I've been riding a GoldWing trike for some time but I'm new to the HD TriGlide. The guys at the dealership where I bought it said not to get into 6th gear till I get around 65 or 70. But I'm finding that at 60 in 5th gear I'm running around 3000 rpm but drop back to 2500 or so at that speed in 6th. I'm assuming cruising at 60 or even 55 in 6th (2200 rpm) would be OK as long as the engine isn't lugging.

It's been a long time since I rode a v-twin and am more comfortable with it being under 3000 rpm. Is that wrong headed? If you were running 60 what would you do? (Obviously depends on hills, wind, load, etc.)

 

3,000 rpm is the start of the sweet spot, I thought nothing about running along in 5th gear at 3,000 rpm and never messed with 6th gear until 65 - 70 mph.

 

Ditto the above post.

 

Even on a dyna (lighter bike) I never use 6th under 65 mph reguardless on how flat it is, especially when it was stock. Keep it breathing!

 

Well that's kinda what I expected. I've just gotten too used to the GW 6 cylinder growling around at low rpm.

 

As M3 said try to ride in the sweet spot, 2800 to 3000 rpm on wifes TG, your milage will be better also.

 

I go into 6th gear at 60mph. Thats around 2500rpm and the trike runs great. If I was in steep hills or the like then I would put her in 5th. With the gearing on the trike and the stage one that I have 2500rpm is a sweet spot for mine>

 

I've made a few changes to my '11 TG over the last year (but still have stock cams and gearing). Prior, I did not really spend much time below 2800 RPM in 6th.

However, now I am comfortable cruising at 2400 RPM in 6th. It is not lugging, has plenty of power with very little throttle, and if I downshift my MPG goes down (the PowerVision instant MPG is a nice feature ) Of course, if I want to get on it, I will downshift, but we have quite a few country roads that 55-65 mph is a nice speed and 6th pulls it quite fine.

In fact, today when I was doing some fine-tuning to my map, I was actually thinking that slightly taller gearing would be advantageous ...

 

I have always been the old ball in the bunch, but I like to keep mine below 3000rpm (2000-2500 is where I like it) anytime I can. I cruise (flat ground) at 55mph in 6th all the time. Keeping my rpm's low I believe is why I'm getting 42-46 two up riding in warm weather. My last bike was a 1996 Ultra Classic and I was getting 48-50mpg with the same riding style. I have always believed in keeping rpm's low (without lugging).

 

I agree... below 3000 rpm and I get with two up 45 mph on flat highway riding.