So, my 09 Road Glide is my first harley, first v-twin air cooled bike. I use to high revving jap crotch rockets.

My question is, what rpm is too low or considered bogging the motor?

Right now, I generally don't let the rpms fall below 2000 (unless idling) and I usually shift anywhere between 3000 and 4000. I usually cruise on the freeway between 2500 to 3500 or so.

 

Sounds about right to me. No lower than 2k around town, and keep it above 2500 on the highway, especially in 6th.

You should be able to feel it struggling/shaking if you let it get too low. Seat of the pants gives a lot of feedback as to whether the motor is happy or not.

 

+ 1 , below 2000 you can feel and hear the difference.

 

You will be able to feel it "thumping" Matrix is right keep it above 2k rpm. If you feel the motor thumping think about this, the thump is transferred from the pistons through the crank shaft to the motor mounts to the frame and to your butt. Lugging is hard on everything

 

Anything under 2k I down shift. Bike seems to run better over 2k RPMS

Mark

 

The 2K people are talking about is OK for 1st, 2nd and maybe 3rd. 4th should be around 2200 and 5th 2300 RPM. Then 25K in 6th. All this is on flat ground and not going up hill.
Harleys are made to run at much higher RPM's than most people think. Your bike is really happy running in th3 2500 to 3000 range.

 

25000 rpm is over the redline on mine

 

It really depends on conditions. Total weight, going up or down hill, head wind, tail wind, accelerating or just cruising on flat roads?
Basically more load requires more RPMs.

Under any conditions 25000 is too many.

 

HHMM 25000 HHMM , have ta try that one day ..

I try to keep it above 2500 ,motor seems to do best between 2800-3500 rpm

 

I was wondering the same thing because I was following someone on a group ride Sunday that was running about 1500 RPM with 2 people on hills and twisties. Sure seemed like that bike was laboring.
I think 2000 to 3000 rpm is the sweet spot on flat ground.