Can't get the speed right in traffic .
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
No it is not . I have ridden bikes for Forty years but I have only ridden a Harley Davidson V Twin for the last six months . How dare you make such a nasty and ridiculous suggestion . I have made a similar post on a leading UK Sportster dedicated FB page and I have received a unanimous chorus of agreement from fellow riders .Perhaps your passion for Drag Racing has caused you to forget what it is like to ride in slow traffic. So, if you have nothing constructive to add to this discussion you would be well advised not to contribute . Troll indeed ! that's just bad manners .
how dare I give my opinion lmao
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
The grenade plate was finally mentioned, and on your older carb sportster, that is something to think about. I pulled my '04 1200C's plates at right close to 30,000 miles (48,000+ kilometers) and the rivets were very loose; I'm glad I got rid of that before a clutch abusing ride in the Black Hills last year (so much shifting my ankle got sore, not used to that in the flat state I live in). That plate just isn't necessary, mine actually felt smoother without it, although loose rivets could have affected the feel of the original. That's my grandson in the sig pic putting the primary cover back on after I installed the new plates (a bit young then for a clutch change 
)
While keeping the rpm in a happy place should help, in really slow, always speeding up and slowing down traffic, you will have to use the clutch a lot sometimes, probably more so than any other bike, even the big twin Harleys handle it better but sometimes they need some of that clutch work in congested traffic, too (or behind slowpokes that can't drive a steady speed). My '89 Tour Glide could get down around 2000 rpm and throttle back up smoothly, but in 1st and 2nd gear, my 1200 won't without the clutch.
)While keeping the rpm in a happy place should help, in really slow, always speeding up and slowing down traffic, you will have to use the clutch a lot sometimes, probably more so than any other bike, even the big twin Harleys handle it better but sometimes they need some of that clutch work in congested traffic, too (or behind slowpokes that can't drive a steady speed). My '89 Tour Glide could get down around 2000 rpm and throttle back up smoothly, but in 1st and 2nd gear, my 1200 won't without the clutch.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 253
From: Northern Los Angeles area.
OP, it seems you have the international version of the XL1200R, so your transmission pulley is a 30T sprocket (PN 40380-04). That means your bike is higher geared than the US version that most of your critics here ride.
I have that same PN and when going 15mph or slower, I HAVE to be in 1st and I'm always using the clutch. I go into 2nd gear at around 25 until well past 30mph.
I'm fine and you'll be fine too. With our gearing, highway riding is a blast as you undoubtedly already found out.
So. Ignore the naysayers here. Some of them are talking outta their obamas (and I don't mean brains).
Too true.
^^^^^^^
That
I have that same PN and when going 15mph or slower, I HAVE to be in 1st and I'm always using the clutch. I go into 2nd gear at around 25 until well past 30mph.
I'm fine and you'll be fine too. With our gearing, highway riding is a blast as you undoubtedly already found out.
So. Ignore the naysayers here. Some of them are talking outta their obamas (and I don't mean brains).
Some basics of a harley for those having low speed handling issues, first being these things are geared for low vibrations at higher speeds which means HD deliberately geared them to keep RPM's low.
Around town in traffic this will cause the surging a lot of you seem to be struggling with. You got 2 options first and simplest is learn to drop down a gear lower and get the rpm's up ...
Around town in traffic this will cause the surging a lot of you seem to be struggling with. You got 2 options first and simplest is learn to drop down a gear lower and get the rpm's up ...
That
Last edited by lewk; Oct 8, 2019 at 10:31 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 1,811
From: Kalifornia
Grbrown
I beg to differ with you. Ask those motor police doing those displays and I guarantee you they will tell you they are using the friction zone of the clutch AND the brake at the same time. That is how they are able to crawl those big bikes. Watch carefully next time and see that their brake lights are almost constantly on.
I beg to differ with you. Ask those motor police doing those displays and I guarantee you they will tell you they are using the friction zone of the clutch AND the brake at the same time. That is how they are able to crawl those big bikes. Watch carefully next time and see that their brake lights are almost constantly on.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Grbrown
I beg to differ with you. Ask those motor police doing those displays and I guarantee you they will tell you they are using the friction zone of the clutch AND the brake at the same time. That is how they are able to crawl those big bikes. Watch carefully next time and see that their brake lights are almost constantly on.
I beg to differ with you. Ask those motor police doing those displays and I guarantee you they will tell you they are using the friction zone of the clutch AND the brake at the same time. That is how they are able to crawl those big bikes. Watch carefully next time and see that their brake lights are almost constantly on.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 1,811
From: Kalifornia
Agree 100% on the practice. But imperfect practice will still net imperfect riding. Practicing perfect technique will net perfect riding. Clutch friction zone and rear brake will allow safe u turns, low speed obstacle avoidance, you name it.
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I think this issue needs some clarification from the OP. At first I read this as trying to keep up in slow traffic like 25 mph or so. Slipping the clutch under these circumstances would be weird. But after reading further if you're talking about the 0-15mph stop n go type traffic,...then yeah, you're going to be working the clutch as 1st gear in the rpm range where you need to do this speed is outside of the Sporties happy range. Even manual cars require a lot of clutch work in super slow traffic.
Last edited by Midpegs; Oct 8, 2019 at 12:31 PM.
