Keep from lugging the engine...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Exactly! It depends on many factors. I never played attention to shifting, I upshift when I feel the power kicks in, downshift when I feel sluggish. I know most ppl follow the owners manual and shift according to speed, very wrong! Think about driving a standard car, you shift when you feel the power, same idea. Listen to your motor, there is no right or wrong. What we called "play by ears" 
I'm with these guys, but like Sharkman73 said, I think it really depends on your mods. I have SE255 cams and when I had a V&H 2-1 pipe, rpms below 3000 (2400-2800) "felt" pretty good. With my Bassani 1D5250 and 30T pulley, anything below 2800 just feels wrong.
The local legends I know and trust are pretty adamant that most Harley riders lug their bikes unnecessarily. The guy that did my dyno told me not to spend much time below 2500.
The local legends I know and trust are pretty adamant that most Harley riders lug their bikes unnecessarily. The guy that did my dyno told me not to spend much time below 2500.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 564
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, Suffolk County
My bike rides pretty smooth. Not many vibs at all.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
my bike is smoothest 3,500-4,000
worst vibration around 2,700 but even at its worst it feels pretty good
also rubber mount motors seems to get smoother the farther away from idle, where as a rigid mount seems to increase vibes
i have andrwes 37 cams so that makes a big difference for where the bike feels best
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,082
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
Sure sounds to me like riding at 1600 - 1700 rpm is way to low.
I must be trying to kill my little 88". We cruise at 70 MPH max which is 3K rpms on my 99 carbureted 5 speed WG. Our normal cruising speed is 60MPH which is about 2300. The little 88 will cruise all day long 2 up as smooth as silk like this. No lugging. If I want to go faster than 70 we get in my 11 Mustang. 
The WG is for cruising and enjoying the weather and scenery. The Pony is for going fast
The WG is for cruising and enjoying the weather and scenery. The Pony is for going fast
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 157
Likes: 14
From: New York
Different world out there. Around here ( Long Island Expressway ) 60mph will get you crushed from behind by even the most elderly driver. lol
Anyway...tachometer? I don't need no stinkin' tachometer! ( nothing to do with the fact that my Super Glide didn't come with one, of course
) so I just shift by how the engine vibration feels. For me, into 6th gear at 70mph and back into 5th at 65mph. Everything else I just kinda feel when the engine is feeling more "buzzy" or something... almost like theres a flat spot in the power delivery before you have to decide if you're gonna start flogging it, or upshift... so who knows. Kinda like it that way.
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Anyway...tachometer? I don't need no stinkin' tachometer! ( nothing to do with the fact that my Super Glide didn't come with one, of course
) so I just shift by how the engine vibration feels. For me, into 6th gear at 70mph and back into 5th at 65mph. Everything else I just kinda feel when the engine is feeling more "buzzy" or something... almost like theres a flat spot in the power delivery before you have to decide if you're gonna start flogging it, or upshift... so who knows. Kinda like it that way..
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 30
From: CO
I've said it before and I'll say it again because many of you still don't seem to understand it. Lugging depends not only on speed and RPMs, but most importantly throttle position(or MAP for those of you who tune your engines).
You can be cruising at 60MPH and 2000 RPM just fine until you crank on the throttle really hard, and then you are lugging. It depends entirely on your bike's setup where the range of MAP/RPM/MPH is in the "lugging" area.
Regardless, unless you are completely oblivious to your engine sounds, you should easily be able to tell when you're lugging it...it will make very bad "chugging" sounds, along with louder top end valvetrain noise, and you'll feel it struggling to accelerate. Either decrease throttle or downshift.
You can be cruising at 60MPH and 2000 RPM just fine until you crank on the throttle really hard, and then you are lugging. It depends entirely on your bike's setup where the range of MAP/RPM/MPH is in the "lugging" area.
Regardless, unless you are completely oblivious to your engine sounds, you should easily be able to tell when you're lugging it...it will make very bad "chugging" sounds, along with louder top end valvetrain noise, and you'll feel it struggling to accelerate. Either decrease throttle or downshift.