Please define 'lugging the engine'
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
Okay okay okay okay, I apologize to the linguistic perfectionists. I do have a concept of the term lugging. Mea culpa (look it up).
But lugging the engine on this FatBoy would be vastly different from lugging on my old shovelhead, or my Triumph Daytona, or my old BMW 533i.
The Triumph wouldnt get comfortable until above 5 or 6k. The FatBoy would just explode at those revs.
So to rephrase my original for all the English professors,
In your experience with the 2011 softail engine and gearing, what would you consider the average shift points and cruising RPMs?
And Thank you to those that gave me some useful answers. Just trying to keep her running smooth.
Michael
But lugging the engine on this FatBoy would be vastly different from lugging on my old shovelhead, or my Triumph Daytona, or my old BMW 533i.
The Triumph wouldnt get comfortable until above 5 or 6k. The FatBoy would just explode at those revs.
So to rephrase my original for all the English professors,
In your experience with the 2011 softail engine and gearing, what would you consider the average shift points and cruising RPMs?
And Thank you to those that gave me some useful answers. Just trying to keep her running smooth.
Michael
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
That's a piece of cake for the crankshaft, compared to the loads it sees under even light throttle. And on a motorcycle, you need to go through every gear in between to reach first anyway, so it doesn't cause the additional wear that downshifting through each gear would when approaching a stop in a car.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,144
Likes: 12,709
From: South Carolina
Just stumbled on to this old thread, but I`ll throw this in...
Slowing the bike by downshifting will do no harm to the crankshaft.
In my opinion, guys that talk this junk science are the guys who have never actually worked on the internal parts of an engine, and have never learned the proper way to operate a motorcycle.
Slowing the bike by downshifting will do no harm to the crankshaft.
In my opinion, guys that talk this junk science are the guys who have never actually worked on the internal parts of an engine, and have never learned the proper way to operate a motorcycle.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
That's interesting... Maybe I'm reading you wrong, but by "compression braking" I'm thinking what you mean is by slowing the bike with a lower gear before using your brakes. I was always taught that's the proper way to brake.
Did I misunderstand you or have I been taught incorrectly?
Did I misunderstand you or have I been taught incorrectly?
That's interesting... Maybe I'm reading you wrong, but by "compression braking" I'm thinking what you mean is by slowing the bike with a lower gear before using your brakes. I was always taught that's the proper way to brake.
Nonononono...brake pads are much cheaper than crankshafts.
Nonononono...brake pads are much cheaper than crankshafts.
Last edited by 2black1s; Apr 11, 2014 at 11:38 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 198
Likes: 17
From: Millbury MA
Wow....
I was taught that engine braking was proper both on the bike and in a car.
It goes right along with the technique called "rev matching".
A lot of guys rev their engine a bit in between gears just to hear it.
I rev mine to match the rpms of the gear I'm going to downshift into...
This is, as I was taught, a proper technique.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has learned this. It's been in practice since the first
manual transmission was invented....
I was taught that engine braking was proper both on the bike and in a car.
It goes right along with the technique called "rev matching".
A lot of guys rev their engine a bit in between gears just to hear it.
I rev mine to match the rpms of the gear I'm going to downshift into...
This is, as I was taught, a proper technique.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has learned this. It's been in practice since the first
manual transmission was invented....
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
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
Wow....
I was taught that engine braking was proper both on the bike and in a car.
It goes right along with the technique called "rev matching".
A lot of guys rev their engine a bit in between gears just to hear it.
I rev mine to match the rpms of the gear I'm going to downshift into...
This is, as I was taught, a proper technique.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has learned this. It's been in practice since the first
manual transmission was invented....
I was taught that engine braking was proper both on the bike and in a car.
It goes right along with the technique called "rev matching".
A lot of guys rev their engine a bit in between gears just to hear it.
I rev mine to match the rpms of the gear I'm going to downshift into...
This is, as I was taught, a proper technique.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has learned this. It's been in practice since the first
manual transmission was invented....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 15,363
Likes: 24,235
From: NC, USA
When I was a kid in HS my Father was teaching me to shift on an old beater. When I asked him how do I know when to shift his answer was "the engine will tell you when".
I lugg it rarely these days but when I do it's pretty obvious and I hear those words in my head.
I lugg it rarely these days but when I do it's pretty obvious and I hear those words in my head.