JimTjr and this post is the best answer. I just traded my 08 UC for a 2010 RK. I'm having to get used to not having a Tach. I listen to my motor! If I'm riding along on a level road, I feel comfortable running 55 in 5th gear. I can also start up a slight hill and have good throttle response and not shift down. also on a level road, I can shift into 6th at 60 MPH and feel comfortable, but if I start up a hill, I shift back to 5th. I'm riding solo! I have the benefit of riding along with my wife on her 2010 SG Trike. when she is cruising at 55 she is turning 2500 RPM's in 5th gear. If she shift's to 6th gear at 55, her RPM's drops to about 2200 RPM's. Long story short, I like the way my motor sounds between 2200 and 2800 RPM's. I do like what the Moco did with the 5th gear on the 2010. No more 5th gear whine.

 

What type of exhaust to you have? I like for my 96" & rineharts tell me which gear i should be in. Don't lug the motor & remember, "loud pipes save lives!" one lower gear usally feels like 12 added horsepower. Quoted from "aim."

 

My `9 RG doesn`t ping. I use at least 91 octane and if I would hear it pinging it would be in to the dealer for a tune. In all seriousness, pinging is very detrimental for an engine. On the run home from work there is a good size hill that I can take at 65 mph no problem. Never heard it ping going up it. We use this same hill to test trucks for overheating problems.

 

I have an 09....at 55 in 6th my bike sounds like its falling apart....I need 60 or better..I have no tach...its all feel to me....you should just know (feel) if you are in the right gear.

 

Just remember the numbers in the manual are to be used as a guide. They are not hard fast rules on when to shift. You shift when the bike asks for it. If you are on a flat smooth road and cruising at 55, 6th gear is just fine. I can't tell you how many time I have tried for 7th. Shiftin g is all about feel, riding style and current conditions.

Besides, if you have to use the speedometer or the tach to know when to shift, I'm suprised your not dead. Quit looking at your gauges and watch where your going.

 

60 plus for me

 

my 09 will to with no problems at all.

 

Since I added my stage 1 it pulls 6th gear just fine with the 2 of us at 55, but major climb or......... I hit 5th!

 

I hit 65-70 before shifting into 6th gear.

 

On the 96 CI engines the lug point is 2500 RPM's. If you stay at that or above your fine. Let your tach be your guide. For me 2500 on an 08 SG with a 31 tooth trans pulley 2500 rpms is about 66 mph. I use my tach to shift most of the time trying to stay above 25K and I find I get my best gas milage that way too.