09 fatboy
09 fatboy
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Born and raised in the NC Mtn's
yes its the norm...but will loosen up some with every mile
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 3
From: Houston, Texas
as others have said it will loosen up....
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 519
Likes: 4
From: USA
Im usually in third when I roll past 50.
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R.I.P. BROTHER
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
I did some demo riding n those 09's and found that the stocker just dosent have the low down grunt to pull the steep 5th and 6th gears at low speeds.
Leave 5th gear alone til yer rocking past 55MPH and into Hwy mode say 60+.
I dunno about you lowlanders but up here at 6000 above sealevel the low compression of the stocker even made 6th gear absolutely worthless until the bike was doing at least 75MPH.
Some good pipes, Airfilter, maybe a set of cams down the road with a solid dyno tune and fuel manager...Betcha that new Fattie would lug along real happy like at 50 in 5th.
Stocker? Not so much.
Leave 5th gear alone til yer rocking past 55MPH and into Hwy mode say 60+.
I dunno about you lowlanders but up here at 6000 above sealevel the low compression of the stocker even made 6th gear absolutely worthless until the bike was doing at least 75MPH.
Some good pipes, Airfilter, maybe a set of cams down the road with a solid dyno tune and fuel manager...Betcha that new Fattie would lug along real happy like at 50 in 5th.
Stocker? Not so much.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
At 50 in 5th gear Ur running around 2300 rpm, and in 6th at 63 its 2400 rpm...
don't think that's lugging.... I've ran for 19K now and used 5th at 50-55 mph most of the time on state roads and it purrs at that speed. Doesn't lug it at all.
Now this year with the 26h cams installed and over 83#'s tq at 2000 I can and do use 6th at 62+ mph two-up and 60+ solo. thats also around 2300 rpm's.
It pulls 6th easier now than it used to in 5th at 50 with the cams and my gas milage has went up over 2mpg's, now averaging 43+
If U had some big lift cams and high comp pistons 2300 sometimes is considered lugging it..
don't think that's lugging.... I've ran for 19K now and used 5th at 50-55 mph most of the time on state roads and it purrs at that speed. Doesn't lug it at all.
Now this year with the 26h cams installed and over 83#'s tq at 2000 I can and do use 6th at 62+ mph two-up and 60+ solo. thats also around 2300 rpm's.
It pulls 6th easier now than it used to in 5th at 50 with the cams and my gas milage has went up over 2mpg's, now averaging 43+
If U had some big lift cams and high comp pistons 2300 sometimes is considered lugging it..
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I did some demo riding n those 09's and found that the stocker just dosent have the low down grunt to pull the steep 5th and 6th gears at low speeds.
Leave 5th gear alone til yer rocking past 55MPH and into Hwy mode say 60+.
I dunno about you lowlanders but up here at 6000 above sealevel the low compression of the stocker even made 6th gear absolutely worthless until the bike was doing at least 75MPH.
Some good pipes, Airfilter, maybe a set of cams down the road with a solid dyno tune and fuel manager...Betcha that new Fattie would lug along real happy like at 50 in 5th.
Stocker? Not so much.
Leave 5th gear alone til yer rocking past 55MPH and into Hwy mode say 60+.
I dunno about you lowlanders but up here at 6000 above sealevel the low compression of the stocker even made 6th gear absolutely worthless until the bike was doing at least 75MPH.
Some good pipes, Airfilter, maybe a set of cams down the road with a solid dyno tune and fuel manager...Betcha that new Fattie would lug along real happy like at 50 in 5th.
Stocker? Not so much.
before the cams when in 6th at 65, it pulled it ok, just felt and sounded like you had to stay on the throttle a little bit, and every time I used 6th very much at 65 the mileage always fell to 37-39mpg's
now my best is 6th at 62-65mph and around 2500rpm's where its around 45mpg's.
Last edited by oct1949; Jun 13, 2009 at 04:10 PM.