rpm question from a new rider
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 51
Likes: 11
From: Oxford MS
rpm question from a new rider
so I know this is gonna sound like a stupid question, but here goes anyway. If you are just cruising around town at say 30-40 mph, what gear/rpm would you suggest staying in? I don't know if its better to have it in a higher gear where it sounds like its barely pushing the bike, or the next lower gear where it puts the rpm at 2500-3000. Don't wanna tear up my new bike, please help.
2018 48 model
2018 48 model
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 69
Likes: 11
From: Huddersfield/U.K.
No such thing as a stupid question!
This something you are going to have to sort out for yourself really and will depend on if you are on inclines or flat roads etc.
The handbook should give suggested gear changing speeds and then adapt to suit yourself. Whatever the bike feels happiest doing.
I would think that revving would be better than laboring the motor though.
This something you are going to have to sort out for yourself really and will depend on if you are on inclines or flat roads etc.
The handbook should give suggested gear changing speeds and then adapt to suit yourself. Whatever the bike feels happiest doing.
I would think that revving would be better than laboring the motor though.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 391
Likes: 176
From: Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Many of us who have owned Sportsters asked that question when we first got our bikes. As stated above, engines prefer to spin freely rather than labour at low revs. If I remember correctly, on my 1200 custom I wouldn't change up from 2nd to 3rd until I was doing nearly 40mph. That said, if there is a long stretch of flat or slightly downhill at between 30mph to 40mph, it sounds a whole lot nicer to be in 3rd!
I tend to heed the advice to change gear when the revs are between 2,800 and 3,200 rpm. Apparently that causes least wear to the engine. Obviously, I briefly take the revs much higher if I'm needing to pick up speed quickly, or if I'm on a twisty road to save gear changing with every drop in speed.
I tend to heed the advice to change gear when the revs are between 2,800 and 3,200 rpm. Apparently that causes least wear to the engine. Obviously, I briefly take the revs much higher if I'm needing to pick up speed quickly, or if I'm on a twisty road to save gear changing with every drop in speed.
Last edited by Graham UK; Sep 8, 2018 at 04:34 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Another Graham in the UK here! As mentioned, your owners manual should give guidance on gear changing, however I would comment that I personally found that involved running the engine at slower revs than I felt comfortable with, so with my 2011 SuperLow I used slightly higher revs for the first few hundred miles. As you get more familiar with your bike you will also get to feel more in touch with it and riding it will become natural.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 443
From: Indianapolis
I normally shift to second at 20 mph, third at 30 mph, forth at 40 mph.
Here is a chart showing the approximate rpms at different speeds in each gear:
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
| MPH | RPM | | | | |
| 15 | 1846 | 1319 | 981 | 813 | 697 |
| 20 | 2462 | 1758 | 1308 | 1084 | 930 |
| 25 | 3077 | 2198 | 1635 | 1355 | 1162 |
| 30 | 3693 | 2638 | 1962 | 1626 | 1394 |
| 35 | 4308 | 3077 | 2289 | 1897 | 1627 |
| 40 | 4924 | 3517 | 2616 | 2168 | 1859 |
| 45 | 5539 | 3956 | 2942 | 2439 | 2091 |
| 50 | 6155 | 4396 | 3269 | 2710 | 2324 |
| 55 | 6770 | 4836 | 3596 | 2981 | 2556 |
| 60 | limit | 5275 | 3923 | 3252 | 2789 |
| 65 | limit| 5715 | 4250 | 3524 | 3021 |
| 70 | limit | 6154 | 4577 | 3795 | 3253 |
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
Here is a chart showing the approximate rpms at different speeds in each gear:
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
| MPH | RPM | | | | |
| 15 | 1846 | 1319 | 981 | 813 | 697 |
| 20 | 2462 | 1758 | 1308 | 1084 | 930 |
| 25 | 3077 | 2198 | 1635 | 1355 | 1162 |
| 30 | 3693 | 2638 | 1962 | 1626 | 1394 |
| 35 | 4308 | 3077 | 2289 | 1897 | 1627 |
| 40 | 4924 | 3517 | 2616 | 2168 | 1859 |
| 45 | 5539 | 3956 | 2942 | 2439 | 2091 |
| 50 | 6155 | 4396 | 3269 | 2710 | 2324 |
| 55 | 6770 | 4836 | 3596 | 2981 | 2556 |
| 60 | limit | 5275 | 3923 | 3252 | 2789 |
| 65 | limit| 5715 | 4250 | 3524 | 3021 |
| 70 | limit | 6154 | 4577 | 3795 | 3253 |
+-----+------+------+------+------+------+
Last edited by shanneba; Sep 8, 2018 at 06:48 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 693
Likes: 67
From: LI, NY
My $0.02: You can cruise a little below 2,000 RPM on flat ground but don't add throttle below 2K. If in doubt, downshift. Cheap, small tachometer mounted on master brake cylinder works for me.
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
"Lugging" the motor is a common occurrence for many new Sportster owners. Unlike many motors, the Sporty EVO likes more RPM than most people think.
The "happy" cruise speed, will keep the RPM in the range of 2800 - 4000 RPM, assuming a flat road, at steady speed with no adverse conditions or extra heavy loads on the bike.
You can use the chart above to figure out what the speed to RPM ratio is for cruising.
Note: if preparing to up-shift to the next gear, you don't want to fall below the recommended RPM after the shift. IE, I don't shift to 5th until ~62-65 MPH.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
Many of us who have owned Sportsters asked that question when we first got our bikes. As stated above, engines prefer to spin freely rather than labour at low revs. If I remember correctly, on my 1200 custom I wouldn't change up from 2nd to 3rd until I was doing nearly 40mph. That said, if there is a long stretch of flat or slightly downhill at between 30mph to 40mph, it sounds a whole lot nicer to be in 3rd!
I tend to heed the advice to change gear when the revs are between 2,800 and 3,200 rpm. Apparently that causes least wear to the engine. Obviously, I briefly take the revs much higher if I'm needing to pick up speed quickly, or if I'm on a twisty road to save gear changing with every drop in speed.
I tend to heed the advice to change gear when the revs are between 2,800 and 3,200 rpm. Apparently that causes least wear to the engine. Obviously, I briefly take the revs much higher if I'm needing to pick up speed quickly, or if I'm on a twisty road to save gear changing with every drop in speed.
Wiz 🍺
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 395
From: Squamish, B.C.
I always found 30-40 tough speeds as far as cruising goes. I never liked cruising in second on any of my bikes!! I always found 3rd a much smoother ride for some reason. but.... I also like my rpm around 3k. Basically the bike likes second and I prefer third at those speeds.