RPM while cruising at 80mph

[1olbull]

Sonny, settle down, Amigo!
Many do not realize tis worse to lug a motor than to Revit.

 

[Jvheli]

I love the tour model but they seriously need to regear it. I guess I am opting for a 103 road glide with the 6th speed. I rent them when I am out west in Phoenix training and they are smooth as silk at 80mph through the desert. I sure wish Triumph had put a sixth speed OD on these babies!

I owned 2 late model Road Glides and can tell you the rpms are pretty much the same as the rocket at the speeds you mentioned.. What is diferent is the Harley has a rubber mounted engine, floorboards, and handlebars. Also surprising is 6th gear on a Harley is a 1:1 ratio and 5th gear on the rocket actual overdriven!

Ive owned 2 Road Glides. I can tell you by putting around 70,000 miles between the two of them that the rpm at 70-80 is quite close to the Rocket (I have 2 Roadsters). But I agree that the rubber mounted engine, rubber isolated floorboards and handlebars make it arguably a smoother tourer, altho I confess ive never ridden the Rocket Tourer.

6th gear on a Harley Touring has a gear ratio of 1 to 1 in 6th gear, the Rocket in 5th is actual greater than 1;1(overdriven). Im sure like every engineered machine, what you buy is a compromise.

 

[Joesmoe]

A number of threads here over the years lamenting lack of overdrive. Join the club, and say the Serenity Prayer each night before bed.

Repeat after me, "Lord, grant me the courage . . ."

 

[Dawg68]

What the hell have Triumph engineers done? High torque, high HP but wrong gearing!

I personally think the Triumph engineers have done a pretty good job with the rocket...thus I own two and I wouldn’t change a thing, this includes adding a sixth gear.

Many do not realize tis worse to lug a motor than to Revit.

Wise words Sir.

 

[1olbull]

I just don't get it!
A bout 3,000 rpm at 80 mph ain't bad for cruising . . . And you're just below the power band if ya need the grease!

 

[Claviger]

Your also riding on (or very very near) the torque peak, it's almost like they designed it to cruise at 75-80 mph or something

 

[Willyone]

OP next time you rent a Harley take peak at the tach. My 2012 Road King (103 6 speed) is at +,-3000 RPMs at 80 MPH.

 

[albertaduke]

Really no place to squeeze one in.

@rocket scientics you probably know these transmission babies inside out I guess, so what is your opinion on the slamming/ knocking of 4th and 5th from 2500 up when under load ,I can feel the knocks in the pegs last time we changed the # 4 gear and a cir-clip between 4th and 5th seemed to work but before I could test appropriately the bike burned in the garage and now I have same problem with this 2012 roadster... your opinion is highly regarded up here in kaleden as i am going to get this situation fixed again by getting my wrench to redo the same procedure but I would like to let him know your views. just in case.

 

[BigKel]

3000rpm is 1000 under half throttle on mine, so there’s a fix for your problem. Get the engine worked and increase rev limit to 8000

 

[barbagris]

Hell - My 1994 Diesel Land Rover revs higher than the R3. Just. About 50rpm. Mind you 80mph is pushing it.

Could the R3 engine support an overdrive? - YES.
Would folk know how to really use an overdrive? - ime of Overdrive on Classic Cars - NOPE!.

My experience of "how others ride" is limited to the UK, Germany and Spain.
Most "cruiser/tourer" riders lug the engine in far too tall a gear. I admit to the fault occasionally when I am tired.
Engines work "best" at max torque. Like Rob says - is that a coincidence rpm:mph figure?.

Most cars (until recently anyway) can support a higher gear being used because they have a fecking gert flywheel. Old Guzzi and BMW owners know the feel too.
Notable to get more fuel efficient cars - they have far more revvy engines.