evidently... this is why I have the huge desire to know what rpm = speed.

Short of buying a tach for my Road King I have know way of knowing for sure. What I know for sure is I do not want to lug my motor. It was much easier on my Street Glide with a tach but she is gone and I have forgotten the #'s.

The last few posts have directly answered my question, and now I know how to run my motor properly without risking the extra stress on the crank. As with everything I own there will be a time the crank will receive a trued and welded treatment, gear drive cams and it will be one nasty son of a bitch...until then I want it to be trouble free.

I hope this thread has helped a few like it has me, lugging a V-twin motor is a big no no. On my break in ride in the Mountains of PA I was riding with my uncle on his new to him 2002 Ultra Classic, he was pulling passes in 5th when I was in 3rd... 2 Up? He argued he was not doing any harm. I would not have pulled that pass on my Wide Glide with a built nasty 95' solo in 5th gear.

 

My huge desire is to keep my motor together... it really is a big deal. I can see how you fellas with tach's would not understand.

 

The earliest I ever go into 6th is at 70 mph - if I'm cruising solo, on flat terrain, with no headwind...and if I need to pass / overtake, it's back to 5th (you can run up to 80 mph in 5th and the rpm is only at @ 3,541 - 3,641 depending on your bike year: mine is the lower, yours the higher).

Realistically, I am staying in 5th at 70 mph (@ 3,100 rpm), and don't go up to 6th until cruising at a steady 75 mph+

I keep my bike @ 2,800 - 3,000 rpm when cruising, regardless of my speed - definitely not lugging the motor there...

 

To answer your question:

in 6th @ 65 mph = @ 2,507 rpm
in 6th @ 60 mph = @ 2,314 rpm

conversely,

in 5th @ 65 mph = @ 2,959 rpm
in 5th @ 60 mph = @ 2,731 rpm

you can see the rpms in 5th at those speeds are not too high - don't be afraid to wind that puppy up!

FYI, numbers sourced from the following chart: http://www.andrewsproducts.com/PDF_f...osMPG-pg28.pdf

 

Wildcard, stop worrying so much and ride your bike. Your motor will talk to you and tell you when you need a better gear.
As far as lugging goes, most don't even understand what lugging actually is. It occurs when you open the throttle in a gear too high. Like for instance, going wide open throttle in fifth gear from 20 mph. The motor will likely buck because it's being lugged.
Simply cruising at low rpm's does not constitute 'lugging'.

 

Me too, exactly the same results. 70/2500, 80/3000.

 

 

 

Agree, most people here do not understand what lugging means.

 

Me three 2012 Limited.