This thread is proof positive that you should not believe what you read on the internet.

 

if you have no idea....shift with speed...leave 1st by 20, leave 2nd by 30, leave 3rd by 40, etc.

lugging is about not down shifting an a manner that results your rpm to drop to the point the engine becomes unstable and your putting stress on your bearings and crank.

 

Tthe 2008 is 2.790 in sixth.

The purpose of a transmission is to match the road speed with the engine speed. Check any torque table, and ride accordingly. The Twin Cam engines make maximum torque at 3500 rpm.

 

X2, good advice.

 

I can only imagine how good that looks in person vs in the picture, and from different angles. My next Harley will be that exact shade.....you sir are a man of impeccable taste!

 

I understand "lugging" to be like several have described here, which is when the engine struggles to accelerate by shaking or jerking. I go by feel and usually keep my bike above 2k RPM in 1st thru 5th gears, and 2100 or so in 6th. My old Evo RK could run all day in 5th gear at 1800 rpm without any hint of lugging.

 

Nice looking bike - how do you like those SE255 cams (thinking of getting them with the Stage II kit), is your engine a 96 or up to a 103, and do you have pinging issues? I heard that can be a problem, but they you have some controller that I presume adjusts fuel and timing.

Anyway I`ve been told 2100 rpm is too low and my broken piston were kind of carboned up over by the fracture so I`m wondering if lugging led to carboning up which led to hot spots which led to.....looking for SE255 cams to go with my 103 big bore since mechanics were elbow deep in my engine anyway replacing one 96 ci piston and cylinder!

 

Throwing in my two cents worth here, but at any speed I never let the rpm drop to the point that I can not get out of a bad spot by just twisting the throttle. If I see something that I need to avoid in a hurry I do not want to be in the position that I will need to waste any amount of time by needing to downshift before I can speed out of the way.....

 

Shhhhhhhhhh, I'm almost a road captain!

 

General rule of thumb for me is to cruise around 2000+ for rpms. I have never had any pinging riding like this personally but it sounds like it is a problem for some. (pinging) I guess maybe I too will increase my use of 5th gear or perhaps cruise at higher speeds....