I have an 09 Road King Classic - a buddy of mine told me that unless you're going 70+ miles per hour you should not be in 6th gear. He has a mechanic friend who said the "pin" would eventually be damaged if you did. Just wanted to ask if anybody else has heard this before? If not hopefully this can be an FYI for all of us.

 

Remind your buddy that the bikes have differences according to year. If it were an 08 and older, then I would say he is almost right (good at 65mph). However, there were changes to your bike to improve on the 6th gear usage. You are are good at 60 mph +. I use 6 gear sometimes if I am just on a flat road and cruising 55mph. Notice the manual recommends upshifting at 55mph and downshift to 5th at 50mph.....but that is just what the manual says

 

I wanted to mention that I am only 160lbs. 6th gear might not pull so good at 55-60 if your a bigger dude.

 

As mentioned above, the gearing is different from the early years with the 6sp to the later ones I think. I am running about 2700 rpm at 75. 2500 at 70. I believe if you stay over 2K in the RPM range your not lugging it. However I usually don't go into 6th until 70+,, I like hearing the pipe!
Even on my '10, I doubt I would run 6th at 55mph though,, unless it was a LONG flat section of highway. And I am not a "Bigger Dude" LOL, only 180 lbs...

 

The gearing on the 09's and up allow you to use 6th at lower speeds than previous years. I use it at 55mph two up regularly. My stock 96 pulled fine and my 103 stage II pulls grades in 6th and will accelerate upgrade in 6th. At 70mph I am at about 2500 rpms.

 

Never heard that. I usually don't shift into any gear until I'm around 3000rpms. 70 is 3000 for my bike so that's when I shift to 6th then it drops to 2500.

 

On my 2010 Ultra limited, right around 68 mph it is at 3,000 rpms. But I have rode it under 65 mph in 6th gear. It really all depends in what kind of riding circumstance your in and if the motor and transmission are not under powering.

 

Yep, diffrent years diffrent gearing. I am one of the "bigger guys" and I like to keep my RPM's above 2700, regardless of speed.

 

09 Ultra. Never use 6th under 75mph. These 96's like to run.

 

09 RKC, I never use 6th below 70, seems there's too much lugging before that...