UN ditto for that. On relatively level ground if your engine can't pull in 6th at 55 mph, you have engine problems. My engine is stock, only intake/exhaust mods, and does nicely in 6th at 55mph and above. I don't have any real hills around but would shift to 5th at those speeds in hilly areas.

BTW I use 87 octane gas, no HD oil in any of the 3 holes, so maybe that makes a difference.

 

The touring bike manual for 2011 says shift into 6th at 55 mph.

Your manual may be different. The gearing changes from year to year.

You can choose to do what the manual says........ or listen to people on the internet.... your choice.

 

I read all these posts about people using 6th below 70 or 75 and it amazes me. As another poster mentioned keeping the motor between 2500 and 3k and I absolutely agree. On my bike, there absolutely no way to keep the motor at that level in 6th below 70 or 75. Someone mentioned running 6th down to 55 mph - I tried this once and the rpm's were 1800, which is severely lugging the motor for that gear. I would only run at 1800 rpms in 1st or 2nd, max.

Maybe the gearing on bikes newer than '07 is different, I don't know, but I sure can't run at any of the speeds/gears mentioned in this thread on my bike except by shifting to keep it between 2500 and 3k.

I shift to 5th when the needle just passes 60mph, which is about 3100 to 3200, and cruise in 5th around 65-70, downshifting if I need to pass. I can run in 6th, but it has to be wide open road and I need to be running around 80 to keep the revs up enough for the bike to feel right. Not sure the gearing in 6th, but the bike has no power whatsoever in 6th - might be a 1 to 1 ratio, not sure. Too tall to be useful for me. Give me back my 5th speed with a slightly taller 5th

 

I agree with this statement 100%. Stock, these bikes will feel 'disconnected' from the throttle at lower RPM's because they're so lean from the factory. Doing a Stage 1 with a good tune and you'll be amazed at the difference in overall driveability. (rideability??) Invest in some slipons, a decent A/C and something along the lines of a PC V from Fuel Moto (shameless plug ) and you won't regret it one bit. Or, better yet, find someone who has already done a Stage 1 and beg/borrow/or steal a test ride. You'll walk away a believer.
As far as RPM's, for every 1,000 RPM's I gain 26 MPH. In other words 2000 in 6th is an indicated 52 MPH, 3000 is an indicated 78 MPH, etc.

 

No engine problems here, runs strong and 6th at 55 is unrideable. Actually, if I am going to hold it at 55, I'll run in 4th. Reading these posts always makes me wonder if my sprockets are not stock since I bought my bike used. Anyone know what the stock number of teeth (front and rear) are on an '07 Ultra?

 

You can choose to do what the manual says........ or listen to people on the internet.... your choice.

You got that right!

"You can't believe everything you read on the internet." -- Abraham Lincoln

 

I agree with that except I am using the fuelpak and have very good results with it,(also a shameless endorsement). Not sure about the gearing ratios of older models, but the 2011 does real well, well mine does, at rpms in the 2K range. I put the 1st 1000 miles stock and the last 6000 as it sits. Didn't run it hard during the break-in and do wind it out on occasion now.

 

Wow I wake up to a great amount of info. Thanks everyone! BTW Right now I only have slip ons, no a/c or tuner. I just couldn't "hear" the engine with stock exhaust, especially at highway speeds. But you guys have given me alot to go on!

 

When all else fails It will give you shift point guidelines.


From the 2011 online manual on the HD website.


GEAR CHANGE
mph


First to second
15


Second to third
25


Third to fourth
35


Fourth to fifth
45


Fifth to sixth
55

 

I read the manual back and forth a couple of times but following those guidelines the motor sounded like it was lugging so I put off shifting for another 5 mph or so.