach/speedo solution. Harley makes one that looks like it is on its way out, fits right where your speedo is now. Part Number 70900274. Pricey with the continual price increase they have.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 57
From: N Texas
Thanks for your reply Bigbadpoppa. Good to know that there is nothing wrong with my setup. Gearing is just very different from bikes i have had in the past, but this is my first HD. Not having a tach is also something new to me. As others have suggested i may just add one, or get a tuner that provides RPM information. I was not ever suggesting that the engine was lugging at 30KPH, what i said was that even at 60KPH shifting into 3rd gear made me feel like the engine was lugging. I have ridden mostly sport bikes before this bike, so this is a rather radical departure in terms of where the power is made and how things are geared for me. Was coming to these forums for information, as i had read a couple of posts suggesting that changing the rear, or both pulleys was a very good upgrade to consider.
Thanks again for those that provided constructive replies.
Jay
Thanks again for those that provided constructive replies.
Jay
The 30T swap is probably my favorite mod of all. For a DIYer it is not that expensive, especially if you can borrow the pulley nut tool.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
I guess it just depends on your riding environment. If I were subjected to slowish road speed limits, I'd get frustrated too. (People in Hawai'i call this "Island fever.")
For me, the gear ratios are spot on. (2016 FXDL.)
My old 1995 FXD ratios were somewhat "short" for faster riding. 60% redline gave me only 72mph.
For me, the gear ratios are spot on. (2016 FXDL.)
My old 1995 FXD ratios were somewhat "short" for faster riding. 60% redline gave me only 72mph.