Lugging?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 186
Likes: 44
From: Canada
Thank for all the responses. To answer a few questions. One question was why did I bring my bike to my Indy. We just were shooting the **** and I told him that when running a major highway I travel in six gear at 119 kph. This 19 over the posted limit but the cops won't bother you under 120. Bigger fish! He said I was lugging at that speed and that I shouldn't grab sixth till 130 kph. 119 is just short of 75 mph. It sounds great and accelerates well at that point too.
In response to using my tach to shift I don't but I have one so I do look at to see at what rpm I'm shifting when I am motivated my the sound of my engine. It is a reference tool. It does guide my shifting. I certainly am not lugging my motor as I take it up through the gears! I have long been aware of the analogy of the bicycle gears. I have always been of the opinion that the engine sound and acceleration response will tell you if you are lugging or screaming your engine.
I really respect the guy's opinion and more so his ability to pull wrenches but I think he is misinformed on this one.
No you are not the only one who doesn't use the tach to shift. I do take not on occasion what my rpm is when I do shift.
In response to using my tach to shift I don't but I have one so I do look at to see at what rpm I'm shifting when I am motivated my the sound of my engine. It is a reference tool. It does guide my shifting. I certainly am not lugging my motor as I take it up through the gears! I have long been aware of the analogy of the bicycle gears. I have always been of the opinion that the engine sound and acceleration response will tell you if you are lugging or screaming your engine.
I really respect the guy's opinion and more so his ability to pull wrenches but I think he is misinformed on this one.
No you are not the only one who doesn't use the tach to shift. I do take not on occasion what my rpm is when I do shift.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jun 13, 2018 at 06:24 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
Thank for all the responses. To answer a few questions. One question was why did I bring my bike to my Indy. We just were shooting the **** and I told him that when running a major highway I travel in six gear at 119 kph. This 19 over the posted limit but the cops won't bother you under 120. Bigger fish! He said I was lugging at that speed and that I shouldn't grab sixth till 130 kph. 119 is just short of 75 mph. It sounds great and accelerates well at that point too.
In response to using my tach to shift I don't but I have one so I do look at to see at what rpm I'm shifting when I am motivated my the sound of my engine. It is a reference tool. It does guide my shifting. I certainly am not lugging my motor as I take it up through the gears! I have long been aware of the analogy of the bicycle gears. I have always been of the opinion that the engine sound and acceleration response will tell you if you are lugging or screaming your engine.
I really respect the guy's opinion and more so his ability to pull wrenches but I think he is misinformed on this one.
In response to using my tach to shift I don't but I have one so I do look at to see at what rpm I'm shifting when I am motivated my the sound of my engine. It is a reference tool. It does guide my shifting. I certainly am not lugging my motor as I take it up through the gears! I have long been aware of the analogy of the bicycle gears. I have always been of the opinion that the engine sound and acceleration response will tell you if you are lugging or screaming your engine.
I really respect the guy's opinion and more so his ability to pull wrenches but I think he is misinformed on this one.
Lugging has little to do with speed/RPM alone. It's all about engine load. If you're cruising on flat ground at 2500 RPM in 6th gear, you're not lugging anything. If you hit the gas to accelerate quickly, or climb a steep incline, without downshifting, you'll be lugging, and you'll know it!
The whole point of an overdrive gear (6th in your case) is to lower the engine RPM at highway speeds to conserve fuel. Keep on cruising at 119 km/h in 6th gear. You're not hurting anything.
Cheers!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
Likes: 13
From: Southwest Virginia
Harley V-Twins are low rpm machines. Unlike the high rpm crotch rockets, Harley engines are made to make low rpm torque. Even as low as 1500 rpm, if you take it easy and gradually accelerate you are not hurting a thing. I routinely ride at 55mph in 6th gear, and even on hills if I am in no hurry I just gradually increase throttle.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 476
Likes: 133
From: BlueGrass
My Indy says I'm lugging my 2011 Deluxe 96 ci twin cam. For the most part I am running 2500 to 2700 rpm. The engine just sounds right at that rev. He says that running at 3000 or a little better creates less wear on the crank and related components. He says he has received this information from a Harley school trained tech and he has been wrenching for approximately three decades. It is counterintuitive to me that a greater engine speed creates less wear especially when the engine just sounds right and is very responsive at that rpm. Thoughts? Experiences?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
Listen to your engine, it will tell you what is right. I agree that using the tach to gauge cruising speed is not good practice. Load, engine modifications and terrain all impact your riding. Do what feels best for your machine.
And about that H-D trained tech...how do we know if he was top of his class or someone who slept through that part of the class?
And about that H-D trained tech...how do we know if he was top of his class or someone who slept through that part of the class?
The bike knows what it needs; just feel it, and listen to it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
I shift by sound, and feel. I’ll check my tach, if it feels like its lugging. That could be at 2,200 on flat ground, or 3,000 on an incline, 2up fully loaded. My 88/5 speed runs strong at 64mph on flat ground. RPM is 2,800, and no way is it lugging.
I would not trust a mechanic who says to always be over 3,000 on a Harley. Maybe on a higher revving bike it might be true.
I would not trust a mechanic who says to always be over 3,000 on a Harley. Maybe on a higher revving bike it might be true.
