Geeze man...you didn't tell me it would do weird s%%t when I hit the limiter!! Hit about 65 in 2nd wheraaaauuazoomera thought I blew the sumbitchup

RAL

 

Now you know where it is!! LOL It does freak you out the first time!!

 

I don't have a tach and find no need for one, but when I'm in 5th gear going between 60 and 70, there is minimal vibration.

 

Bumping this way old thread just to say that I'm finding out there's a big difference between the 883 and 1200 gearing,
even though by looking at the specs it doesn't seem like much.

I rode an 883 for a lot of years. It was happy running at pretty low rpm and was very busy feeling at freeway speed.
Recently got a 1200, and it doesn't like low revs (under 2000) at all - it kind of chugs there.
It's much more freeway friendly though.
I'm still adjusting to the difference, and find that I'm often lugging it, when I should be down a gear.

 

I can say I have the 1200 and the 883 sprocket I spend a bunch of time staring at the rpms on the highway that ive turned it off. and just keep the tank milage on the display. Im doing 75-80 (4000-4400rpms) from dallas to austin which is 200 miles each way. It doesnt mind the high rev much except for spitting oil but I got unlucky and got a sportster that spits like my ex wife.

 

Having owned a number of other brands, I tend to keep my Sporty in that 3000-5000 range as well. For me, if I am below 2700 I am pretty sure it is lugging if I do more than very modest acceleration. For steady "highway" riding 55mph and above I am in 5th gear. If I am riding country 2 lane hilly roads, even with a max speed of 55 I usually never make it out of 4th. These are hardy engines, and I have more fear of lugging than over revving.

 

Look for a dyno chart with your setup. You;ll see where the torque curve flattens at peak, and that's prolly the best place for you to run it at. Use your throttle hand to control the bike with slow deliberate input. No reason to get ham fisted on it. The bike is going to make the best power at the peak of the torque curve, and get pretty good mileage due to efficiency.

One the Roadster I am not coming out of fourth until about 60 mph, but I am still breaking it in. It likes 3500 rpm, which is the base of the aforementioned curve on a stock bike. I think it peaks about 4500, but I am not sure, since I haven't been able to ride it there much.

 

When I first got my 2006 1200XL it had low mileage and was barely broken in. It would make nasty backlash sounds at low rpm's, 65 Kph in 5th with gentile acceleration. 20,000 kilometers later and the bike no longer does this nearly as bad and I lug around at low revs when feeling relaxed. No more chugg. As I pilled on the miles the bike seemed to run smother. I also believe this is partially due to the fact that I have learned to keep my intermediate and final drives adjusted correctly. I find if either are a bit lose it increases the backlash effect.

I love chuggin' around. Sounds cool, I like the gentle low rev vibration you get when lightly accelerating at these revs. (no tack. not sure what the revs are). It has a relaxing effect on me. I especially dive like this in populated areas as my V&H straights are relatively quiet when using this riding style. On the highway at 100 Kph plus the engine turns into a naughty little beast and is dead smooth up to 130 Kph as long as you don't accelerate hard. I find in this rev range the bike just wants to go and has great acceleration. I don't know if it's me bit my motor seems to be more powerful and responsive at high speeds as compared to the same revs in lower gears, lower speeds??? Improved air flow over my stage 1 air cleaner??? My imagination???