I did not want to "steal" the thread on Tri Glide Mileage, which I found to be very interesting, so I figured I would start a new one. I read some of the posts in which some say their mileage is better if they don't use 6th. gear. Please help me with that. I honestly do not know much about motors and such, but it was my understanding that lower rpm's would improve the fuel economy. The owners manual for my 2011 Tri Glide suggests shifting into 6th. gear at 55 mph. When I do this my rpm's drop to about 27,000 at 60 mph. Although I am not happy with my fuel economy at this point, I will wait until I get more miles on it before I look for ways to increase the mpg. Thanks for your replies.

 

Not really, if your in 6th gear and your running along at 60 mph, down hill or level ground you might be ok, but when you hit an uphill grade your going to have to twist that throttle to get up the hill, your dumping more fuel into a lugging motor and its working hard.
same scenario, you hit that hill doing 60 in 5th gear, you still have to twist the throttle a bit, but your motor does not have to work nearly as hard to get up the hill..and uses less fuel to do so. the difference is like takingoff from a stop in 1st gear, you could do it in 3rd gear but it sure would be nearly as easy.
i do not run in 6th gear until i get to 70 mph, at 70 mph on my bike the motor strains a little less on hills, below 70 i keep it in 6th.

 

I quess I have the same question. I'm doing a little self experimentation on that very subject, right now. I ride about 60mi a day on a 70mph freeway, with various grades. I plan on doing 1000 mi. w/o using 6th, then 1000, using 6th. Maybe I will satisfy my curiosity then. I'm at 670 , no 6th, now. so another 2 1/2 weeks, maybe 3 and I'll know for myself.

 

I have not had my bike on any long trips but when I ride at 55 or higher I'm in sixth gear with the cruise control on.

There aren't a lot of hills around here to load the engine so it pulls 55 in sixth just fine. When I get to a lower speed zone I simply downshift.

 

I think the confusion is over the 09 and 10 versus the 11 TriGlide. The 11 TriGlide is geared so that sixth is a useable gear. The 09 and 10 were geared to high to use sixth gear very much and so they would get better fuel mileage in fifth gear. Generally, if you keep under 3000 rpm, you will get better gas mileage than if you go above 3000 rpm.

 

+1. Well stated. I have an 09 and wouldn't even consider using 6th gear unless I am on the freeway and doing 70+ mph. This year probably will be different as over the winter M3 and I replaced the 32 tooth pulley with the 30 tooth in both our TG.

 

Mike, you will be very pleased with that pulley change!

 

The pulley change is amazing. I had the chance to really feel it out the other week while V-tuning both trikes. To the OP's question, as dw2169 said the old 09 - 10 gearing is terrible. Harley is one of those companies who seem to screw things up a couple times before they get it right, the gearing change is a perfect example. Before the change I would have never considered shifting into 6th gear until a minimum of 70 mph, now I'm comfortable shifting into 6th at 55 - 60 mph with the change in gearing. As we all know fuel mileage is greatly controlled by throttle opening. On a 09 - 10 Triglide if one is to shift into 6th gear to soon you will be using more throttle opening just to pull that gear which will not only cause the engine to work harder it will also kill fuel mileage.

 

+1 on that. My 2011 TG pulls great at 55mph in 6th grear. Agree that the new pulley change for the 11 TG makes it work well. I would not hesitate to put in 6th at 55 mph on an 11 TG. Halfbreed, great question and don't hold back on using 6th.

 

Thanks for all the replies to my question. Now I fully understand what was being said on the thread dealing with fuel economy. So, I now feel comfortable using 6th. gear over 55 mph but I will keep the rpm's no lower than 2500 and try not to exceed 3000 unless I need the extra power for hills etc.. This forum is simply fantastic! It appears to me that everybody is willing to help others. This is also what I found on the touring section of this forum. Also, I have bought and sold many accessories etc. on HD Forums and have always had a good experience, unlike what I have expereinced on e-bay!