Gear vs RPM vs Speed Charts
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Gear vs RPM vs Speed Charts
Since most Sportster owners don't have tachs on their bikes and questions pop up here regarding Speed vs RPMs, I though some of you might find these charts handy.
Notes:
I based these charts on gearing for the 04 & up Domestic (US & Canada) models.
Tires from different manufactures can vary slightly in size, these charts are based on an average stock 150/80-16 rear tire.
** If you click on the thumbnail pics, you can then use your browser File/Print or File/Save As commands to save or print this info.
883 Chart
[IMG]local://upfiles/25013/D77CBC32F96744C2A9138DB32F66E45A.jpg[/IMG]
1200 Chart
[IMG]local://upfiles/25013/45B28A8DAA8341A2BE90FD1A321429BD.jpg[/IMG]
Enjoy
Notes:
I based these charts on gearing for the 04 & up Domestic (US & Canada) models.
Tires from different manufactures can vary slightly in size, these charts are based on an average stock 150/80-16 rear tire.
** If you click on the thumbnail pics, you can then use your browser File/Print or File/Save As commands to save or print this info.
883 Chart
[IMG]local://upfiles/25013/D77CBC32F96744C2A9138DB32F66E45A.jpg[/IMG]
1200 Chart
[IMG]local://upfiles/25013/45B28A8DAA8341A2BE90FD1A321429BD.jpg[/IMG]
Enjoy
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: S Puget Sound
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
ORIGINAL: LdyMjo
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 4th 45 mph
4th to 5th 55 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 45 mph
4th to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 1st 15 mph
We have the same engine and gear ratios. In my opinion, you will be lugging the engine using the speeds you quoted.
Generally, you don't want the motor below 2600 - 2800 RPM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: S Puget Sound
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
ORIGINAL: cHarley
My 04 manual calls for the following:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 4th 45 mph
4th to 5th 55 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 45 mph
4th to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 1st 15 mph
We have the same engine and gear ratios. In my opinion, you will be lugging the engine using the speeds you quoted.
Generally, you don't want the motor below 2600 - 2800 RPM.
ORIGINAL: LdyMjo
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 4th 45 mph
4th to 5th 55 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 45 mph
4th to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 1st 15 mph
We have the same engine and gear ratios. In my opinion, you will be lugging the engine using the speeds you quoted.
Generally, you don't want the motor below 2600 - 2800 RPM.
!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
ORIGINAL: LdyMjo
Wow, big difference in the manuals!! And yours is right where it feelscorrect to me--maybe a little higher on decel. I wonder why the difference? They do have the "warning, downshifting athigher speeds...could cause the rear wheel to lose traction"--wonder if this is alittle HD cya? Thanks cHarley [sm=thanx.gif], this makes me think I'msensing the shift point and respondingcorrectly !
ORIGINAL: cHarley
My 04 manual calls for the following:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 4th 45 mph
4th to 5th 55 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 45 mph
4th to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 1st 15 mph
We have the same engine and gear ratios. In my opinion, you will be lugging the engine using the speeds you quoted.
Generally, you don't want the motor below 2600 - 2800 RPM.
ORIGINAL: LdyMjo
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Thank you cHarley!! Best chart I've seen. I have a related question for you. The 08 Sportster Manual recommends thefollowing upshift and downshift MPH:
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 4th 45 mph
4th to 5th 55 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 45 mph
4th to 3rd 35 mph
3rd to 2nd 25 mph
2nd to 1st 15 mph
We have the same engine and gear ratios. In my opinion, you will be lugging the engine using the speeds you quoted.
Generally, you don't want the motor below 2600 - 2800 RPM.
!
Over the years, I've learned that you will occasionally get an owners manual that the publisher accidently switched with that of some completely different vehicle. A few years ago, on a new car, I spent two weeks looking for an accessory that the manual said I had, but that the factory later said didn't exist. Luck of the draw.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 673
Likes: 1
From: Brentwood TN
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
ORIGINAL: LdyMjo
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph
2nd to 3rd 25 mph
3rd to 4th 35 mph
4th to 5th 45 mph
Deceleration
5th to 4th 40 mph
4th to 3rd 30 mph
3rd to 2nd 20 mph
2nd to 1st 10 mph
The question is that these shift speeds feel VERY low, particularlyonce I hit 500 miles break in. It doesn't feel right until almost 10 mph higher at each gear for both acceleration and deceleration. It feels like I'm ******* it to shift at the recommended speeds. I know there is some wiggle room for individual bikes, but is 10 mph or more difference normal?
Thanks cHarley!
Ric
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 202
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RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
Thanks cHarley the reference should be interesting to look at.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: S Puget Sound
RE: Gear vs Rpm vs Speed Charts
[[/quote]
Yea I'm with you ldyMjo, I shift @ 20mph 30mph 40mph and 55-60mph minimum. I like to shift early and keep the revs down but that seems about as low as feels right. I hate luggin' the motor more than anything.
Ric
[/quote]
Yep, me too! Btw, I like the drag pipes and flame paint on your XLH--you should post acolor pic of the paint sometime--let us see the colors!
Yea I'm with you ldyMjo, I shift @ 20mph 30mph 40mph and 55-60mph minimum. I like to shift early and keep the revs down but that seems about as low as feels right. I hate luggin' the motor more than anything.
Ric
[/quote]
Yep, me too! Btw, I like the drag pipes and flame paint on your XLH--you should post acolor pic of the paint sometime--let us see the colors
!