70mph...5th gear or 6th??
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 50
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From: cape coral,florida
The 2012 manual says you can shift to 6th at 50mph. If I'm just loafing down the road and not worried about having to take off all of a sudden, I have been known to have it in 6th. You are not "lugging" the engine unless you nail the throttle and feel it give a little shudder. If just a gentle cruise no damage is occuring.......later..........mark
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 374
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From: Overland Park, Ks
A general rule of thumb could be - When increasing the throttle, even slightly, the bike should respond and accellerate freely. If it just makes more noise but otherwise barely responds and accellerates sluggishly, then you should be in a lower gear. This applies to any gear, any RPM, not only 5th vs. 6th
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,590
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From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
The 2012 manual says you can shift to 6th at 50mph. If I'm just loafing down the road and not worried about having to take off all of a sudden, I have been known to have it in 6th. You are not "lugging" the engine unless you nail the throttle and feel it give a little shudder. If just a gentle cruise no damage is occuring.......later..........mark
Most of them are probably also the guys who only get 6000 miles out of a rear tire.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
.
Way too conservative for "YOU"...... good....... now you get it.
Last edited by shooter5074; May 2, 2012 at 08:41 AM. Reason: Because farts stink, kinda like this thread
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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The 2012 manual says you can shift to 6th at 50mph. If I'm just loafing down the road and not worried about having to take off all of a sudden, I have been known to have it in 6th. You are not "lugging" the engine unless you nail the throttle and feel it give a little shudder. If just a gentle cruise no damage is occuring.......later..........mark
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
On my 2012 with the 103 I can go down the highway two up and never need to shift down. On my 2010 with the 96 there were occasions that I would have to go back to 5th to maitain speed.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 502
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From: Roads of Idaho
Reason #1 that I bought my new RG because of the power of the 103 in 6th gear. Roll on was soo much better than the 96" I had been riding for a few months! Power period.
Now that I too have the 255's and all the other stuff that helps them work, intake, exhaust, tuner... Now at 93/109 I am really happy with 6th!
To me the 96" with the 6 speed was really a 5 speed with an overdrive gear for flat or declined or with the wind at your back that 6th gear is used. That is how I drove that RG. This RG w/103 stage II id ridden as a 6 speed, because I now have the power to use it uphill and even passing uphill all in 6th gear It changes the personality of the bike to me. Love having enough power to: Do anything I have ever tried with 103/6 including passing without bothering to shift down cause at 3K rpm cruise in 6th, it is ready to jump!!!
I run the p*$$ out of it and so far so good!
Now that I too have the 255's and all the other stuff that helps them work, intake, exhaust, tuner... Now at 93/109 I am really happy with 6th!
To me the 96" with the 6 speed was really a 5 speed with an overdrive gear for flat or declined or with the wind at your back that 6th gear is used. That is how I drove that RG. This RG w/103 stage II id ridden as a 6 speed, because I now have the power to use it uphill and even passing uphill all in 6th gear It changes the personality of the bike to me. Love having enough power to: Do anything I have ever tried with 103/6 including passing without bothering to shift down cause at 3K rpm cruise in 6th, it is ready to jump!!!
I run the p*$$ out of it and so far so good!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Hill Country, TX
No problem...I've always "got it."
When I start riding my Harley like an 80 year old Grandmother, you'll be the first to receive the shotgun picture.
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