Max long distance speed?
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 118
Likes: 50
From: Seminole, Fl
Max long distance speed?
My scoot is a pretty stock 05 883, and I have heard many times where people have attributed engine damage to going too fast for too long. This brings up the question of If I am on the highway, how fast can I go for a long haul? My Sporty has std gearing for an 883, and I don't have a tach to see what rpm i'm running. I guess the question is can I run 80 mph for a 200 mile run (about the fuel limit)? 75? 70? I don't want to do any damage to the engine, but I would want to go as fast as the conditions would otherwise dictate.
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,540
Likes: 12,186
From: Indianapolis
Don't know if there is any gearing differences between your '05 and my '17 but, at 70 mph I am turning somewhere around 3800-4000 rpm. I have ridden at 80 mph on occasion, haven't bothered to look at the tach though, if I had to guess I'd say it spinning somewhere slightly over 4000 rpm.
I'm never in a big hurry, and the bike is the happiest at 65-70 mph so that's what I ride at when on the Interstate. Most other roads it is 60-65 mph.
I'm never in a big hurry, and the bike is the happiest at 65-70 mph so that's what I ride at when on the Interstate. Most other roads it is 60-65 mph.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
Countless Sturgis trips running 80-90mph 4400-4900 rpm. Used to run all day if the weather permitted us, windy conditions is what usually stopped us. Youll burn a bit of oil though, well, I did running close to 5000 rpm haha
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,258
Likes: 4,947
From: England
An engine that tops out at 6000 rpm should be quite happy to run at 4000rpm all day long I would think. I would imagine HD did that kind of testing when they made the engine or modified it over the years.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
You might squeak by 200 miles at a much lower speed. My '11 xl1200c sounds very happy at 3000-3500 rpm, which is about 70-ish.
Two other riding buddies and I took a trip from Charlotte to Daytona about 4 years ago. Speeds were mostly 70-75. We all have 1200s
Two other riding buddies and I took a trip from Charlotte to Daytona about 4 years ago. Speeds were mostly 70-75. We all have 1200s
Last edited by RKZen; Mar 7, 2022 at 07:16 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,576
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From: Long Island, New York
It will hang in there longer than you can at 80 MPH on a Sportster. Seriously, do not worry about that, at all. She can take it, twice on Sunday.
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From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
What motorcycle and was it modified?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 300
Likes: 112
From: Iowa
My '07 XL1200C or '16 XG750 have no issues doing 75-80 mph most of the time when I'm on the interstate. That's while heavily loaded down with a fat rider and high drag configuration including saddle bags. Your 883 shouldn't have any issues with that.
I do a 200 mile trip a couple of times each month. I drive it straight through in the car, but on either bike I stop for fuel after about 90 minutes. The fuel stops are just quicker and more convenient along that stretch of road than if I ride the bikes to maximum range.
I do a 200 mile trip a couple of times each month. I drive it straight through in the car, but on either bike I stop for fuel after about 90 minutes. The fuel stops are just quicker and more convenient along that stretch of road than if I ride the bikes to maximum range.