When do you shift gears?
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
Wow those are all low in my circumstance. I just baught a new 07 1200C and finished breaking it in (575). My engine lugs so hard at 65 MPH in 5th gear. I cruise in 4th with very comfortably at 60. My 5th cruises comfortably around 75mph.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 226
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From: Lancaster, PA
RE: When do you shift gears?
Apparently I "ride it like you stole it". I'm with saltlick on shift points and even higher when I'm feeling spunky. Shifting into 2nd at 15 mph seems to be right at the point where the torque is just starting to kick in and the pipes start to bark. HD has a tach. with a shift indicator. I wonder what RPM that light comes on at or if it just comes on right before redline. By the way, I've never bumped up against the rev. limiter and I've wound it out on several occasions.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
I pretty much just go by the sound of the engine. I don't shift at a too low (sounding) RPM except when the engine is still cold, then after it is at operating temperature I wait till the revs' are higher B4 shifting so as not to lug the engine.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 441
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
I have been riding for about thirty years and to be honest with you, I never really look at my speedo (or tach) when shifting. I shift by sound. Guess I am just so used to it, I know by the engine sound when the RPM's are high enough to shift. I really wouldn't worry, as long as you aren't over-revving your engine before shifting. Like other posters have said, it is not your speed, it is your RPM's. Even without a tach, you can tell when your RPM's are getting up there.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: MN
RE: When do you shift gears?
ORIGINAL: macgoph67
Wow those are all low in my circumstance. I just baught a new 07 1200C and finished breaking it in (575). My engine lugs so hard at 65 MPH in 5th gear. I cruise in 4th with very comfortably at 60. My 5th cruises comfortably around 75mph.
Wow those are all low in my circumstance. I just baught a new 07 1200C and finished breaking it in (575). My engine lugs so hard at 65 MPH in 5th gear. I cruise in 4th with very comfortably at 60. My 5th cruises comfortably around 75mph.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
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From:
RE: When do you shift gears?
RPM should be "above" 2000 RPM at any speed when crusing. For smooth acceleration, gear changes should occur between 2500-3000rpm, above 3000rpm if you want a sporty acceleration. If you have a Sporty with no tach, such as a Custom instead of Roadster, then I would change gear as follow:
1st-->2nd 25mph
2nd-->3rd 35mph
3rd-->4th 45mph
4th-->5th above 45mph/ better at 50mph (keep tach above 2000rpm at all times to prevent engine lugging.....BAD....)
After you log some miles with sore *** on your iron-horse, then you will automatically learn to listen and learn the engine sound as it tries to communicate with you. At this point, you will probably will not even look at either the speedo or tach(if you have one). Better to go with a little high RPM than to lugg the engine (the bike hesitates to move forward and the engine sudders/shakes/shimmers)
Remember to ride safely, respect others, respect your iron-horse and you will live to enjoy the wind on your face for a long time.
Take care and ride-on.
hdlam68
05 Sporty XL1200R
1st-->2nd 25mph
2nd-->3rd 35mph
3rd-->4th 45mph
4th-->5th above 45mph/ better at 50mph (keep tach above 2000rpm at all times to prevent engine lugging.....BAD....)
After you log some miles with sore *** on your iron-horse, then you will automatically learn to listen and learn the engine sound as it tries to communicate with you. At this point, you will probably will not even look at either the speedo or tach(if you have one). Better to go with a little high RPM than to lugg the engine (the bike hesitates to move forward and the engine sudders/shakes/shimmers)
Remember to ride safely, respect others, respect your iron-horse and you will live to enjoy the wind on your face for a long time.
Take care and ride-on.
hdlam68
05 Sporty XL1200R
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
RE: When do you shift gears?
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.
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.
Stage I
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
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 Captain
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 518
Likes: 593
From: Central Iowa
Maybe you didn't notice but this is a 19 year old thread.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 93
Likes: 49
From: CA
Most comment is "listen to the engine". The issue is if you don't know what it should sound like you still don't know when to shift. Following works for all, regardless of size, modification, or gearing! “Short Shifting” is shifting up at too low an engine RPM, this is also called “Lugging”. How to tell if you are Short Shifting?
In second gear or higher gear, hold the throttle in the same position and down shift. The engine will speed up and one of the following things will happen:
Speed Decrease: This is what should happen when you down shift, it means you are in the proper gear for road conditions. You have not Short Shifted.
Speed Stays the Same: This means you are almost okay, but you have Short Shifted, the engine wants to be in this lower gear.
Speed Increase: This is Lugging, and it is bad. If you drive this way all the time you will damage your engine. This also hurts gas mileage as you are using more throttle than necessary.
Enjoy!
In second gear or higher gear, hold the throttle in the same position and down shift. The engine will speed up and one of the following things will happen:
- The bike speed will decrease
- The bike speed will stay the same
- The bike speed will increase
Speed Decrease: This is what should happen when you down shift, it means you are in the proper gear for road conditions. You have not Short Shifted.
Speed Stays the Same: This means you are almost okay, but you have Short Shifted, the engine wants to be in this lower gear.
Speed Increase: This is Lugging, and it is bad. If you drive this way all the time you will damage your engine. This also hurts gas mileage as you are using more throttle than necessary.
Enjoy!