Is this normal (shutter)
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 521
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis, IN
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
Mine has been pretty smooth for me. There are a few spots (mph) that feels likeyou need to upshift, butwhen you do, it feels like it's lugging the engine and you should downshift or speed up.
My only real complaint is the drive line lash while trying to slowly coast in 1st gear. All bikes have this problem, some worse than others.
My only real complaint is the drive line lash while trying to slowly coast in 1st gear. All bikes have this problem, some worse than others.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 3
From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
2nd gear at 30 wants to go into 3rd. 3rd at 32 mph sucks, but so does 2nd. 3rd feels pretty good at 40 although it's reving higher than I'd like. 4th likes 50 and 5th likes 60. You would think Harley would figure the gears based on the speed limits. Now there's a thought!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
ORIGINAL: indyjeff
My only real complaint is the drive line lash while trying to slowly coast in 1st gear. All bikes have this problem, some worse than others.
My only real complaint is the drive line lash while trying to slowly coast in 1st gear. All bikes have this problem, some worse than others.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 824
Likes: 3
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
The torque curve is higher in the rev range on a Sportster, so you have to keep the revs up. I ride with a couple of guys with BTs and I'm always one gear lower than they are when just cruising around at low speeds. It's the nature of the beast. It's easier keeping it in the power range if you have a tach, but if not, just listen to the engine and you'll soon learn where the power is. Bottom line: if your like many, maybe most, Sportster riders, you've never been anywhere near the rev limiter. So, downshift and let that sucker rev. It will sound like it's going to explode underneath you (they are noisy), but it won't,and all shuddering will be gone.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
Being my first Harley, I have definitely learned that it takes a bit of practice and attention to choosing the correct gear for the condition. This ismy first bike thatgot reallypissed off atearly gearchanges and not downshifting to accellerate. Your better off to let it rev a bit then labor it at low RPM's.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 614
Likes: 2
From: Indiana, USA
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
Are you talking about surging / hunting? If you run a lot of these fuel-injected Sportsters at a perfectly constant throttle, sometimes they will keep turning the fuel on and off constantly creating a thrusting feeling on the bike. It's hard for me to reproduce, but mine does that occasionally as well at certain RPMs in certain gears.
EDIT: Nevermind, you're talking about while accelerating, not constant throttle.
EDIT: Nevermind, you're talking about while accelerating, not constant throttle.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
sounds like lugging to me, but i guess you know what lugging is..
ORIGINAL: thomasf59
I can be cruiseing along in 3rd gear for instance about 40 mph, on a flat street get on the throttle hard, and feel what feels like a shutter through out the bike, same in 4 gear about 50 mph, and 5th gear about 60mph. Doesn't feel like I am lugging the engine.
Thats the best I can discrible it. Anybody else notice this on there 1200's.
Tom
I can be cruiseing along in 3rd gear for instance about 40 mph, on a flat street get on the throttle hard, and feel what feels like a shutter through out the bike, same in 4 gear about 50 mph, and 5th gear about 60mph. Doesn't feel like I am lugging the engine.
Thats the best I can discrible it. Anybody else notice this on there 1200's.
Tom
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Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
wow... i have had mine at 90 in third. 50 in third is not even close to being high revs... I guess? I have no tach 
ORIGINAL: Dallastx
. 3rd feels pretty good at 40 although it's reving higher than I'd like.
. 3rd feels pretty good at 40 although it's reving higher than I'd like.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: Grosse Ile, Mi
RE: Is this normal (shutter)
I have to agree with JohnT's statement that the torque curve is too low for you to jump on it in the gears you mentioned. When over revving, the engine will snap, crackle and, popback at you, telling you its time to change that gear. That or, you have a carburation problem thats not giving it the right amount of fuel to accomidate the change in throttle needs.