When Do you Shift?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 218
Likes: 7
From: Indiana
I have no tach (as yet) so I don't know when I shift.
I've read in several posts that lugging these motors is bad for them?
I run in 5th, around town. I hit 6th about 50 m.p.h. The bike does not seem to complain? If I run 4th around town the motor sounds awful and vibrates, all over the place. I could ignore 6th gear, no problem. It runs great in 5th, at highway speeds.
I've only had the dyna about 3 weeks - no time, as yet, to get a "tuner" or change anything in the fuel mapping department. I'm gonna have to do some learning and research that! In the meantime, I don't want to do any damage to the bike...?
I've read in several posts that lugging these motors is bad for them?
I run in 5th, around town. I hit 6th about 50 m.p.h. The bike does not seem to complain? If I run 4th around town the motor sounds awful and vibrates, all over the place. I could ignore 6th gear, no problem. It runs great in 5th, at highway speeds.
I've only had the dyna about 3 weeks - no time, as yet, to get a "tuner" or change anything in the fuel mapping department. I'm gonna have to do some learning and research that! In the meantime, I don't want to do any damage to the bike...?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 111
Likes: 1
From: utah
3000 rpm
Twin cam motors seem to be happy around 3000 rpm. I don't shift into 4th gear until almost 50 mph. I run 4th gear until at or just a little over 60 mph. I have been told by HD techs not to run 6th until around 75 mph.
Since I have been riding this way my gas mileage has improved. I'm usually getting 50-53 mpg on a weekly basis.
Around town I'm only in 3rd most of the time. When I turn into my neighborhood however I do let the torque of the engine pull it through to my house. So I put it in 3rd and let it idle through. Don't want to annoy the neighbors.
Since I have been riding this way my gas mileage has improved. I'm usually getting 50-53 mpg on a weekly basis.
Around town I'm only in 3rd most of the time. When I turn into my neighborhood however I do let the torque of the engine pull it through to my house. So I put it in 3rd and let it idle through. Don't want to annoy the neighbors.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: Texas
I find this interesting, I am new to riding and have been shifting just as if I were in a car or truck, feel and sound mostly. My new street bob does vibrate a lot at the high end of the gear range is this normal?
I have this too. What is the actual redline for the bike? If you hit it, will it cut off fuel like my previous bikes do or does it just keep revving?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 2
From: Dubai, UAE
Interesting. I often slip into 6th as low as 50mph (80km/h) too and have plenty of grunt, no complaints from drivertrain whatsoever.. and that's with a top ender SE204 cam. I'm not a heavy guy, weighing around 183 and we don't have much in the way of up or downhills either. Wonder if that affects it?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: Texas
the manual suggest shift points at 10, 20, 30, 40, & 50 MPH, tried that and it seemed a bit low in the rpm range especially 5th & 6th gear. I hit 6th gear around 60 mph mostly don't like looking down at the digital tach reading so i am not sure what RPM i shift at but i know 6th gear at 7o mph isn't more than 23-2500 sound about right
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 181
Likes: 4
From: San Diego, CA
I'm on an '06 Dyna Wide Glide (no tach, no easy way of getting one, either), I just try to keep her at a rumble, soon as she starts to whine, it's time to shift. I have the 88ci and it's also not happy in 6th until over 75mph, I usually cruise along at 70 near 3500-4000 in 5th depending on the incline.