RPM guide
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 25
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From: Australia
RPM guide
I have a '13 FXSB with the 6MT and 103 engine which I am still running in. However my question relates to cruising speeds and the appropriate RPM.
For general urban cruising around say 35-40mph, what gear do you guys usually ride in? I'm still not sure whether 3rd or 4th is the right gear. Sometimes 3rd seems too short yet other times, 4th seems too tall and it feels like the bike is lugging.
For general urban cruising around say 35-40mph, what gear do you guys usually ride in? I'm still not sure whether 3rd or 4th is the right gear. Sometimes 3rd seems too short yet other times, 4th seems too tall and it feels like the bike is lugging.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, NC
I'm usually in third. Normally when I'm riding around the bike is somewhere around 2500-3000. 0-20 for me is 1st, 20-34 is 2nd, 35-44 is 3rd, 45-54 is 4th, 55-70 is 5th and 71+ is sixth. Of course the mph in that last sentence is approximate and depending on traffic. Sometime I'll let it rev a little higher or lower depending on traffic so that I'm not having to constantly shift. That's one reason that 5th gear covers about a 15mph difference. In the states at least it's pretty common to be in a 55mph zone and be constantly going from 55 or a little less to 65 and back as traffic speeds up and slows down like a giant slinky or something. You also get a lot of torque for passing in 5th gear. My bike with a 103 in it will do 80 or so at about 3500 RPM.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
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From: Rochester, NY
According to my tach my bike is actually going about whatever gear its in times 10 at 2000rpm.
In other words 10mph in 1st
20mph in 2nd,
30mph in 3rd,
40mph in 4th,
50 mph in 5th
and 60 in 6th.
The upper rpm of any gear is obviously going to vary depending on traffic conditions.
But under no circumstances do I ever let it go below 16/1800rpm in any gear, 2100 or so when I have someone on the back.
I try to avoid anything below that twisting the throttle even a little bit too hard makes it feel like the engine wants to jump out of the frame.
Keeping the engine above 2000 to 2200rpm gets it up into the the rpm range where it can pull very hard very quickly if needed without having to drop it a gear or two in a pinch.
Although dropping down a gear or two is never a bad idea if you have the time or just want to blast by some jackass yacking on his or her cell phone instead of paying attention to the road.
In other words 10mph in 1st
20mph in 2nd,
30mph in 3rd,
40mph in 4th,
50 mph in 5th
and 60 in 6th.
The upper rpm of any gear is obviously going to vary depending on traffic conditions.
But under no circumstances do I ever let it go below 16/1800rpm in any gear, 2100 or so when I have someone on the back.
I try to avoid anything below that twisting the throttle even a little bit too hard makes it feel like the engine wants to jump out of the frame.
Keeping the engine above 2000 to 2200rpm gets it up into the the rpm range where it can pull very hard very quickly if needed without having to drop it a gear or two in a pinch.
Although dropping down a gear or two is never a bad idea if you have the time or just want to blast by some jackass yacking on his or her cell phone instead of paying attention to the road.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 3
From: Central Jersey
I usually cruise about 2200rpm..
1st gear I shift at 3500rpm, which is like 20 mph or so, then every gear after at about 3000 rpm.. 40mph is generally a low 4th gear for me.. 6th gear i treat as only overdrive, so if im on a highway and cruising at 65mph, i go in to 6th, else I'm in 5th..need to shift back down to 5th to make most passes at that speed anyways
1st gear I shift at 3500rpm, which is like 20 mph or so, then every gear after at about 3000 rpm.. 40mph is generally a low 4th gear for me.. 6th gear i treat as only overdrive, so if im on a highway and cruising at 65mph, i go in to 6th, else I'm in 5th..need to shift back down to 5th to make most passes at that speed anyways
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Lemoyne, Pa
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 247
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From: Southeast Georgia
Like most have said I try to keep it greater than 2200 but situational around town and stuff I'll let it go to 2000 so I'm not cycling the gears.
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