What he said. You have to keep the RPM's up above 2000.

 

2000 rpm is too low to sustain speed- you see 2000 rpm on your way up to a shift point closer to 4000 rpm.

under reving the motor is often referred to as lugging.

It will damage the lower end bearings due to stresses, and does not provide proper oil pressure or volume through the motor, the charging system is also affected.

--- that reason that operation is not smooth is because the drivetrain is struggling.

current lightened flywheels ( crank) have little forward energy stored, it is different if the motor is turning a large rotational mass ( which would be the cranks used on the antiques)

For low speed operation ( parking lot cruising, parade, u turns manouvers etc.) check out the youtube tutorials by jerry palladino.
the technique involves using the rear brake lightly to hold the bike upright, while slipping the clutch in a controlled manner.

Mike

 

You're lugging it. Shift down and give it some gas.

 

haha, some interesting replys, I know about lugging and was asking about 1st and 2nd gear not talking about highway speed or such but some good stuff to know at any rate. I guess I didn't expect the RPM range on the harley to be higher than my old honda on that note what is the red line for the 88's ? the bike never came with an owners manual so I have ordered one but still a week or so away so I have been reading on here about oil and such trying to learn the basics fast.

the main place I notice the surging is school zones where I have to do 20MPH and I am in second gear.. guess I'll stay in first now, I guess the whole thing is I didn't think you would have to go 1000rpm over idle befor it runs smooth, seams like a big gap.

Steve

 

To qualify the vibration statements, You have a touring model that has the motor rubber mounted.

One you get over 2000 notice how it smoothes out.

Thing to learn is do not lug the motor.

 

let her spin up before you shift and she won't vibrate. I shift between 2500 and 3000 going up and between 2500 and 2000 going down.

1500 to 2000 is the vibration zone if throttle is hot.

 

EXACTLY! Really it is undriveable under 2000 rpm's

 

2000 RPM is as low you want to spin a Harley engine, and 2500 to 3000 is where most people
cruise at.

 

20 mph is 1st gear! That surging your experiencing is it trying to quit and dump your ***! 06 had a injector bulletin (dont think it was a total recall) had mine fixed last summer under warranty. Redline is 5250 i believe. Mine has a SERT so its upped to 6200. Just twist the gas til it quits pullin then shift!

 

Folks can say what they want about Honda's, but they are supremely good at making engines with "very" broad power bands. I had a 93 Goldwing 1500 that I once brought around a slow corner at 20 mph, two up, and motored away in top gear from 1100 rpm without the least protest from the engine. It was like riding an electric motor. I know that analogy isn't one that most Harley riders would appreciate but I was plenty impressed at the time. If I tried that with my 09 Ultra, I'd get some very serious protesting going on and who knows what kind of engine damage I'd be risking. Long stroke twins may produce a healthy amount of low to mid range torque but they, by my experience, won't pull down smoothly to very low rpms as well as a multi cylinder, short stroke engine will. My old Goldwing vs my 09 Ultra, both engines being within about 80cc's of each other, displacement wise, are good examples of that.

The owners manual will answer most of your questions. Most responses you've gotten have recommended 2000 rpm as an absolute minimum running speed. I think you'll find that you can go below that in the lower 2, maybe 3 gears but it really is a practical minimum in the upper gears. One way or the other, then engine itself will teach you that! FWIW, the owners manual on my 09 Ultra has the usual recommendations for when to shift gears for best economy. As it turns out, upshifting at the recommended speeds always puts my engine right at 2000 to 2100 rpm after the shift.

Ride Safe,
Steve R.