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[Cowboy2]

Dealer here  (Australia) says you should not be in 6th under 110 km/h roughly 65 mph.  I say no way, judging by feel.

Maybe they are right on a break in period, but I am up over 6000 since December, and on the last long flat run my engine is waaaaay happy at 55, sort of 80-90 km/h, close to the 2000 rpm...  This gives far better fuel economy, like I was getting 450 kms (282 miles) out of a tank doing that, about 10% better fuel economy on the flat hiway. 

Any problems running that low, not lugging on a hill, but on the flat?  Around town I often catch myself down in the 1700-1800 rpm cruising along.  Is this a contributor to the rare crank problems, lugging it that low, or is it safe... I know for sure you need to downshift if you are going to Hawg run off, but what about cruising?  2000 rpm safe?  1800?  Or is this a contributor or cause to lower end problems or safe to run after break in...?

Cowboy, happy as a Hawg on my 2011 SESG o&b...

[sadunbar]

Dealer here  (Australia) says you should not be in 6th under 110 km/h roughly 65 mph.  I say no way, judging by feel.

Maybe they are right on a break in period, but I am up over 6000 since December, and on the last long flat run my engine is waaaaay happy at 55, sort of 80-90 km/h, close to the 2000 rpm...  This gives far better fuel economy, like I was getting 450 kms (282 miles) out of a tank doing that, about 10% better fuel economy on the flat hiway. 

Any problems running that low, not lugging on a hill, but on the flat?  Around town I often catch myself down in the 1700-1800 rpm cruising along.  Is this a contributor to the rare crank problems, lugging it that low, or is it safe... I know for sure you need to downshift if you are going to Hawg run off, but what about cruising?  2000 rpm safe?  1800?  Or is this a contributor or cause to lower end problems or safe to run after break in...?

Cowboy, happy as a Hawg on my 2011 SESG o&b...

Lugging can certainly be a contributor to crank failures..  Personally, I try to stay above 2200 - 2250 rpm...expecially in the higher gears.  On the flats, you're probably fine cruising in 6th at 2K, but you'd have to be careful about any sudden acceleration.

[dlaws01]

Most of my riding is somewhere around 2200 to 2500 RPM.  At 75 MPH in 6th gear I'm at roughly 3000 RPM. Usually don't shift into 6th until 65+ mph or it seems to dog out alittle.

[Cowboy2]

You guys are roughly saying the same thing I did on break in, and what the Dealer says...

However, on another thread on fuel economy, someone stated the Manual says to shift into 6th at 55. I have not looked it up yet for my 2011 CVO.  Last weekend, I ran it down a little, in the 2000 rpm range on a my last long haul escorting a Brother home...  Just for fun I was checking the fuel economy, and it was about 10% better, like 450 kms a tank instead of struggling to get over 400.   That is when I started sniffing around the Forum for the answer... Hence the question.

10% fuel economy is not going to add up to upgrading the crank...  I was just wondering if this was a major issue with the crank.  Another HD Mechanic says no, after it was broke in, you would have to lug it way down in the gears as you poured on the throttle, to do it.  But if it is a major wear issue, and explains some reporting bearings going egg shaped and so on,  then better do it higher.

Mine sounds good, runs good, at that 2000 rpm cruising along, and then I got such good fuel economy I sat up and too notice: So here is the Topic...  I am open to more input and discussion on the matter, and that is why I am asking your advice..  If I needed to do up an engine (never have with all three of my twin cams) I would upgrade the crank anyway, as I like the lower rpm sound. I miss that low end cackle like my 66 Shovelhead had some 40 years ago..

Thanks for your input, we are way out on the Last Frontier here, you Guys would have more twin cams in one State than our entire Nation... 

[kraut]

as 6'th is undergeared I do not use it for any sort of serious acceleration - at any speed. Rpms below 2000 are acceptable cruising on flat terrain - but if you wish to accelerate shift down before you do so.

The crank will not suffer from low rpms - it suffers most from downshifting at high rpms.