shifting speeds
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Exactly correct...the amount of throttle your giving the engine only increases (or decreses) your shift time between gears, your still going to pull the same RPMs from one speed to the next. Once you use this as your guidline, it should become 2nd nature as to when to shift based on the sound and feel of the motor...you don't need a tach to tell you, you'll know when.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Personally I shift into 5th at 60 mph, 55 at the earliest... contrary to the manual, but it just feels right, you can't hurt the motor over reving anyway, it's got a rev limiter. Since you've driven sports cars and bikes I'm surprised your having a harder time then you should, esp. going form a Sporty to a big twin, not much diff. Trust your instincts, wind it up then shift when you think your at the top of the RPM range where the motor feels "happy".
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Its common for riders to think they are revving the motor higher than they actually are. Typical riding range is idle to ~3,500 rpm's. Unless you like to race light to light. Food for thought if you ever think about cams for your bike.
This for 5 speeds with 3.15 gearing, like his 04 Heritage, my 06 Fatboy. Add a couple hundred rpm's if your bikes geared lower. Not sure how 6 speeds fit into this. Im guessing the first 5 gears are almost the same, maybe slightly lower?
Gear, MPH @ 4000 rpm
1 ----- 32
2 ----- 45
3 ----- 61
4 ----- 80
5 ----- 95
Gear, MPH @ 4500 rpm:
1 ----- 35
2 ----- 50
3 ----- 70
4 ----- 90
5 ----- 105
This for 5 speeds with 3.15 gearing, like his 04 Heritage, my 06 Fatboy. Add a couple hundred rpm's if your bikes geared lower. Not sure how 6 speeds fit into this. Im guessing the first 5 gears are almost the same, maybe slightly lower?
Gear, MPH @ 4000 rpm
1 ----- 32
2 ----- 45
3 ----- 61
4 ----- 80
5 ----- 95
Gear, MPH @ 4500 rpm:
1 ----- 35
2 ----- 50
3 ----- 70
4 ----- 90
5 ----- 105
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 264
Likes: 2
From: Parker, CO
Completely agree! The last thing you want to do is lug down a bike. Someone says it sounds cool. Lugging a bike when trying to merge into traffic will get your butt run over around here. Peterbilts and Kenworths don't care if you sound cool or not, you best get out of the way in a hurry! You don't have to wind it up too much, but to ride safely and smoothly you need to get on it enough to not impede the flow of traffic. Sounding cool is for bar parking lots.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Personally I shift into 5th at 60 mph, 55 at the earliest... contrary to the manual, but it just feels right, you can't hurt the motor over reving anyway, it's got a rev limiter. Since you've driven sports cars and bikes I'm surprised your having a harder time then you should, esp. going form a Sporty to a big twin, not much diff. Trust your instincts, wind it up then shift when you think your at the top of the RPM range where the motor feels "happy".
Then you say you're surprised how hard a time I'm having...lmao
The only hard time I'm having is trying to understand how some people can lug their engine without realizing it. Your shifting into 5th below 50, on the gas the very least amount you're lugging your engine. How the hell can you not hear and feel it?????
Now what the hell was your point again...
Lee
Last edited by Red9; Apr 10, 2010 at 07:38 PM.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
RED9 - go with this as your guidline, can't miss, it's basically where I shift, been riding HDs for over 30 yrs, no lugging, the manual as a guidline is way too conservative for my taste and yours:
1st to 2nd @ 20 mph
2n dto 3rd @ 30 mph
3rd to 4th @ 45 mph
4th to 5th at 55 mph
Your motor will be smiling and so will you!
1st to 2nd @ 20 mph
2n dto 3rd @ 30 mph
3rd to 4th @ 45 mph
4th to 5th at 55 mph
Your motor will be smiling and so will you!
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Give it gas. When you cant go any faster in that gear, shift up.
When you slow down - let off the gas, when you are going faster than you want, shift down.
2 things to remember:
1. Always shift up at least 2-3 seconds before the engine explodes.
2. Almost never skip a gear.
When you slow down - let off the gas, when you are going faster than you want, shift down.
2 things to remember:
1. Always shift up at least 2-3 seconds before the engine explodes.
2. Almost never skip a gear.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Trinity, FL
I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.
Just be the ball, be the ball, be the ball. You're not being the ball Danny.
Just be the ball, be the ball, be the ball. You're not being the ball Danny.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 34
From: North Dakota
LOL YZ Guy, I love it! I learned long ago when I started driving a truck, try to go by tach, and you're bound to hit something. Too much head down time. Learn your bike, it tells you when to shift. Whether going slow, or fast like a rocket, your bike *speaks* loudly! Listen to her, feel her, vibrate with her, she'll give you a ride you will not soon forget.