If its a Sportster your really degrading its life.

If its a Big Twin, I don't know and don't care.



But, 950 RPM's is clearly stated in the Harley Davidson Service Manuals for 91-04 Sportsters. 900 RPM's on 86-90 models. I don't have a manual for 2005 or up but I can guarantee you that FI bikes idle even higher..

With my Mods I stay at 1050 or so.

 

Agreed, you may idle it bellow 950, but it's not always below. When you run it I'm sure you get the rpms above that to move the bike. Thus, it really will just lack oil pressure at idle. As xFreebirdx said, if it's a sportster, that could have some bad implications down the line.

 

Just because the "idiot light" stays off doesn't mean that you are pumping oil to every place that needs it. The auto industry has been doing the light v pressure guage for years and the only conclusion I think they have made is that a "light" gets the drivers attention. Usually it is too late by the time it comes on. Yeah, when the pressure starts to fall on a guage it ain't a good thing but with luck you could shut it down. They don't call them idiot lights for nuthin. I mean no offense, just sayin

 

"They don't call them idiot lights for nuthin." Right on!

Also, the sportster gets the oil to the top end through the pushrod/tappet assembly and it leaks back down. So yes, your light may be off, but the oil is not reaching the top end. Pressure at the sensor is not indicative of overall pressure in the system.

 

interesting info - and yup, the older one is a 2008 sportster (883), the other is a tc96 (FXDC).

won't change that (dislike idling high), let's wait to see what happens when mileage piles up, but since the bikes are mostly going forward instead of idling for long periods (we split lanes here in brazil, no need to go along with traffic) that might not make any difference.

thanks!