So I'm used to rice burners. Two things I can't get used to on my new HD. No Tach and the blinker on the throttle side. The two cable runs get in the way of getting my thumb up to the right blinker button. Other than that, loving the bike.

 

I put a cheap tach from J&P on my T-bars. Haven't had any trouble with my thumb getting caught up using the blinker, though. Don't have an answer for that.

 

Get an UC, it has a tach, no problem. Don't understand the blinker problem. I've never experience it on any bike?

 

When I went from Honda bikes to my FXSTC in 1986, having the turn signals on each side was a weird setup.

You might try having your right hand gripped further out on the grip, not right up next to the control housing. Your thumb should be able rotate up without running into the throttle cables to activate the blinker.

 

I agree. But it's a Harley. Seldon drive the Yamaha (one left cancel right rocker on left for signal plus it self cancels like Harley). Compensations.. I had to put a heads up tac on mine since I wear a full face and I had to look totally down to see speed. Lots of speed traps in the city. I seldom see the speedometer any more. My hands are small and quite often coming off interstate cannot reach signal without bumping speed slightly and the way people drive up you butt around here you need to be careful slowing. Most of the time I head signal and dart.

 

You really don't need a tach if you just listen to the engine... I mean it is a Harley, not a 18k RPM Hayabusa.
As for the turns caught up, I agree with what one of the other posts said, you might want to try gripping the handles a bit differently.

 

I'm with you. Rode Kaws for 30 years and I like one turn signal switch on the left side. The right one is just strange to work when you have the throttle to take care of. Not a big deal though.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I think that is it too, I'm used to keeping my hands in tight and I have to just retrain my brain to have my hands out a bit further.

And yea, starting to get a feel for the RPMs just by listening to the rumble of the engine.

 

I love the two turn signal switch setup. I truly love that they are self canceling. I never had a Metric bike that had those. On the newer Softails they do have a Tach built into the speedo.

 

U'll get used to the RPM's and Speed as U ride her a little more..

Here's a chart I posted 2 1/2 yrs ago to help others.
I put in the Gear ratios of my stock 07 Heritage and got these. RPM VS Speed.

MPH VS RPM's on 07 SOFTAIL
A chart from BIGBOYZ web site,
for the 07 Softail to compare MPH VS RPM's for
those without a TACH. Stock gears and tires.
The 08's and 09's are real close to the 07's

I told it the max speed of 120, so it quit at 120mph.
Hope its answers some questions and Helps others..

HOW TO USE:

RPM's down left side and are from 1700 to 5800.
GEARS are across the top 1st through 6th.
All other numbers is the speed you are going. (Doesn't say MPH on each one, just the number of your speed).

SO, if your in 5th gear and going 67mph, go down the 5th gear column and find 67, chart has a 67.1,
ok, then look all the way to your left under the RPM column and see its 3000,
So at 67mph in 5th gear your motor is turning 3000rpm''s

Here's another: Riding at 75mph in 6th.
AGAIN: Go down 6th gear column and find 75, look all the way to the left under rpm's,
and your motor is turning at 2875 RPM's

Hope it helps ya.


RPM VS MPH Calculator

RPM-------1st------2nd-----3rd-----4th-----5th-----6th
1700-----13.7-----19.9----26.8----32.6----39.1----45.9
1850-----14.9-----21.7----29.2----35.3----42.6----49.9
2000-----15.7-----22.8----30.7----37.3----44.8----52.5
2075-----16.8-----24.3----32.7----39.8----47.8----56
2200-----17.3-----25.1----33.8----41.1----49.2----57.7
2400-----18.8-----27.4----36.8----44.8----53.7----63
2500-----19.6-----28.5----38.4----46.7----55.9----65.6
2600-----20.4-----29.6----39.9----48.5----58.2----68.2
2750-----21.6-----31.9----42.2----51.3----61.5----72.1
2800- ----22-------31.9----43-----52.3----62.7----73.4
2875-----22.6-----32.8----44.1----53.7----64.3---75.4

3000-----23.6-----34.2----46------56-----67.1----78.7
3200-----25.1-----36.5----49.1----59.7---71.6----83.9
3400-----26.7-----38.8----52.2----63.5---76.1----89.2
3500-----27.5-----39.9----53.7----65.3---78.3----91.8
3600-----28.3-----41------55.2----67.2---80.6----94.4
3800-----29.8-----43.3----58.3----70.9---85------99.7
4000-----31.4-----45.6----61.4----74.7---89.5----104.9
4200-----33-------47.9----64.4----78.4---94------110.2
4400-----34.5-----50.2----67.5----82.1---98.5----115.4
4600-----36.1-----52.4----70.6----85.9---102.9---120.7
4800-----37.7-----54.7----73.6----89.6 --107.4 -----
5000- ----39.3-----57------76.7----93.3--111.9 -----
5200-----40.8-----59.3----79.8----97.1--116.4 -----
5400-----42.4-----61.6----82.8----100.8-120.9 -----
5600-----44-------63.8----85.9----104.5 ----- -----
5800-----45.5-----66.1----89------108.3 ----- -----






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