I'm used to running out in each gear a little more, but note a lot of fellow seem to shift at lower revs on the Harleys. I've been doing it more myself lately.

My question is what do y'all find to be the lowest RPMs you care to go or that your bike seems to handle in various conditions? What range do you prefer to run in?

 

Lately I've been shifting my bike at 2200-2400 RPM. Mostly because I work odd hours, and the Thunderheader is a bit loud if I was blasting outbound from the neighborhood at 0530, or inbound at 2345. Really don't want (or need) the attention that would generate. In most cases, I'm riding out of the neighborhood in 1st at under 2000 RPMS. It's about 3/4 of a mile to get to a 45 MPH street, so this gives the bike a chance to warm up before I need to keep up with traffic.

I can run solo, in 5th gear, at 45 MPH, ~2250 RPM. 70 MPH is ~3150 RPM. My daily commute is 32 miles (16 each way), and a combination of 45 MPH street / 70 MPH interstate riding. I generally run 65-70 MPH on the interstate, unless traffic dictates a faster speed. However, at speeds above 75 MPH, my FLHS just 'takes too much attention', to make for a relaxing ride.

'Normal' gear/speed for me:
1st: 0 - 15 mph
2nd: 15-25 mph
3rd: 25-35 mph
4th: 25-45 mph
5th: 45+ (my bike will run 100+, but I don't...)

Most streets are run in 4th gear. Downshifting when needed. I will (occasionally) run 5th on long stretches of 45 mph streets where there aren't a lot of traffic lights or stops signs.

Unless decelerating from highway speeds (or cruising out of the 'hood in 1st), I don't let the engine go below 1800 RPM without downshifting.

 

that pretty much how i do it too. i don't care to ride over 70 mph but if i have to the old 85 can do it.

 

Yeah low RPMs generally in quiet areas and when normal riding 3000 RPM seems to be the positive shift point that is unless you want to wind it out a little bit on occasion.....

 

Stock 80 inchers seem to struggle with pulling out of anything below 2500 rpms. Large portion of the Evo members have some modifications that allows them to drop down in shift points and pull out of it with no problems. Cams, compression bumps, exhaust brings a 80" to life allowing some flexability, a 60ish horsepower Evo is what it is and 2700-3000 rpm shift points are home.

My stock Twinkie is happy in the 2500-3000 area also, stroker Evo could pull easily below 2500 rpm and the current big block doesn't matter where the rpms are. 80" Evo is the old small block Chevy of the auto world and tough as nails but unable to pull out of a lug is damaging to even a warrior like a Evo, keep your shift points up with a stock Evo until some mods are done.

 

Good advice there...

 

Bagger thank you I hate typing and you saved me.

What this guy says is how i do things

WP

 

Yep.

My stocker is happy between 2500 and 3500 or so.

 

Yep. I failed to mention the upgrades on my EVO, but stock it was a cold blooded pig. Almost rode it back to the dealership the day I got it new, because I was thinking it was a major mistake buying it.

A couple simple mods: Idle mixture, SE air cleaner, slipon exhaust, and a few thousand miles, it was running like I expected a HD to. Added the EV27 cam and Dyna 2000 ignition and then the fun really began. Would I like more? Yeah, everyone wants more. But for how I ride, where I ride, and my budget: It fills the bill.

The EVO is an excellent engine. Responds well to easy (simple) mods (like your SBC comparison), and will last a LONG time if regularly maintained and not abused.

 

Forgot to mention also that this bike has aftermarket pipes, S&S carb and air cleaner, and the fellow had a mid-range cam put in it (don't know which one).

So far unless there are inclines more than slight involved the bike seems to have a bottom comfortable line of 1800 rpm and rumbles around slow areas happily at 2000. Highway speeds puts it in the 3000-3200 rpm area in 5th. For leaving the neighborhood, and especially coming in at 2145-2230 hrs that 1800-2400 rpm range seems to move okay without lugging and a light accel is an easy pull without bucking.

I just don't want to go around running revs in the 28-3200 bracket in the lower gears if I don't need to in the southwest Texas heat. The Shadow 1100 likes a little more rev to it so I have to be careful I'm putting the wind up where it needs to be and the lope where it works best.

Appreciate the responses. I didn't want to be running more than I needed to, but didn't want to be banging the bottom end of the bike out when it seemed like it was doing fine. I know at lower speeds I prefer the slow rumble over the higher revs. Especially in the heat.