does anyone know the road speed that i will be travelling at when i hit the rev limiter in each gear. i dont have a tacho, so it maybe would be a useful way of estimating how hard i was working the motor in each gear. Also, what happens when the rev limit is reached?How is it noticeable? does the engine cut or anything like that? I have a 04 xl883, presently completely stock.

 

I may be speaking out of turn here.... but I think its around six grand maybe a little less...

When you hit the limiter it will sound like the motor is missing...

You'll know it when you hit it...

It feels like it's set just a few hundred rpms too low to me...but what do I know...

Charlie D.

 

The 2004+ 1200's have the rev-limiter set to kick in right below 6,000 RPM, which is about 500 RPM higher than that on the 883's.

I'm not sure what the speed is in gear when it kicks in, as I don't bother to run my Sportster up to maximum RPM.

With the stock cams the peak horsepower occurs at arouind 5,500 RPM, and above the range it starts to fall, so there isn't much point in running at a higher RPM range when you are past the peak horsepower and torque figures.

Even with the SE cams I'm running in my 1200C the peak horsepower and torque figures occur below 6,000 RPM.

 

And you will so know it. I find on my dyna it does feel like the engine cut out. I didn't use to hit it alot on the sportster, but since riding the ninja (which doesn't have any "umph" til over 7k) I've hit it quite a few times.

Something to try out...

 

I'm not sure exactly what MPH you will be at for each gear but if you wind it out and hit the limiter for each gear, by 3rd you are darn close, if not over 100 MPH. I suppose its possible you could hit the limiter in 4th too. I doubt you'llever encounter the rev limiter in 5th. The limits of the engine being able to fight the wind resistance will come into play before you hit 5400+ RPM's in 5th gear.

MAYBE you could if you had someplace like the salt flats to test it out over distance. But there are no surface streets that would afford you the distance you would need to find out (without risk of being arrested, killing someone, or becoming pizza).

 

On a 1200 Rubbermount:
1st: ~47 mph
2nd: ~68 mph
3rd: ~88 mph
4th: ~107 mph
5th: ~127 mph

On a 883 Rubbermount:
1st: ~41 mph
2nd: ~59 mph
3rd: ~76 mph
4th: ~93 mph
5th: ~110 mph

 

I was heading out onto the highway last week, taking it up through the gears (it sounded sooo purrrty), and be darn if I didn't hit the rev limiter in 3d gear (we were moving right along). Not racing or anything. I kinda wonder if that rev limiter was meant for stock configration or if my A/C and exhaust combo just made it feel like it had still more to go. Never had hit it before, but it sure made it obvious I had.

 

10-4 that, ronn. I hate hitting that limiter; feels like the whole thing is coming to a screeching halt.[:@]