shifting ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Many respondents to these type of questions only have experience with certain engines, usually "A" types. I am not 1st hand familiar with your '04 set up.
My "B" engine likes much earlier shifts. It's not a must, just a preference. By buddies' Dynas and Touring bikes like...no, require later shifts, normally 3,000 RPMs or so. The bikes feel, sound, and react quite differently. None better or worse, it's apples & oranges.
My "B" engine likes much earlier shifts. It's not a must, just a preference. By buddies' Dynas and Touring bikes like...no, require later shifts, normally 3,000 RPMs or so. The bikes feel, sound, and react quite differently. None better or worse, it's apples & oranges.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
I tend to ride my bike decently hard. The "chicken strips" on my back tire are only about 1/2" wide on both sides, my exhaust is banged up from dragging it on the ground, and my front tire has wear marks all the way to where the radius starts to straighten out.
You only live once. Ride hard, ride fast, and don't put a pretty corpse in the oven when everything's over. You'll be ashes anyway, so who cares what you look like.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: Down the road a bit in Texas
Sorry about my smartass post earlier. It's really kinda hard to tell someone when it's the best time to shift. You just putting around town,you on the highway and wanting to go fast?
Listen to the bike and it will let you know when to shift.
Keep riding and riding until you get the feel of how your bike reacts at different speeds and rpms.
Only way you learn is to keep riding and learning on your own since you don't have someone to ride along and help you. Lots of people ride differently than others.
Good luck and ride safe,you'll get the hang of it with the more you ride.
Listen to the bike and it will let you know when to shift.
Keep riding and riding until you get the feel of how your bike reacts at different speeds and rpms.
Only way you learn is to keep riding and learning on your own since you don't have someone to ride along and help you. Lots of people ride differently than others.
Good luck and ride safe,you'll get the hang of it with the more you ride.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: Down the road a bit in Texas
Like I said,ride ride ride and it will become second nature to ya.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Aurora, Colorado
my '04 likes 2nd-20, 3rd-30/33, 4th- 42/45, 5th-55
somewhere in there ... changes a little with traffic, how hard I'm riding, and terrain (uphill and stuff)
you're in the ballpark I think .... it's tough to go a constant 30 in 3rd. So I just go 35 -feels better
somewhere in there ... changes a little with traffic, how hard I'm riding, and terrain (uphill and stuff)
you're in the ballpark I think .... it's tough to go a constant 30 in 3rd. So I just go 35 -feels better
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Battle Creek, MI
Pretty close to what I do, depending on terrain etc. Flat, no traffic easy cruise I might be in 4th at 40 but no lower than 40.