2011 103 Engine Lugging

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Sep 8, 2011 | 09:08 PM

#21

Sledhed

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 41

Likes: 0

From: Twin Cities, MN/ OKC

Thanks for all the responses. Mostly wanted to confirm my shifting RPM's. I try to stay above 2k and normally shift @3200-3500 unless I'm on it, then no more than 4500. I have stock intake and map, until my goodies from Fuel Moto get here tomorrow! (PV and SE intake) Anxious to see how they change the feel of the bike, I know it will be better!

Sep 8, 2011 | 09:34 PM

#22

av ultra

Road Captain

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 545

Likes: 8

From: antelope valley ca.

Speaking of lugging it me and the wife were going out to eat in her car and some dude was on a lowered r/g and taking it to the rev limiter in every gear,in normal traffic flow, annoying as hell.

Apr 21, 2023 | 09:04 AM

#23

sirrom1

Advanced

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 92

Likes: 46

From: CA

Short Shifting/Lugging

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sledhed

This may be a stupid question, but at what RPM are you "lugging" the engine? Thanks in advance

“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:

The bike speed will decrease
The bike speed will stay the same
The bike speed will increase

Interpreting the above:

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.

Apr 21, 2023 | 01:45 PM

#24

btsom

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 4,445

Likes: 2,814

From: Oklahoma

As you can tell, there are lots of opinions. There is NO single rpm that defines lugging, it is really a combination of rpm and load (as determined by throttle setting). If being below 2000 rpm would destroy the engine, they would self destruct at the first stop light. 1000 to 1200 rpm works well for idle because there is no load on the engine, the throttle is closed. Any riding situation where the throttle is closed or very nearly closed indicates no load on the engine, such as coasting down hill at 1200 rpm. When you reach the bottom and need power a downshift is necessary to avoid lugging as the throttle is opened. If you open the throttle and can feel each power pulse hammering, you are lugging, even worse is having the drive line snapping and making noises, feeling that it is trying to knock itself to pieces.

If you are running at 1800 rpm and want to GENTLY pick up some speed, SLIGHTLY opening the throttle should not be a problem. If you are in a hurry, a large throttle input at that rpm will cause lugging and a down shift should be used. If your machine feels normal (no heavy engine vibration) you are in safe territory. If you feel heavy vibration, fix it immediately with a down shift. You can lug above 2000 rpm if you open the throttle enough. Experience will make it easier to tell when to down shift vs when everything is running as it should be.