When do you shift!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
When do you shift!
Ok, so I have been ride my St. Bob for a year and still find my self shifting inconsitantly. Sometime I shift when I think I should only to come to find that I am gearing up way to soon. So I started paying attention to my speed and the way the bike rpm's feel. This is where I have found myself shifting now. This is normal speed, not rocketing off the line!
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Syracuse, NY
for me the sweet spots seem to be around:
up to about 25 in 1st; shift into 2nd around 25
33 in 2nd; shift into 3rd around 35
43 in 3rd; shift into 4th around 45 or better
53 in 4th; shift into 5th around 55-60
63- 75 in 5th; shift into 6th around 75 or better
i know 33 seem like an odd number--but i know this because it sucks travel on roads where 35 is the speed limit--i'm either in high rpms in 2nd or lugging in 3rd. If i know the area (and not worried about small town police ticketing me), I ususally ride in the low 40 mpg's during these times.
i am really thinking about a andrews 30 tooth pulley to help with these "issues".
up to about 25 in 1st; shift into 2nd around 25
33 in 2nd; shift into 3rd around 35
43 in 3rd; shift into 4th around 45 or better
53 in 4th; shift into 5th around 55-60
63- 75 in 5th; shift into 6th around 75 or better
i know 33 seem like an odd number--but i know this because it sucks travel on roads where 35 is the speed limit--i'm either in high rpms in 2nd or lugging in 3rd. If i know the area (and not worried about small town police ticketing me), I ususally ride in the low 40 mpg's during these times.
i am really thinking about a andrews 30 tooth pulley to help with these "issues".
Last edited by mang0; Jun 26, 2011 at 05:55 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 4
From: Houston
Thats about right, give or take 10mph in each gear.
There are so many variables..
Listen to your bike, it will tell when to shift....
Last edited by RonnR; Jun 26, 2011 at 06:00 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,199
Likes: 7,743
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
LOL....that reminds me...it's just about time....2nd cuppa coffee down, 2nd smoke of the morning done..it's time.
Back to shifting....I don't have a tach and rarely glance at the speedo for shifting...I use my ears, combined with my butt (feel the engine).
I'm in New England..so there are more hills/grade than flat. Am I going uphill or downhill?
Wife on the back, or not?
I notice my engine reacts differently with gas from certain gas stations..is my engine happy with the gas from the last stop I made, or not?
So my shifting varies a lot. I don't employ 6th at 60...rarely even 65...unless I'm on a downhill grade. Generally more like 70 or 75 and above.
Back to shifting....I don't have a tach and rarely glance at the speedo for shifting...I use my ears, combined with my butt (feel the engine).
I'm in New England..so there are more hills/grade than flat. Am I going uphill or downhill?
Wife on the back, or not?
I notice my engine reacts differently with gas from certain gas stations..is my engine happy with the gas from the last stop I made, or not?
So my shifting varies a lot. I don't employ 6th at 60...rarely even 65...unless I'm on a downhill grade. Generally more like 70 or 75 and above.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
for me the sweet spots seem to be around:
up to about 25 in 1st; shift into 2nd around 25
33 in 2nd; shift into 3rd around 35
43 in 3rd; shift into 4th around 45 or better
53 in 4th; shift into 5th around 55-60
63- 75 in 5th; shift into 6th around 75 or better
i know 33 seem like an odd number--but i know this because it sucks travel on roads where 35 is the speed limit--i'm either in high rpms in 2nd or lugging in 3rd. If i know the area (and not worried about small town police ticketing me), I ususally ride in the low 40 mpg's during these times.
i am really thinking about a andrews 30 tooth pulley to help with these "issues".
up to about 25 in 1st; shift into 2nd around 25
33 in 2nd; shift into 3rd around 35
43 in 3rd; shift into 4th around 45 or better
53 in 4th; shift into 5th around 55-60
63- 75 in 5th; shift into 6th around 75 or better
i know 33 seem like an odd number--but i know this because it sucks travel on roads where 35 is the speed limit--i'm either in high rpms in 2nd or lugging in 3rd. If i know the area (and not worried about small town police ticketing me), I ususally ride in the low 40 mpg's during these times.
i am really thinking about a andrews 30 tooth pulley to help with these "issues".
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Jensen Beach Florida
Ok, so I have been ride my St. Bob for a year and still find my self shifting inconsitantly. Sometime I shift when I think I should only to come to find that I am gearing up way to soon. So I started paying attention to my speed and the way the bike rpm's feel. This is where I have found myself shifting now. This is normal speed, not rocketing off the line!
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: MD
Ok, so I have been ride my St. Bob for a year and still find my self shifting inconsitantly. Sometime I shift when I think I should only to come to find that I am gearing up way to soon. So I started paying attention to my speed and the way the bike rpm's feel. This is where I have found myself shifting now. This is normal speed, not rocketing off the line!
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
2nd-20mph
3rd-30mph
4th-40mph
5th-50-55mph
6th-60-65mph
Does this seem right or am I shifting to early in the higher gears?
I see your in Maryland, I'm up at Ft Meade maybe we could get together for a ride sometime.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Well I don't shift by speed at all, depends on how hard I ride, whenever I feel like I max out the power at higher rpm, I upshift. On the other hand, I downshift when I feel the motor lugging. Yesterday I rode pretty hard, 2nd gear hits 60mph and shift to 3rd lol. Forget about the speed, riding on a steep hill could make a difference, listen to your engine, you know when to shift.