I now own my first Sportster. It is a 2012 XL1200C and since it does not have a tach I was wondering at what speed the rev limiter kicks in while reving in 1st gear? I was working through the gears and the only time I think I hit it was at 55 mph in first gear. I was surprised the bike got up to 55 as quick as it did in 1st.

 

Should be around 6000 rpm

 

The bike was sputtering about 55 mph, do you think that was the limiter kicking in?

 

Why the interest in red lining your motor? It's not really the best way to treat your engine IMO.

John

 

I am not interested in red lining it. I just bought it and it has been missing/stuttering when I am riding about 50 mph in 5th gear. As I slow it feels like my old carb bikes when the fuel was running out and I had to switch over to reserve, except this is continuous and feels like I am running in 5th gear at 15 mph but actually 40 in 5th and not accelerating, just cruising. I put some new premium gas and a bottle of Techron in the tank and I was running up the gears to try and flush it through. It starting acting like it was stalling when I hit about 50 in 1st. So my interest is knowing if this was the rev limiter or if the bike was starving for fuel since the rpms were spinning pretty good.
If anyone has any suggestions it would be appreciated. I took out the injectors, ran some carb cleaner thru them and put them back with no improvement. The plugs are clean and with only 10,000 miles I don't think it is the fuel filter. I would normally change it to make sure but since it seems to be such a pain in the a$$ to do so I am putting off doing it.

 

maybe you are lugging the engine running it at 50 mph in 5th gear and over revving it at 50 mph in first gear. Try using 4th gear at 50 mph and see how it runs

 

That's you bouncing off the rev limiter. On my 72, 1st gear takes me right up to 50 mph at around 6000 rpm.

 

I don't think the 1200 engine will be lugging at 50 mph in 5th gear. If it is normal to be lugging in 5th gear at 50 mph, I bought the wrong bike! I can cruise at 40 in 5th on my EG and when I crack the throttle it gets up and goes.

 

I don't think the 1200 engine should be lugging at 50 mph in 5th gear! If it is normal to be lugging in 5th gear at 50 mph, I bought the wrong bike! I can cruise at 40 in 5th on my EG and when I crack the throttle it gets up and goes.

 

The 1200 doesn't have the torque the EG has. And remember 5th is the Sportster's top gear like 6th is on your EG. Plus the Sportster power band is higher. My 2015 1200c at 50 in 5th is only turning around 2300 rpm. That's low for a Sportster.