Its feels like I'm not running fast enough to shift into 5th gear at 60 mph. Can you cruise at 55-60 mph in 4th gear or would this be to hard on the motor? Its a 2004 1200C. First time I have rode a sportster, man was I surprised. That thing would kick my 2007 Ultra's a$$. My bought it for my wife but man I love riding it

Thanks

Mark

 

If I couldn't use 5th at 60, there wouldn't be many places around here where I could use it... I think it's fine on my XL2008R , but it depends on the conditions. With a heavy load (hey, I'm light), headwind, a steep hill, or a quick pass I might choose to shift down to 4th. Again, light load, average highway, no problem with moderate accelerating in 5th from 60, but below it's definitely lugging. Cruising at 60 in 4th shouldn't be a problem, but you'll get better mileage when you can shift back into 5th.

 

Just feel the engine. It'll tell you what to do. i kick it in to 5th after 60...below 60, im still in 4th, with no problems. Sometimes i go 65-70 still in 4th. Sporties can handle it. depends on the conditions.

 

I run 4th gear at 60 as mine does the same thing. I generally don't take her into 5th until 70 or so...

 

I was having a lot of problems with feeling like I was lugging the engine, and yet was concerned about keeping the bike in a lower gear. I have recently decided that I can cruise in 4th at 55 and the bike feels better than trying to cruise at that speed in 5th. If I know I am going to sustain a speed of at least 60, I'll cruise in 5th, hoping to get better gas mileage. However when accelerating through the gears, I will keep it in the lower gear much longer, and for example, when traveling on on-ramp up to a highway, will often be at 70 before hitting 5th. Like some have said already, it's listening to and feeling what the engine is telling you. I am finally starting to understand mine

 

Yeah I agree with the above, I don't ususlly shift into fifth until above 60, the sportie motor doesnt mind reving at all.
FYI mine has a tach and at 60 is pretty much dead on 3000 RPM and that's about the lowest a sportie motor likes to rev under minimal load, if it's under load it would prefer to be at least 3500 RPM.

 

Same here 50-60 in 4th 60 and up in 5th downshift to 4th any speed below 60

 

60 is a little low to shift to 5th. That is why it feels like it is lugging. I do not shift to fifth until 70. Cruising 55-65 in 4th is not a problem. Like posted above you are only going between 3000 and 3500 rpms. It just sounds like your reving high, but really you are not. BTW.....I have gotten to 60mph in 2nd gear before reaching the rev limiter.

 

Sounds like seriuos lack of HP to me.

 

+1 and I get better gas mileage this way too.