1,000 mile ride review - 2012 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom
#21
08-06-2012, 03:50 PM
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Never had the fuel light come on. Ive had the tank down to 1 gallon. My 2012 only has 430 miles on it. There is a noticeable vibration when it lugs but its not as bad as my brothers '05 883L. After swapping bikes on the first ride and we both agreed the 2012 was pretty smooth. Also looking at the Vance pipes. Is the clunk from N to 1st normal? 1st to 2nd and up is fine but it seems to really pop going into 1st.
According to the harley service manual, low fuel light should come on at 1 gal.
Yours does not some on....
Mine comes on consistently when I have used 2.5 gal from the 4.5 gal tank
So that means mine triggers at 2 gal of reserve.
So whats the deal, Harley?
Last edited by MrPeepers; 08-06-2012 at 03:53 PM.
#23
08-06-2012, 04:13 PM
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See this post by cHarley. 55mph in 5th is about 2,700 RPM for a 1200 unless they've really changed the ratios recently.
Bull. I'm into 5th by 50 mph most of the time and there's no protest at all from the engine. The 45 mph shift point recommended in the manual only works for level ground, but by 50 mph she's absolutely fine in 5th. Waiting until 60 mph to shift into 5th is just ridiculous (unless you're out hooning around and then of course you're pushing harder and shifting later).
When you're just commuting or taking it easy, these bikes will happily run up and down country roads all day between 50 and 55 mph in 5th.
Bull. I'm into 5th by 50 mph most of the time and there's no protest at all from the engine. The 45 mph shift point recommended in the manual only works for level ground, but by 50 mph she's absolutely fine in 5th. Waiting until 60 mph to shift into 5th is just ridiculous (unless you're out hooning around and then of course you're pushing harder and shifting later).
When you're just commuting or taking it easy, these bikes will happily run up and down country roads all day between 50 and 55 mph in 5th.
57mph in 5th is 49mph in 4th is 40mph in 3rd is 31mph in 2nd is 23mph in 1st and all of this is a 2800 RPM
So, with that I find that I am shifting at about 3,000 rpm
The sweet spot at 75mph in 5th is 3,600 rpm (according to the chart) - smooth as glass.
So whats the red line on this bike and does the ECU have a rev limiter?
#24
08-06-2012, 05:10 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
So I looked at that chart of rpm, gear, and speed
57mph in 5th is 49mph in 4th is 40mph in 3rd is 31mph in 2nd is 23mph in 1st and all of this is a 2800 RPM
So, with that I find that I am shifting at about 3,000 rpm
The sweet spot at 75mph in 5th is 3,600 rpm (according to the chart) - smooth as glass.
So whats the red line on this bike and does the ECU have a rev limiter?
57mph in 5th is 49mph in 4th is 40mph in 3rd is 31mph in 2nd is 23mph in 1st and all of this is a 2800 RPM
So, with that I find that I am shifting at about 3,000 rpm
The sweet spot at 75mph in 5th is 3,600 rpm (according to the chart) - smooth as glass.
So whats the red line on this bike and does the ECU have a rev limiter?
Do yourself and your bike a favor and don't shift to 5th until 60mph.
See this post by cHarley. 55mph in 5th is about 2,700 RPM for a 1200 unless they've really changed the ratios recently.
Bull. I'm into 5th by 50 mph most of the time and there's no protest at all from the engine. The 45 mph shift point recommended in the manual only works for level ground, but by 50 mph she's absolutely fine in 5th. Waiting until 60 mph to shift into 5th is just ridiculous (unless you're out hooning around and then of course you're pushing harder and shifting later).
When you're just commuting or taking it easy, these bikes will happily run up and down country roads all day between 50 and 55 mph in 5th.
Bull. I'm into 5th by 50 mph most of the time and there's no protest at all from the engine. The 45 mph shift point recommended in the manual only works for level ground, but by 50 mph she's absolutely fine in 5th. Waiting until 60 mph to shift into 5th is just ridiculous (unless you're out hooning around and then of course you're pushing harder and shifting later).
When you're just commuting or taking it easy, these bikes will happily run up and down country roads all day between 50 and 55 mph in 5th.
You're not supposed to feel a pulsating at all, if the bike isn't smooth you're at too low of an rpm.
#25
08-06-2012, 05:12 PM
Road Captain
However, the valvetrain can handle to 7,000 RPM and most performance ECU re-maps will set the limiter to the 7,000 RPM value.
The bikes do have a limiter function built into the ECU, but you still don't want to run around bouncing off the limiter all day.
#26
08-06-2012, 05:21 PM
Road Captain
Call bull on your post. The 1200 is not designed to be run at 50mph in 5th gear. Countless people on here will tell you the same. If you go to accelerate and you bike doesn't just go off to the races you're playing at too low of an rpm. Constant low RPM use can destroy the bottom of motors.
You're not supposed to feel a pulsating at all, if the bike isn't smooth you're at too low of an rpm.
You're not supposed to feel a pulsating at all, if the bike isn't smooth you're at too low of an rpm.
I've been around long enough to know what lugging is and what it feels like. 50 mph in 5th is absolutely not lugging a 1200. 2,400 RPM is not "low RPM" and it's not going to "destroy" anything by cruising at that RPM in 5th.
Now, if you're trying to do that while accelerating at full throttle and towing a trailer up a 15% grade, then that's a problem and you should downshift, but that's not what we're talking about here.
#28
08-07-2012, 09:37 AM
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I dont think my fuel light works at all. I almost ran it dry today.
By the time I stopped for fuel I put in 4.1 gallons without any indicator light. It was so low on fuel it was hesitating after a stop or when I accelerated hard. I'm going to have the dealer check this on my 1000 mile service. Its been consistently getting 47mpg since my first tank.
Mine is not happy in 5th at 50mph however the manual suggests that as a downshift point from 5th to 4th.
By the time I stopped for fuel I put in 4.1 gallons without any indicator light. It was so low on fuel it was hesitating after a stop or when I accelerated hard. I'm going to have the dealer check this on my 1000 mile service. Its been consistently getting 47mpg since my first tank. Mine is not happy in 5th at 50mph however the manual suggests that as a downshift point from 5th to 4th.
#30
08-07-2012, 12:57 PM
Sorry, but you and "countless" other people are, simply, wrong. At 50 mph in 5th the engine is perfectly fine.
I've been around long enough to know what lugging is and what it feels like. 50 mph in 5th is absolutely not lugging a 1200. 2,400 RPM is not "low RPM" and it's not going to "destroy" anything by cruising at that RPM in 5th.
Now, if you're trying to do that while accelerating at full throttle and towing a trailer up a 15% grade, then that's a problem and you should downshift, but that's not what we're talking about here.
I've been around long enough to know what lugging is and what it feels like. 50 mph in 5th is absolutely not lugging a 1200. 2,400 RPM is not "low RPM" and it's not going to "destroy" anything by cruising at that RPM in 5th.
Now, if you're trying to do that while accelerating at full throttle and towing a trailer up a 15% grade, then that's a problem and you should downshift, but that's not what we're talking about here.
