When do you shift gears?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: When do you shift gears?
I think your friend is lugging the engine. I don't shift into 5th till atleast 45 mph and that's the limit as far as I'm concerned. Usually around 50. (We're talking level terrain)
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
well i have a 883 to 1200 conversion. coming from a jap bike background and this being my first harley i revved it waay too high before i shifted at first. its been hard to train myself to shift alot earlier than i did before. So what i do is watch the tach, when i hit 20mph thats when i shift into 2nd, 30mph into 3rd, 40mph into 4th, 50mph into 5th. Seems to work for me i cant tell by the sound. i wouldnt be going 40mph in 5th though i know that much id be luggin.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
RE: When do you shift gears?
Here are the tables listed in my manual. I expected it to have different tables for the 883 and 1200 due to their different gearing, but the recommended shift points are the same. I generally shift somewhere around these points.
Upshifting
Downshifting
And stevegray, if the clutch is engaged the ratio of speed to rpms will be very close and can be used to judge shift points without a tachometer.
Upshifting
Code:
[1st to 2nd] 15 MPH [2nd to 3rd] 25 MPH [3rd to 4th] 35 MPH [4th to 5th] 45 MPH
Code:
[5th to 4th] 40 MPH [4th to 3rd] 30 MPH [3rd to 2nd] 20 MPH [2nd to 1st] 10 MPH
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
The reason I ask is I only have 3000 miles on it. I would'nt worry if I was problem free at 12,000 because I would know the engine is strong.
I doubt that I am doing anything wrong... just thought it was wild that he shifted at such a slow speed.
I doubt that I am doing anything wrong... just thought it was wild that he shifted at such a slow speed.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: When do you shift gears?
One of the worst things you can do to a V-Twin engine (or any engine for that matter) is to run at too low of an RPM and "lug" the engine when accelerating or putting a load on the engine.
When to shift to the next higher gear on any vehicle with a manual transmission depends on a lot of factors, and it's not a set RPM of MPH point.
For 'brisker acceleration' you would shift when you are up in the higher power band, for normal cruising you would shift to the next higher gear at a lower RPM/MPH range. It's no different than when you drive your manual transmission car or truck, when you shift depends on the type of driving you are doing.
Recommended "shift points" shown in most factory Owners Manuals are just general figures, nothing carved in stone. They also are aiming for the best fuel economy with their recommended shift figures.
The Harley V-Twin engines aren't "high revving" engines by any means, but they also hate being lugged by running at too low an RPM while under a load. With the stock cams the peak horsepower and torque figures are at around 5,500 RPM, and the power figures start to fall after that point. Harley's love to run in the 3,000 RPM range.
So there is no real answer to your question. Shift figures depend on too many variable factors. I don't see any need what so ever for a tach on a Harley so I don't use them, and I also don't look at the speedo when shifting. Like others have mentioned, I just listen to the engine and shift when it's time.
When to shift to the next higher gear on any vehicle with a manual transmission depends on a lot of factors, and it's not a set RPM of MPH point.
For 'brisker acceleration' you would shift when you are up in the higher power band, for normal cruising you would shift to the next higher gear at a lower RPM/MPH range. It's no different than when you drive your manual transmission car or truck, when you shift depends on the type of driving you are doing.
Recommended "shift points" shown in most factory Owners Manuals are just general figures, nothing carved in stone. They also are aiming for the best fuel economy with their recommended shift figures.
The Harley V-Twin engines aren't "high revving" engines by any means, but they also hate being lugged by running at too low an RPM while under a load. With the stock cams the peak horsepower and torque figures are at around 5,500 RPM, and the power figures start to fall after that point. Harley's love to run in the 3,000 RPM range.
So there is no real answer to your question. Shift figures depend on too many variable factors. I don't see any need what so ever for a tach on a Harley so I don't use them, and I also don't look at the speedo when shifting. Like others have mentioned, I just listen to the engine and shift when it's time.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,351
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
OFG, you make me feel MUCH better about my "bat out of hell" riding style. 
ORIGINAL: OldFenderGuy
One of the worst things you can do to a V-Twin engine (or any engine for that matter) is to run at too low of an RPM and "lug" the engine when accelerating or putting a load on the engine.
When to shift to the next higher gear on any vehicle with a manual transmission depends on a lot of factors, and it's not a set RPM of MPH point.
For 'brisker acceleration' you would shift when you are up in the higher power band, for normal cruising you would shift to the next higher gear at a lower RPM/MPH range. It's no different than when you drive your manual transmission car or truck, when you shift depends on the type of driving you are doing.
Recommended "shift points" shown in most factory Owners Manuals are just general figures, nothing carved in stone. They also are aiming for the best fuel economy with their recommended shift figures.
The Harley V-Twin engines aren't "high revving" engines by any means, but they also hate being lugged by running at too low an RPM while under a load. With the stock cams the peak horsepower and torque figures are at around 5,500 RPM, and the power figures start to fall after that point. Harley's love to run in the 3,000 RPM range.
So there is no real answer to your question. Shift figures depend on too many variable factors. I don't see any need what so ever for a tach on a Harley so I don't use them, and I also don't look at the speedo when shifting. Like others have mentioned, I just listen to the engine and shift when it's time.
One of the worst things you can do to a V-Twin engine (or any engine for that matter) is to run at too low of an RPM and "lug" the engine when accelerating or putting a load on the engine.
When to shift to the next higher gear on any vehicle with a manual transmission depends on a lot of factors, and it's not a set RPM of MPH point.
For 'brisker acceleration' you would shift when you are up in the higher power band, for normal cruising you would shift to the next higher gear at a lower RPM/MPH range. It's no different than when you drive your manual transmission car or truck, when you shift depends on the type of driving you are doing.
Recommended "shift points" shown in most factory Owners Manuals are just general figures, nothing carved in stone. They also are aiming for the best fuel economy with their recommended shift figures.
The Harley V-Twin engines aren't "high revving" engines by any means, but they also hate being lugged by running at too low an RPM while under a load. With the stock cams the peak horsepower and torque figures are at around 5,500 RPM, and the power figures start to fall after that point. Harley's love to run in the 3,000 RPM range.
So there is no real answer to your question. Shift figures depend on too many variable factors. I don't see any need what so ever for a tach on a Harley so I don't use them, and I also don't look at the speedo when shifting. Like others have mentioned, I just listen to the engine and shift when it's time.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: When do you shift gears?
I too go more on the sound, current speed, anticipated speed, and since I'm in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, that plays a factor as well. But I have noticed as a general rule, 45 mph is about the slowest speed I go into 5th, on my 06 883.