Question about shifting/rpms
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 30
From: CO
That is definitely not true of the 103", especially a modded one. The manual even says 55 is when you should go to 6th. It's pretty obvious when the engine is lugging and it all depends on the load you're putting on it. Running below 2500 is just fine if you're cruising on light throttle.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 894
Likes: 11
From: Canton, Oh
That is definitely not true of the 103", especially a modded one. The manual even says 55 is when you should go to 6th. It's pretty obvious when the engine is lugging and it all depends on the load you're putting on it. Running below 2500 is just fine if you're cruising on light throttle.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 30
From: CO
Interesting. The only thing my dealer told me was not to exceed 3000 rpm for the first 1000 miles, which according to the manual is ok after 500. Whatever, its pretty easy to tell what the engine likes and what it doesn't. One thing about break in tho...while actual lugging is bad, it is much better for ring setting if you but some load on her in the higher gears than to wind up too high every time you shift. This is true on any engine.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 30
From: CO
I agree. There's some serious misunderstanding around here of what "lugging" is. There is no mistaking it...it will sound and FEEL like its gonna blow up. It will also stop accelerating. There is also a certain sound when under heavy load but it's completely normal.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
I realy never understand these threads. This is a Harley you are talking about, not some raspy jap street runner. I regularly run in 6th gear from 50 mph on up or 5th gear from 65 mph down to 45mph. You can shift a Harley anywhere it feels good between 1500 and 5000 rpm, as long as you don't lug the engine too much. Sweet spots and gears are kind of irrelivant to a Harley, just ride them. Oh, by the way, I have never blown an engine in 50 years on Harleys and my '06 WG has 25,000 miles on it and no dreaded alernator rotor explosion or cam chain adjustor problems. It doesn't take rocket science to ride a Harley. In the wind.
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