Maximum sustained cruising speed?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
I usually ride the speed limit plus 10%. Which around here is 120km/hr or about 75mph. I set my cruise and just glide along. Sometimes when I'm feeling like a bit of a rebel I'll set the cruise at 130, or up to almost 140 sometimes. It kicks out at 140 (85mph).
Problem is, the folks I ride with have difficulty maintaining that speed. they're always fighting the wind and getting buffeted around.
My Road Glide is like a rock. Steady, smooth, aerodynamic, great on gas (50mpg).
But I do digress, you'll be fine running at 70mph. It's a comfortable speed, we do it all the time, some of my buddies have older models like yours.
Problem is, the folks I ride with have difficulty maintaining that speed. they're always fighting the wind and getting buffeted around.
My Road Glide is like a rock. Steady, smooth, aerodynamic, great on gas (50mpg).
But I do digress, you'll be fine running at 70mph. It's a comfortable speed, we do it all the time, some of my buddies have older models like yours.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
Use ear plugs,you'll be surprised at how much more comfortable you'll be at whatever speed you decide on. You can hear the engine ticking but the pipes and wind will be barely noticable.
Try one of those little levers that attaches to the thumb screw of your throttle lock with a set screw. I turned mine to the inside so it doesn't interfere with my thumb when twisting the throttle. Adjust so that when you set the lever the throttle is barely locked so you can still move the throttle. Lastly,get one of those little rubber band devices with a palm rest that straps around the outer edge of the throttle grip. When you dont have the throttle locked you can still hold the throttle in position with just the palm of your hand instead of having to grip to hold the throttle in position. Both devices cost about twenty bucks total.
Good Luck on your trip.
Tom
Try one of those little levers that attaches to the thumb screw of your throttle lock with a set screw. I turned mine to the inside so it doesn't interfere with my thumb when twisting the throttle. Adjust so that when you set the lever the throttle is barely locked so you can still move the throttle. Lastly,get one of those little rubber band devices with a palm rest that straps around the outer edge of the throttle grip. When you dont have the throttle locked you can still hold the throttle in position with just the palm of your hand instead of having to grip to hold the throttle in position. Both devices cost about twenty bucks total.
Good Luck on your trip.
Tom
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Thanks Tom! I had earplugs in for the 400+ mile ride we did last weekend. I liked it. None of us have bikes that are really loud, but they are loud enough that you don't want to ride on someone's right all day. The wind noise gets bad too.
I'll have to check into the lever you mentioned. I don't feel at all good about the idea of just messing with the thumbscrew while I'm riding. Having a lever would make it a lot quicker to release.
As far as the rpms go, the biggest thing I'm worried about is us pushing the bikes too hard. We were already doing 80-85mph where we had a 65mph speed limit. When we get out west where the speed limits increase and the scenery decreases, I'm worried about my friends having enough will power to call 75-80mph good enough. I guess I was hoping to be able to tell them that xxxx speed (whatever it is) is going to hurt our bikes, so don't do it!
I'll have to check into the lever you mentioned. I don't feel at all good about the idea of just messing with the thumbscrew while I'm riding. Having a lever would make it a lot quicker to release.
As far as the rpms go, the biggest thing I'm worried about is us pushing the bikes too hard. We were already doing 80-85mph where we had a 65mph speed limit. When we get out west where the speed limits increase and the scenery decreases, I'm worried about my friends having enough will power to call 75-80mph good enough. I guess I was hoping to be able to tell them that xxxx speed (whatever it is) is going to hurt our bikes, so don't do it!
Last edited by Tripwire; Jul 16, 2009 at 09:42 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
Normally, I ride alone (not counting the OL on the rear), IMO the faster the ride turns into, the more it becomes a matter of 'getting there' than enjoying the ride. On the two trips I took with another biker, one guy was always missing. He would just tear off, and be a mile or two ahead of me. Even though I was running at 70-75. I don't ride with him any more. The other guy was perfect. The only problems we had was trying to get both of our cruise controls calibrated to each other, so one of us wouldn't be creeping ahead of the other. I found that almost impossible to do, so I let him run the cruise, and I just grabbed the throttle.
Good advice.
Good advice.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 8
From: Minneapolis Area, MN
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,640
Likes: 8
From: Corpus Christi,Texas
my 98 fatty like 75-80 when we ride we take turns running the front door but on country roads with winding curves I just gotta go fast we have no rules, meeting or agendas we just go and have fun while not being reckless.well maybe sometimes
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
Throttle Rocker. Good advice. I haven't taken mine off since I got it. Nice to just rest your palm on. Position it low enough so you don't use it all the time.
Good Luck
Tom
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
From: Middle of Kansas
+1 on this!! There's nothing more agrivating that riding w/ a person or persons that ride like they're on the back of a snail!! Especially if they're leading, but the flip side of that coin is most people (at least the ones I know) don't take kindly to being somewhat "forced" to ride above their comfort level. Come to a mutual agrmnt as far as common travelling speed.
I ride with a guy that always wants to do 10-15mph above in town.
In a 70mph zone,he always wants to do 60!!
We're going on a 2500 mile trip in August.....he can follow me this time
If I'm riding alone,my comfort level is whatever the road will take.
With my wife on board,I go the speed limits + a little......maybee 3-5 over for an extended ride.
My evo doesn't seem to mind 3000-3500rpm(75-85) for long periods.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: UK
I did a couple of trips around Europe on my 01 Heritage, rode with two other Softails they all seemed happy at 70 / 80 mph on bigger roads, on the smaller roads slow down and take in the scenery. The only other thing to do is make up your mind before you leave your going to have a good time.