Fatboy vibration in 6th gear

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 11, 2015 | 11:46 PM

#11

Gommee

Devil's Advocate

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 2,070

Likes: 36

From: Alberta, Canada

I do not usually hit 6th until at least 75mph, anything lower than that and it seems like I am lugging the motor. Seems like HD gears them like that. My Street Bob was the same until I changed the main drive gear to a 30 tooth from the stock 32 tooth.
Speed limit here is 110 kmh and I have to be above that before I hit 6th.

Sep 12, 2015 | 10:01 AM

#12

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

that is Not normal..I've had my 07 since new and the Son had a 07 and 09 softail and none of them had even a Buzz at highway speed..

I do agree about 6th gear being under powered in a stock 96''er.,, but if you add some decent low-mid cams it'll make a major difference.. the 26h's I put in has about 25% more TQ VS the stock TQ at 2000 rpm's and my bike will roll along easy and freely at 60 in 6th...

Before cams the engine to me felt like it just didn't have the TQ to pull 6th. It felt like it was always Laboring but not Lugging at any speed over 60.. I used to also get my best Mpg. at 55 in 5th gear and when I used 6th my mileage would drop 2-3 mpg,, Since I added the cams I now get 4-6 more MPG between 60-65 in 6th gear on the road..

Passing other vehicles is now quicker in 6th than it used to when I rode in 5th gear and passed.. there is no need to downshift now with the extra TQ the cams makes. "" Unless your Really in a hurry to get around someone..""

Sep 15, 2015 | 09:46 PM

#13

Redlegvzv

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 2,486

Likes: 695

From: Huntington Beach, CA

FWIW my new 2015 Fatboy (stock everything) is very smooth doing 80+ MPH in 6th gear. It likes 6th gear somewhere north of 65MPH although it is fine in 5th at practically any speed. I like to keep the RPMs below about 3100 most of the time. In either gear there is no violent vibration like the OP described.

Sep 16, 2015 | 04:27 AM

#14

1004ron

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 1,781

Likes: 50

From: Louisville, KY

I change up to 6th anywhere above 60mph on my 2008 NT, and don't have any vibes through all gears and up the the max speed I've done, which is around 95mph.

Apr 25, 2016 | 02:26 PM

#15

Huggerbugger

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 1,333

Likes: 355

From: San Diego

Jam nailed it. I never use 6th on my 09 FatBob. It's lugging at 60 and doesn't begin to smooth out until at least 70. 6th is for the Autobahn, I guess.

Last edited by Huggerbugger; Apr 25, 2016 at 02:28 PM. Reason: Typos

Apr 25, 2016 | 04:26 PM

#16

Bluraven

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 3,973

Likes: 910

From: Omaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huggerbugger

Jam nailed it. I never use 6th on my 09 FatBob. It's lugging at 60 and doesn't begin to smooth out until at least 70. 6th is for the Autobahn, I guess.

Jam did not nail it.

We are not talking about the typical Softail vibration here.
We are talking about a teeth chattering vibration.

Even at 45 mph, in 6 gear your teeth shouldn't be chattering.
After my vibration was resolved I have no problems cruising in 6th gear at 60 mph.

What I did to fix my problem I listed on page 1 of this thread.