Shifting Gears - Harley-Davidson

This discussion is going to be geared (pun intended) to folks on Harley-Davidsons with a push rod motor. The truth is, most of us shift way too early, which is to say we are not turning nearly enough RPM (revolutions per minute) before shifting. Most riders say they shift when it sounds like they should shift. That sound is based on the noise of the engine. Of course Harley-Davidson engines are by design very noisy, especially in the top end of the engine. There are a lot of moving parts and the top part of the engine is aluminum. With the composition of the top of the engine, there is very little to isolate this noise. Also, we are sitting right on top of the noisiest part of the engine, which makes it sound louder than it might actually be, compared to the rest of the engine. So, shifting by the sound leads us to shift way too early.

Lugging a engine simply means running in too high of a gear for the speed you are traveling. It causes the engine to have to work much harder and causes quite a bit more strain on the mechanical components to move the weight of the bike than it should. Lugging an engine can, over time, cause premature wear of many of the engine components, mostly in the bottom. The most common issue is the main bearing. It can result in having to rebuild an engine much sooner than you should have to. The irony is that most people that shift quick or before the bike is turning enough RPM's think they are babying and therefore taking care of their bike.

On the other end of the spectrum, over revving or running your RPM's too high before shifting can cause a lot of the same concerns. Over revving the engine can increase heat and cause unwanted premature wear on the engine.

We are looking for that sweet spot to shift gears. So, time for some personal reflection. How many RPM's is your engine turning when you shift gears? If you aren't sure, I encourage you to pay attention on your next ride, because not only does it matter, it can totally change the way you ride!

Obviously, your shift point should change based on what you are doing. There is a big difference in the load or demand placed on the engine if you are casually riding through town, stop light to stop light or merging on the interstate and trying to get ahead of traffic. As a general rule, if you are cursing at a steady speed, your RPM's should stay around 3,000 RPM's. Therefore, when you are accelerating you should rev to a point where after you shift, the RPM's drop to around that 3,000 range or higher if you are continuing to accelerate.

Personally, I have found that if I'm riding through town and just shifting gears under little load and accelerating with the normal flow of traffic stop light to stop light, I shift around 3,500 to 4,000 RPM. That range is determined by how quickly traffic is accelerating. If I am merging on the interstate, I'm usually shifting around 4,000 to 4,500 RPM. In more aggressive riding situations, that number might even be higher. If you've ever had your bike dyno tested or seen a dyno sheet, you will notice that most Harley-Davidson's do not hit peak torque or horsepower until a little over 5,000 RPM. Obviously, you don't want to push the engine to it's peak power output every time you run through the gears, but if you are shifting at 2500 to 3000 RPM's not only are you causing premature wear on your engine, you are missing out on all of the torque and horsepower that makes Harley-Davidson's so much fun!

I speak to people on a consistent basis that are wanting to do performance upgrades on their bikes. I always ask about their riding styles and when they shift. Often times, I find they are shifting around 3,000 RPM's. I recommend before you spend money on performance upgrades, turn more RPM's before shifting and utilize the power the bike already makes before spending money on additional power that you aren't going to use.

Finally, we have to talk about sixth gear. If you are still riding a bike with a 5 speed, go trade today! I'm just kidding, but really, that extra gear makes a world of difference! It's important to remember, sixth gear is an overdrive gear. It's meant for interstate, or high speed cruising. On relatively flat road, on most Harley-Davidson's at 65 to 70 mph, you should probably still be in fifth. That is especially true if you are in traffic or are pulling out to pass someone in a cage (car). I usually find myself in sixth when running a steady speed of 70 or above and turning 2800 RPM's. Again, trying to keep close to that 3000 number, but also, I like to save a little fuel when I can.

I guess the perfect summary is to ride it like you stole it! Your bike will appreciate it and you will smile a lot more!