I’m looking for some feedback/information on cruising RPM. I have approximately 260 miles on my 2006 Road King Classic. This is my first Harley, my previous experience has been with metric V-Twins. The Road King certainly has a different feel and gearing. If I use the owner’s manual (OM) guidelines for upshifting MPH speeds, engine feels like it is lugging. OM recommends to upshift gears as follows; 2nd at 15 MPH, 3rd at 25 MPH, 4th at 35 MPH and 5th at 45 MPH. Shifting to 5th gear at 45 MPH (on a flat grade), the engine feels like it is really lugging. For cruising on a flat grade, what are the target RPMs? Are most running in 2nd gear at 30 MPH and not shifting to 5th until over 55 MPH? Thanks in advance for the information. Ted

 

To be honest, I'm not sure. However, if it feels like its lugging, it's probably lugging. Forget the tach, use your ears and sense of touch. Feel the vibration Luke. Feel the force. Be the force....[sm=vader.gif]

Steve[sm=icon_rock.gif]

 

Listen to the engine, it will tell you. Remember the TC is a big motor moveing kinda slow with alot of torque. It really doesn't hurt them to lug them a little. Sometimes I shift like the book says (kinda) and sometimes I hammer it. The TC doesn't really care. Most sound like they could use another gear at 70-75. You will find the sound that's right for you. Also riding with others on HD's will give you a reference to help. my .02 cents

 

I would add about ten mph to those shift recommendations. On my Road Glide I like to ride around town at about 2500 rpm- the bike is responsive at that RPM and it feels right to me. On my bike, 2500 in 3rd gear gives me about 35 MPH., 4th gear about 45 MPH.
Experiment with shift points- you will find one for each gear that feels right to you.

 

I don't own a RK but rented one out for a few hours about 2 weeks ago. I had no manual to go by so shifted by feel like I do on my Sportster. On the RK, I normally shifted into 5th at about 55 mph. Anything below 50 in 5th gear would "lug" as you mention. I have no idea whether that is good/bad for the TC motor.

 

I'm new to Harley's as well and have to say that at first I thought it was lugging at low speed in high gear. I exected to feel the bike shudder under acceleration at low speeds, but as I twisted the throttle, the big twin just moved out like butter. As someone mentioned, if the bike begins to shudder or jump when you're in a gear, you're obviously to high and need to drop it down one or two. One of the thing's I'm most impressed with on the Harley is the low end torque these engines have. It's awesome. I agree with the advice, however, that under most conditions it feels better to go into 5th at 50-55 mph. For picking up to cruising speed in the expressway merge lane, I don't shift into 5th until about 60 to 65.

 

I do not have a tach. Change gear by feel and what I hear. I have an 05 FLHRI RK with 11,000 miles. Most of the times I change gears at low speeds, but every once in a while i will rev the rpm's up.

 

I have an 06 Ultra with Stage 2--In 5th gear--3000RPM equates to 74 mph--pulls nice from there right to 100+