Do You Hit Your Rev Limiter?
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 147
From: Grays Creek, NC
Hell yah I hit the limiter, but I'm still under 40 yrs old. You need to ask this in the sporty/softail/dyna sections, I'll bet that most of the younger guys do. Did it on my last bike and every so often on this one, a little more now that I have the new cams. I don't think I have seen a newer harley with a blown engine from over revving, not saying its good for the engine but your bikes not going to explode the first time its going to hit it either, why would they raise it from 5400 to 6200 if the engines couldn't handle it?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 723
Likes: 2
From: Nc
I thought it was a rev limiter and not an age limiter . lol
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
The OEM rev limiter is set at about 5400, gurantee that considers a wide margin of operational safety, since you can raise it to 6200 without any problems via PC or HD download. While the power does start to drop off in the high RPMS, the bike doesn't stop pulling the moment the TQ curve breaks over the apex, the machine is already in motion so it doesn't require as much power to continue accelerating. They are designed to do at least what the rev limiter allows, hence the rev limiter. If they were only good to 3500 RPMs, thats where the rev limiter would be set. That shifting at peak TQ technique is a much more abrupt power transition between gears, power drops back further in the curve in the next higher gear than it does shifting after the curve starts to dip, which puts you at a stonger point in the curve in the next higher gear. Theres also nothing wrong with riding easy, but my bike, I pay the bills, I do the wrenchin, I ride it the way I want. You can make up all the excuses in the world to ride it like a moped if you want to but there is really no need to look for reasons why somebody else is wrong for the way they ride. It ain't like I'm riding your bike hard.
Well written. I suspect that you are a person I would enjoy riding with
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 20
From: Salem, Or
I agree with this statement and hope to have 103k on my bike some day.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
No, does not sound odd to me, sounds like he must be a mature rider. I never "hit" my rev limiter. This was one of the best questions I have ever read on this forum. I have put many days of thought into this, Dude.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
If drag racing you generally want to shift to maxmize power. The common misconception is that you should shift at or right after the torque peak.
If interested, here a couple web sites that discuss this is more detail. Draw your own conclusions.
Motorcycle perspective:
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Horsepower.html
Automobile:
http://www.allpar.com/eek/hp-vs-torque.html
http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html
Finally here is a graph for a stock 96" showing speed versus torque in each gear. When you shift you will loose rpm based on the gear ratios.
You would want to shift where the lines cross between gears for this set up:
If interested, here a couple web sites that discuss this is more detail. Draw your own conclusions.
Motorcycle perspective:
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Horsepower.html
Automobile:
http://www.allpar.com/eek/hp-vs-torque.html
http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html
Finally here is a graph for a stock 96" showing speed versus torque in each gear. When you shift you will loose rpm based on the gear ratios.
You would want to shift where the lines cross between gears for this set up:
Novice
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Green bay, Wi
I have hit the rev limiter a few times and no damage done, when in the heat of the moment things happen and if ya bring it up to quick oh well, just enjoy the ride.....
By the way I,m 58 and still ride it like I stole it!!!!
By the way I,m 58 and still ride it like I stole it!!!!