RPM Cruising Question
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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RPM Cruising Question
Hi folks. 90% of my driving is in morning/afternoon surface street traffic. Over the past year or so, I was upshifting to 4th when I'd hit 40mph. I like the rumble at that RPM. Recently, though, I've been more liberal on when I'd upshift and have been leaving my bike in 3rd for those occasional moments when I can hit 40mph for extended periods (a minute or two). I have a Street Bob with no tac. Is this an acceptable RPM range, optimal range, or should I revert back to upshifting to 4th for 40-45mph?
Thanks for your opinions in advance.
Whiff
Thanks for your opinions in advance.
Whiff
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
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RE: RPM Cruising Question
I would think it would be fine for the short periods you are talking about. I worry more about lugging an engine than over revving at those speeds. Your gas mileage will probably suffer a little, but that is probably all.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
RE: RPM Cruising Question
Whiff,as you well know,there's a sweet spot in rpm when it just feels right to shift,depending on if you'r just putt-ing along in traffic or goin' like a bat outta hell,but you could probably stay in third to sixty or seventy mph without over-revving your engine.
I'll try to remember to run mine up to sixty-two hundred in third tomorrow and let you know what the speed is.I bet it's seventy or better.
Good Luck
Tom
I'll try to remember to run mine up to sixty-two hundred in third tomorrow and let you know what the speed is.I bet it's seventy or better.
Good Luck
Tom
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
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RE: RPM Cruising Question
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 773
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From: NZ but live in Dorset, England
RE: RPM Cruising Question
Thanks Corl ... really useful ...
Where in NL are you ? I travel to Almere for work from time to time and on to Frankfurt area ... will be a good trip for my Bob this summer.
I was taught to use 2nd for 20, 3rd for 30 in a car ... useful rule of thumb so as not to speed in towns (I'm talking manual 4 cylinder cars for you North Americans
) ... if anything thats a little low for the Bob but its not doing any harm so i'll stick to it for now ... it gives a great rumble but not obnoxiously noisy with my slip ons.
Then according to your chart you can give it some in 3rd up to 60-70 without worrying ... nice !
I'm just coming up to 500ml (10 days old) so will start to let it run out a bit in the revs ...
Mat
Where in NL are you ? I travel to Almere for work from time to time and on to Frankfurt area ... will be a good trip for my Bob this summer.
I was taught to use 2nd for 20, 3rd for 30 in a car ... useful rule of thumb so as not to speed in towns (I'm talking manual 4 cylinder cars for you North Americans
) ... if anything thats a little low for the Bob but its not doing any harm so i'll stick to it for now ... it gives a great rumble but not obnoxiously noisy with my slip ons.Then according to your chart you can give it some in 3rd up to 60-70 without worrying ... nice !
I'm just coming up to 500ml (10 days old) so will start to let it run out a bit in the revs ...
Mat
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 609
Likes: 1
From: Bucks County, PA
RE: RPM Cruising Question
Nice chart and good information. I just checked my owners manual and the transmission gear ratios are different for 2007 models. Not sure if rmps would be lower or not? 6th gear in 2007 is 2.79 as opposed to 2.88 in 2006.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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RE: RPM Cruising Question
CorL,
Wow. If your chart is accurate then I need never go above 3rd...ever!
Whiff
Wow. If your chart is accurate then I need never go above 3rd...ever!
Whiff
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 916
Likes: 3
From: Mauldin, SC
RE: RPM Cruising Question
The difference between 06 and 07 is the rear belt sprocket, 70 toothfor 06 and 66 toothfor 07. About a 6% difference (lower rpm for the samemph for 07).
40 mph on an 06 in 4th gear would be about 2170 rpm.
40 mph on an 07 in 4th gear would be about 2045 rpm.
My rule for myself is; it's OK to cruise and accelerate slowly from 2000 rpm.
40 mph on an 06 in 4th gear would be about 2170 rpm.
40 mph on an 07 in 4th gear would be about 2045 rpm.
My rule for myself is; it's OK to cruise and accelerate slowly from 2000 rpm.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
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From: Eastern Massachusetts
RE: RPM Cruising Question
I think 3rd is pretty optimum for 40mph. When I'm commuting back roads I do 40 most of the time and never get out of third. At that speed in third my revs sound reasonable and the bike will stay responsive tousing the throttle to either accellerate or decellerate.In fourth, I'd need to downshift to get good response to either one. About the time I'm crossing 50 my inner cyclist is telling me to shift up.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,828
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From: Central Jersey
RE: RPM Cruising Question
I think harleys are really easy to determine shift points...even without a tach. I never look at the owners manual because they are basically telling you to lug the engine all the time...basically to achieve the best milage per gallon.
I just shift at 10mph increments...except for first gear, which I usually shift closer to 15 or 20mph...unless I'm really trying to get up to speed quick...but basically, from 2nd to 6th, I shift at 20 - 2nd, 30 - 3rd, 40 - 4th, 50 - 5th, and 60 - 6th. Easy peasy.
I'm sure you'll here many other things....but this works for me...and where I keep the rpms are all within a safe area for the engine (i.e. not too high..and not lugging)
To be honest, I've been riding for almost 10 years now, and I don't even really pay much attention to speeds anymore....I can just hear it...but if I do look down to see where I'm shifting, it tends to be at the speeds (or very close to it) as above.
Todd
I just shift at 10mph increments...except for first gear, which I usually shift closer to 15 or 20mph...unless I'm really trying to get up to speed quick...but basically, from 2nd to 6th, I shift at 20 - 2nd, 30 - 3rd, 40 - 4th, 50 - 5th, and 60 - 6th. Easy peasy.
I'm sure you'll here many other things....but this works for me...and where I keep the rpms are all within a safe area for the engine (i.e. not too high..and not lugging)
To be honest, I've been riding for almost 10 years now, and I don't even really pay much attention to speeds anymore....I can just hear it...but if I do look down to see where I'm shifting, it tends to be at the speeds (or very close to it) as above.
Todd