So as this is my first HD, I am just not sure what is best. I know on my old liquid cooled bikes and for safety reasons, I usually run in lower gears when I am just running around town or in traffic. The old advice I was given, run it 1 gear lower than you think...

Here is what I am running with the SGS.
Under 20 = 1st gear
Under 40 = 2nd gear
Under 50 = 3rd gear

Again, this is in town and traffic type of riding... Just wondering what's the best for these NON liquid cooled monsters, especially as the weather starts warming up.

 

Speaking only for myself and assuming your past the 1,000 mile mark, I choose a gear that lets the motor loaf along slow but not so slow that it is lugging. Even though theres a slipper clutch, the lower the engine rpms the less the bike gets yanked down when you chop the throttle.It also helps in making turns smoother because the power delivery is more manageable.

 

Just keep an eye on your rpm gauge, as long as you're not running at too high an rpm you'll be fine. On the flip side, you'll know if you're going too slow in a gear if the engine chugs on you. You'll be fine if you keep your rpms between 2000 (low side) to 3500 rpms. You can go higher and lower, but if you are keeping a constant speed and rpm those ranges are the sweet spot for city driving IMHO.

 

I am out of first gear as soon as I get enough speed to be in second gear (which isn't much). I really do not care what speed I am going, I base my shifting off the engine load. It will tell you when it wants to upshift.

 

The key is to remember that these are not sport bikes and thus should not be revved high for long periods of time. A safe rule of thumb for these bikes is 0-20 = 1st, 20+=2nd, 30+=3rd, 40+=4th, 50+=5th, 60+= 6th..

this formula will give you the smoothest ride and power delivery with no lugging. You'll have enough for engine braking and accelerating when needed. I like to live in the 2500 - 3500 rpm range, with an occasional up to 4000 when passing. No need to downshift.

 

My owner's manual lists upshifts as follows: first to second at 15 mph, second to third at 25, third to fourth at 35, fourth to fifth at 45 and fifth to sixth at 55.

That puts the upshift points right about 2700 rpm.

It also shows the downshift points for each gear at 5 mph lower than the corresponding upshift speed.

So it looks like they like upshifts at 2700 rpm or thereabouts and downshifts at right around 2200 rpm.


I usually do pretty much what the manual says but this has honestly felt just a little on the low side ever since I got mine. I generally upshift between 2700 at 3000 rpm and downshift at 2000 to 2300.

 

You will learn the sweet spot the more you ride it. I came from a Sport bike, and its way different power band. Try not to concern yourself with numbers, just feel it.

 

Thanks all! I guess I understood much of this, but old habits die hard... My last bike red lined at 9000 and did not like rumbling around at slow speeds...

 

don't spend much time glancing at your gauges while running around town..split second taking eyes off what's really important is a bad bad idea...just go by feel, it'll be a short learning curve

 

Same here it's takin a lot to get used to. Rev limiter is so low on these bikes it's a joke, never feels like your getting all the power out of the bike. My Ducati would nearly stall under 20mph in first gear and I could easily do 60mph in first, and she was a v twin too!!!