Harley Davidson Forums

Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What RPM?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 09-23-2011, 02:08 PM
Dieselnerd's Avatar
Dieselnerd
Dieselnerd is offline
Advanced
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MN
Posts: 71
Received 23 Likes on 13 Posts
Default
Ditto on the thanks cHarley. Thank you! I was wondering the same thing since my 1200 almost seems to be lugging at 50 in fifth gear.
 
Reply Like
  #12  
Old 09-23-2011, 02:15 PM
steffridesabuell's Avatar
steffridesabuell
steffridesabuell is offline
Advanced
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 79
Received 30 Likes on 18 Posts
Default Sportster RPM
That chart sounds about right for a 1200 running a set of 29/68 pulleys.
Keep in mind that some earlier Sportsters (especially 883's) came with 27t transmission pulleys, so they were revving quite a bit higher at highway speeds. They were great for quick launches, though.
Doesn't look like HD even offers the 27t pulley for the 2004-later Sportsters.
 
Reply Like
  #13  
Old 09-23-2011, 03:23 PM
cHarley's Avatar
cHarley
cHarley is offline
Club Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Posts: 16,320
Received 302 Likes on 231 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by steffridesabuell
That chart sounds about right for a 1200 running a set of 29/68 pulleys.
Keep in mind that some earlier Sportsters (especially 883's) came with 27t transmission pulleys, so they were revving quite a bit higher at highway speeds. They were great for quick launches, though.
Doesn't look like HD even offers the 27t pulley for the 2004-later Sportsters.
The 04 up 883's have 28T transmission pulleys, but the significant difference in the gearing is due to a different primary sprocket ratio.

Before someone asks:
 
Reply Like
  #14  
Old 09-23-2011, 03:47 PM
wheel752's Avatar
wheel752
wheel752 is offline
Road Captain
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newport, Wa
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by TennesseeMustangPerf
Since you do not have a tach to monitor when to properly change gears, here is an audio sample of my bike.





Key on: Bzzzzzzzzzzz.
Start up: Burrrurrrurrrrrrurrrrrr...
Idle: Pututta, pututta, pututta, pututta, pututta, pututta...
Take off: Burrrrrrummmmmmmm...
2nd gear: Burrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
3rd gear: BuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
4th gear: Buaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
5th gear: Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrurrrrrrrr rrrrrr.

Of course, I have a 2007 Nightster with Vance and Hines Short Shots, so your bike will sound somewhat different if you do not have the same setup as I do. Hope this helps.
I like this better... use this until you get a tach... everyone needs a tach
 
Reply Like
  #15  
Old 09-24-2011, 08:20 AM
bmxatv's Avatar
bmxatv
bmxatv is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Up your block and down your alley
Posts: 4,428
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default
doesnt anyone listen to the fuken motor anymore? it will tell you when it needs to be shifted. people actually stare at a tac while riding to find their shift point? bahhhhh!
 
Reply Like
  #16  
Old 09-24-2011, 08:22 AM
Wildon883R's Avatar
Wildon883R
Wildon883R is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,882
Received 81 Likes on 63 Posts
Default
Don't have a tach i just drive by feel/sound. I do know my rev limiter kicks in at 60mph in 2nd gear on my 883R. 45mph in 3rd and the engine is purring like a kitten. Most HD riders , ride with bogged down motors so they can get off on there put put muffler sounds . On 883 I never use 5th under 60mph. Silly bagger turned in front of me (Street Glide) and went from 0-4th never passing 30mph lol.. No engine likes low rpms.
 
Reply Like
  #17  
Old 09-24-2011, 02:10 PM
TennesseeMustangPerf's Avatar
TennesseeMustangPerf
TennesseeMustangPerf is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by bmxatv
doesnt anyone listen to the fuken motor anymore? it will tell you when it needs to be shifted. people actually stare at a tac while riding to find their shift point? bahhhhh!
Yes. Please see my audio post... should give you an accurate idea of when to shift properly.
 
Reply Like
  #18  
Old 09-25-2011, 08:02 AM
Booey424's Avatar
Booey424
Booey424 is offline
Grand HDF Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Letart,WV
Posts: 3,945
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by woodworking1
cool chart cHarly. I thought 4000 sounded high.
My 2003 883r at 4000 rpm in 5th gear is 80 MPH
 
Reply Like
  #19  
Old 09-25-2011, 10:05 AM
cHarley's Avatar
cHarley
cHarley is offline
Club Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Posts: 16,320
Received 302 Likes on 231 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by Booey424
My 2003 883r at 4000 rpm in 5th gear is 80 MPH
Then assuming that your speedo and tach are reading correctly, you likely have a set of 1200 sprockets in your primary.
 
Reply Like
  #20  
Old 09-25-2011, 10:33 AM
Mich's Avatar
Mich
Mich is offline
Road Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: victoria bc
Posts: 858
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 14 Posts
Default
My 2012 Sportster owner's manual shows primary drive: 883 34/57, 1200 38/57. Final drive: 883 29/68, 1200 29/68

My 2012 Iron likes to shift into 5th at about 55-60 mph
 
Reply Like
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gears on nightster
IrishGirl329
Sportster Models
17
05-22-2012 08:46 AM
6th gear speed/rpms?
Jon0807
Touring Models
53
09-26-2011 04:17 PM
Smarter than a 5th Grader?
BluBob
Dyna Glide Models
4
05-05-2008 03:38 AM
RPM ?
JC Rider
Sportster Models
2
05-01-2008 09:18 AM
Shifting speeds and 07 clatter
cubcake1
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
11
05-17-2007 08:51 PM
Tags
Back to Subforum
Sportster Models
View Next Unread
Speedometer




Advanced Search
Quick Reply: What RPM?


Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:18 AM.