I posted a couple weeks ago asking about the Six Speed, but now that I actually have the bike and have ridden it, let me ask this: On the Interstate coming back from the dealer today the bike seemed "happy" at 60 mph in 5th gear. I tried 6th at 60 and the motor didn't feel like it was lugging, but it just felt "happier" in 5th at that speed. Roll-on acceleration in 5th at that speed was excellent.

I don't have a tach, so I'm guessing that 60 mph in 5th is probably about 2800-3000 rpm. Is that about right?

 

I shift to sixth at 70 mph in 5th thats 3000 rpms on the button. You would be correct that at 60 mph is around 2800 rpms in 5th. I feel the engine is lugging if you are in 6th gear below 70.

 

That sounds about right,seventy in sixth is about 3000. On an easy grade with no wind I might be in sixth at sixty but most of the time I'd say fifth would be better. Like you said it just feels better.

Good Luck

Tom

 

Thanks. That's what I figured. 2800 rpm is the start of the peak of the torque curve (the Sweet Spot) for the TC96, so that would explain why she felt "happy" at that speed in 5th. I suppose that means the Sweet Spot in 6th is around 75-80 mph.

 

70 in 6th should be about 2500 rpm.

 

Did your dealer go over the break in with you? Mine sure did. Dont go over 50 for the first 50 miles. Don't lug your motor or run at a steady rpm for a long time for the first 500 miles. This is the first new bike I have ever owned so I don't know if this has to be followed but it is how I broke mine in. I found most of what they said in the owners manual except for the under 50 for 50 miles part. Oh well congrats on your new Dyna, and ride safe.

 

No, he didn't say anything about that and if he had, I would have just looked at him with a "give me a break" look on my face. If I ran 50 mph on 85 trying to get back home I probably wouldn't make it. At 60 I was being passed by everything on the road. Normally, you run at least 75 to run with traffic on 85.

With modern machining new engines don't really need a formal break-in like they did 50 years ago. The main thing is don't over heat them and don't over or under rev them until all the parts have a chance to "get to know each other."

 

Gary take it easy on your new engine allow it to break in even the new tech.

 

What makes you think I'm not taking it easy? 60 mph in 5th is certainly not abusing the engine. The manual says not to exceed 4000 rpm in any gear for the first 50 miles. I'd have to be going a lot faster than 60 to do that.

My riding style overall can be summed up in two words: "Easy Rider." I'd be willing to bet that in the two years I had my Sporty the engine never saw 5000 rpm in any gear. I know I never wound it out enough to ever hit the rev limiter, which is set for 5500.

 

I have an 08 SB, that I have added a passenger seat and back rest so I can take the wife out for rides. With the wife on (130) and me (195) 6 gear is only used unless we are on the interstate or a road we can go over 65. By myself I can use 6th gear around 60 but it always "feels" as if the motor is a the bottom of it's power/torque curve. Which thanks so everyones input I know know is true.

Great forum, thanks again.