Rev Limiter.

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Apr 5, 2018 | 08:47 PM

#11

John Harper

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 8,589

Likes: 4,019

From: San Diego, CA

50 in fifth gear is low on the RPM scale even on my 883. There are speed/gear/RPM scales that you can find on the internet. Try to keep the RPMs above 3K and your engine will be happy. 3-5K is probably what most people use.

John

Apr 5, 2018 | 08:53 PM

#12

shanneba

Road Warrior

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 1,649

Likes: 443

From: Indianapolis

Your Sportster 1200 would hit the 6000 rpm limiter at the following speeds:
(Keep in mind the speedo is likely about 4% faster than actual speed)

Code:

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
6000	48.7	68.2	91.8	110.7	129.1

Gearing calculator-

https://www.gearingcommander.com/

Choose Harley Davidson, Sportster, XL 1200 US 08-09 for your 2012 gearing.
Change the M.P.rpm to 6000 for your redlline.

Last edited by shanneba; Apr 5, 2018 at 08:59 PM.

Apr 5, 2018 | 09:13 PM

#13

cHarley

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

Likes: 306

From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by northshore_paul

I don't think the 1200 engine should be lugging at 50 mph in 5th gear! If it is normal to be lugging in 5th gear at 50 mph, I bought the wrong bike! I can cruise at 40 in 5th on my EG and when I crack the throttle it gets up and goes.

Sorry, but your thinking is incorrect, 50mph in 5th gear is lugging the motor. I never go to 5th gear below ~62mph.

Apr 5, 2018 | 09:21 PM

#14

northshore_paul

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 147

Likes: 23

From: Covington, La.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cHarley

Sorry, but your thinking is incorrect, 50mph in 5th gear is lugging the motor. I never go to 5th gear below ~62mph.

The engine really sounds busy if I am in 4th gear at 50 mph. I guess I am used to a more laid back style of riding. I may have made a mistake getting a Sportster as a backup ride to my Glide. Maybe I should look to a Dyna that will be more to my style of riding, which is laid back, cruising the back country roads at 55 mph and 3000 rpms.

Thanks for the information.

Apr 5, 2018 | 09:42 PM

#15

northshore_paul

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 147

Likes: 23

From: Covington, La.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cHarley

Sorry, but your thinking is incorrect, 50mph in 5th gear is lugging the motor. I never go to 5th gear below ~62mph.

I went back 10 years in the archives (2008) and found a thread on this very subject where you had several postings regarding shift points relative to MPH, (I wish I had a tach) and it was very informative. I was coming from the position that the 1200 Sportster engine was just a smaller big twin in how it ran...my error. Prior to my current 2000 Glide I had an evolution Glide and that engine was 1340 and I incorrectly thought the 1200 Sporty, being lighter, would ride the same way with shifting and rpms equating to about the same as it was in my evo big twin. Yes, I know what happens when you assume. So it looks like I have been chasing a "problem" that does not exist and only exists in how I am piloting the bike. Just goes to show you that one is never too old to learn new tricks. Thanks to all for the information and education.

Apr 6, 2018 | 12:33 AM

#16

Jak_Rak

Cruiser

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 108

Likes: 28

From: Lewis Co., WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by northshore_paul

...Just goes to show you that one is never too old to learn new tricks. Thanks to all for the information and education.

Hey, you're still bouncing off the rev limiter in 1st gear at 50 mph!

Apr 6, 2018 | 08:22 AM

#17

cHarley

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

Likes: 306

From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

1200 Sporty speeds/RPM guide - Recommended cruising range in green.

Attached Thumbnails

Apr 6, 2018 | 09:59 AM

#18

John Harper

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 8,589

Likes: 4,019

From: San Diego, CA

How'd he go 55 MPH in first gear, if 6000 RPM in 1st is 28.6 MPH?

John

Last edited by John Harper; Apr 6, 2018 at 10:00 AM.

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Apr 6, 2018 | 10:21 AM

#19

HOTLAP

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 5,067

Likes: 394

From: Edmonton Alberta Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Harper

How'd he go 55 MPH in first gear, if 6000 RPM in 1st is 28.6 MPH?

John

Your right, there seems to be something wrong with cHarleys chart, at 3000 RPM in 4th gear I am not doing 32.7mph.

Apr 6, 2018 | 01:05 PM

#20

northshore_paul

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 147

Likes: 23

From: Covington, La.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOTLAP

Your right, there seems to be something wrong with cHarleys chart, at 3000 RPM in 4th gear I am not doing 32.7mph.

I was looking at your photos on the link you provided...very nice, the bike also! lol
BTW I was looking at your tachometer. Is that stock or an add on?

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