What are your preferred shifting speeds?

[jtascone]

Coming from a Honda ACE Tourer, which seems to like shifting at lower rpm's in the lower gears, it's taking some getting used to exactly when to shift my 1500 Nomad without a tach. I've found that I am shifting 1st to 2nd at 20mph, 2nd to 3rd at 38mph, 3rd to 4th at 50mph, and 4th to 5th at 65mph. Just wondering what speeds you all find yourself shifting at with your Nomads.

Especially curious as to what gear you choose when cruising at 60mph. For me, I have found myself usually preferring 4th gear for most of my back road twisties at 60mph, but find myself wanting to shift into 5th for the lower rpm's on straight flat ground. Am I lugging the engine too much by running in 5th gear at 60mph? Thanks. Have really found a wealth of info on this sight so far which has really helped speed up the process of learning the ins and outs of this new ride.

[Bud2rat]

I have a 2001 model and your shift points are very similiar to my shift points. It's hard for me to keep mine down at 55-60 mph. I generally run 8-10 mph over the posted speed limit on the main roads. I keep it down while in towns.

[Sin City Stan]

Shift points will vary depending on the diameter of the rear tire and what type of engine mods have been done. They are not set in stone.

[jtascone]

Stock rear tire, stock engine everything, V&H Dual baggers.

[Navigator]

I mostly do it by sound and feel which I don't really like having to do on my 07 Nomad and my 02 HD Super Glide. That why I'll be getting a tach for both of them. I just haven't found the right ones yet.

I just rode a friend's 2011 Screamin' Eagle CVO Street Glide to and in and around Sturgis and really monitored the tach.

[hammer]

I had a tach that started to fail so I took it off and may not replace it. After a while, you get to know and feel the bike and where the shift points are.
60-65mph for me is the hardest spot. It does not hurt the bike to keep the revs up so when in doubt, I rev it out.

[MAS Tequila]

What conditions, a leisurely cruise or tearing it up?

Around town I usually shift early to keep the rpm's and noise down.

MT

[hammer]

I don't think my bike is considered noisy so around town I still keep the revs up. In the twistys revs up. Low and slow on secondary roads it is sometimes difficult to avoid lugging in that 55 to 60 range but still default to 4th gear. My gas mileage is good so I prefer not to lug the bike at any time.

[Vulcan Bill]

I shift by engine sound and driving conditions. Liston to your exhaust note. It will tell when it's time to shift.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by Vulcan Bill

I shift by engine sound and driving conditions. Liston to your exhaust note. It will tell when it's time to shift.

When I was younger, I knew a guy who could fine tune a bike engine strictly by listening to the exhaust. I always thought he was using some kind of voodoo to do it. But then one day " took a long time", My ears tuned to the exhaust. It's amazing what you can tell about the way that bike is running by listening to the exhaust. Those exhaust pipes actually "hum" when they are happy. Some good advice VB.

[VulcanE]

What the others have said.................. and also when you shift, do it quick and deliberate, and the shifts will be smoother.

[duffy]

My shift points (1500 Classic FI) are quite similar to yours, maybe just a tad lower. When I'm playing the shift points are about 4500 RPM. I don't believe I've ever found the rev limiter.

[Loafer]

Originally Posted by duffy

My shift points (1500 Classic FI) are quite similar to yours, maybe just a tad lower. When I'm playing the shift points are about 4500 RPM. I don't believe I've ever found the rev limiter.

I found the limiter at (indicated) 108 mph in 5th gear.

[Vulcan Bill]

Originally Posted by Loafer

I found the limiter at (indicated) 108 mph in 5th gear.

Had a few beers in ya, did ya! Mine topped out at 95 without hitting the limiter before adding the big 3. Now it will reach 105 but still doesn't hit the limiter. I've hit it several times in 1st gear.

[Sin City Stan]

Originally Posted by Loafer

I found the limiter at (indicated) 108 mph in 5th gear.

That doesn't seem to pencil out.