Stuck at 45 mph
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
RDKingRider you have to be one of the luckiest Harley owners I have run across... A wife who obviously loves to ride and listens to the sound of her engine!
Just my opinion but the shift recommendation points in the owners manual for the 07 Fatboy are just plain wrong.
They call for second at 12mph, third at 24mph, fourth at 33mph, fifth at 43mph (!) and sixth at 53!
This is my first post on this forum but I have been lurking for sometime and have read a couple of threads now where owners have questioned their noisy fifth gear. I don't think it is so much transmission noise they are hearing but their engine lugging.
I am in total agreement with the posters who are suggesting no higher gear than fourth for 45, 55 in fifth and at least 65 in sixth. I am a big fan of letting an engine rev. It is music to my ears!
Just my opinion but the shift recommendation points in the owners manual for the 07 Fatboy are just plain wrong.
They call for second at 12mph, third at 24mph, fourth at 33mph, fifth at 43mph (!) and sixth at 53!
This is my first post on this forum but I have been lurking for sometime and have read a couple of threads now where owners have questioned their noisy fifth gear. I don't think it is so much transmission noise they are hearing but their engine lugging.
I am in total agreement with the posters who are suggesting no higher gear than fourth for 45, 55 in fifth and at least 65 in sixth. I am a big fan of letting an engine rev. It is music to my ears!
Last edited by Red9; Aug 12, 2008 at 07:51 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
Hmmm..... let's see here (looking for my manual) whelp, can't find it. I'll just listen to the engine or look at the tach. In 5th at highway speeds 60-70 (on a 5 speed) the tach reads 3K, so if I'm cruising at any other speed/gear and the tach reads near 3K, I go ahead and shift. I know, I know....... a TACH!! Thought we said listen to the engine. Well, sometimes I wear ear plugs. EAR PLUGS? Just get louder pipes!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 138
From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Got no tach so my ear tells me when to shift it.
MikeM
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga, TN
I had the same situation Sunday afternoon. I rode for 10-12 miles at a constant 45 mph, and 4th seemed a touch too high, but 5th was definitely lugging a little. I have ridden in 5th as slow as 50, but not for very long. I also prefer 55 before shifting to 5th. And I haven't had mine in 6th gear but once on the 1000 miles I've owned it.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
My final thoughts.......... (like anyone cares 
) I think if you are accelerating to highway speed (60ish +) then shifting to 5th at 55 is a no brainer. At lower speeds/gears while just cruising, its OK to be in a "lugging" gear if you are NOT accelerating. Once you accelerate, down shift first. I guess I do that for fuel economy so I'm not "winding out" constantly. There are those days though..... when all I feel like doing is keeping it in the power range and throwing economy to the wind.
) I think if you are accelerating to highway speed (60ish +) then shifting to 5th at 55 is a no brainer. At lower speeds/gears while just cruising, its OK to be in a "lugging" gear if you are NOT accelerating. Once you accelerate, down shift first. I guess I do that for fuel economy so I'm not "winding out" constantly. There are those days though..... when all I feel like doing is keeping it in the power range and throwing economy to the wind.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Novice
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From:
I go by sound of the motor, but shifting into 5th at 45mph is way to early for me. I have noticed it depends on how I am driving when it sounds like it needs shifted. If I'm out putting around I find myself shifting at lower mph but when I'm turnin and burnin doesn't seem to need shifted as early.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
