I've just starting riding my Nightster. I'm coming from a Suzuki Boulevard, and I get that the Harley will never be as smooth, but it really lugs in low to mid RPMs. For instance, it chatters and lugs if I put it into 5th below 60mph.

And if I roll off the throttle and slow a bit in any gear, I get chatter if I roll back on with anything but the slightest touch.

I can tell the gearing is very different between the two bikes, but I just feel like I'm always downshifting and then shifting back up.

The bike only has 3k miles on it. I just changed all fluids to Mobil 1 V twin and adjusted the clutch. Also changed plugs.

I think it sat for a little bit before I bought it.

Any ideas?

 

Run some Seafoam through the fuel and try to find high-octane gas (i.e. 93+)...could be because the bike was sitting too long.

 

Yeah, learn what RPM range it likes and stay in it. If it doesn't fit your riding style you can always start messing with the drive pulleys to get a different range.

 

Sporties don't like to be lugged you need to keep the RPMs up from what it sounds like. Does the bike have any mods? Shitty pipes can steal your low end torque and make it even worse.

 

put a tach on it and don't go below 2800 rpm unless your in first gear or slowing to down shift. that is just where they like to run. a tach is a very good investment in my opinion.

 

It's bone stock, which is one of the reasons I chose this bike over ones full of mods.

I have an Arlen Ness air filter on the way that I picked up from the board here.

The other thing is that I don't think it ever had the 1k service done.

 

This may be helpful

 

X14ieds smoothed out my low rpm surging/lugging. Easy install, No down side. DK sells them too.

 

Just keep engine RPM in the proper spot. And, Sportsters are super smooth, compared to, for example, Ducati Monsters, where given the very tall stock gearing, anything below 4000 RPM make the bike very unhappy.

 

here you go

https://www.surdyke.com/AdvPartInfo....umber=67182-07

plus you need this

https://www.surdyke.com/AdvPartInfo....umber=56115-95