Your oil pressure is low under 2000 RPM's and a harley is Lugging under that RPM. But some know better out there and will tell you anything.

 

LOL! I should've known the answer to that one!

 

I had to chuckle at that one too. I worked at a car dealer "many" years ago and had delivered a car to a customer. The car had a manual transmission and while we were driving back to the dealer, I was slowing down for a red light. The light went green before we got to it and at the speed we were going, I simply shifted to second gear and continued on. The customer almost came unglued! "You can't do that!!!" she said. I, naturally enough, wanted to know what in the world she was talking about. She had been told that you had to start in first and move upwards through the gears from there and she took it literally no matter what. I guess she never downshifted at all unless she went all the way to first! I feel sorry for anyone who ever got stuck behind her in traffic!

 

I use a rule of thumb to keep from lugging the engine and it's rather simple.

0 - 10mph - 1st Gear

10 - 20mph - 2nd Gear

20 - 30 mph - 3rd Gear

30 - 40 mph - 4th Gear

40 - 55mph - 5th Gear

over 55mph - 6th Gear

So if my speed drops to 40 then I use 4th... my mind thinks under 40 = 4th or under 30 = 3rd... etc

 

Seriously! Do you really have to ask this question?

 

Obviously 3rd don't work for me in Mt.Ranier. Got a 20 over ticket and the cop didn't buy that I was just keepin' her up on the cams!

 

On my RK I'd probably be in second, third would lug my engine.

 

Best answer is by dickf, 10 in 1st, 20 in 2nd, 30 in 3rd, 40 in 4th, 50 in 5th, Remember there are no stupid questions and if there are, you can always learn something even from stupid people.. These guidelines are from the manual. Yes, I know whatever gear according to weight, gradient and whatever bike sounds like, seat of the pants, sound of engine and lugging etc....all understood. Thanks

 

Just my opinion, as I don't have a tach but seat of the pants tells me 6th gear at 55mph is wrong.
I don't use 6th until I hit 70.
Anybody else?

 

For me, I've found that I don't use 6th until a miminum of 60 but that depends on traffic, winds, terrain, etc. The 09's are gear slightly lower than the previous year models and 6th does just fine for easy riding at that speed. The owners manual recommends shifting to fifth at 55 which I admit, surprised me when I first read it. I tried it on level ground, riding easy, and the bike didn't complain at all but I agree, it's not something we'd probably be doing as a matter of course and especially if you don't have a tach to use as a reference point.

The recommended shift points in my owners manual limit the engine to a max of about 2500 rpm on my bike. Not many of us ride "that" easy!