Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge I'm Teething

I ride where there are hills and mountains and my 06 speedmaster does not feel right doing so. It's kind of hard to explain so I will use the word "LUGS" up them. My bike is stock at the moment but pipes,jets, AI removal kit and new air filter is on the way. I weigh around 200 pounds and somethimes ride two up. But it seems to do this even when I ride solo? It feels like the bike doesn't have enough low end torque and thats why I am starting to order some performance parts. Almost wants to stall. Maybe it's the way I ride and don't ride the gears out enough?? Anyway here is my question. I think the 06 speedy comes with a 16 tooth sprocket if I change it to a sprocket with more teeth it should make it worse. Right? If I change it to a sprocket with less teeth it sould make it better. Right?? Has anybody else have this problem??

JOE

What gear and rpm range are you in? These bikes run best between 4-5k rpms. I'm running an 18 tooth front sprocket and I'm typically in 2nd or 3rd depending on the grade.

Joe,
If it seems like your engine is lugging then it probably is......
Keep the revs up. The engine loves 'em. I rarely leave 3rd gear in the twisties and hills. It may sound like the motor is screaming but that's what they do!

Correct on your question about sprockets. Going up to a 17 or 18 will make it worse, unless you change your driving habits.

Your right about the sprocket teeth but it shouldn't lug. Triumph crusiers are meant to be ridden at higher RPM's than most crusiers. I would say you're not keeping the RPM's up enough. The pipes and jets will help. The AI removal won't change the performance but after you put the pipes and jets on you'll want to remove the snorkel and possibly drill the bottom of the airbox. This will really help.

I am going to do the mods and see what that does and I am going to Rev the heck out of her! Maybe it could also be that the carbs are out of adjustment.

JOE

we can fix all your problems in May , in GA at the rally.

Have you tried DOWNSHIFTING?

Ditto. Learn to ride it like you stole it ......is the byword around here.

When I first bought my bike I was very very conservative with it during the break in period and even thereafter for awhile.

folks in this here August forum advised me to up the revs and thereafter the bike was lots more fun. They really just start to hit their stride at around 3700 to 4000 revs.

Keep your power band in that region relastive to gear choice and degree of hills/twisties etc and that problem will go away.

The first time I cranked her up in fourth gear to pass someone while winding her well past 5500 revs and shifted to fifth it felt like Katie Bar the Door! And I have never yet really approached the rev limiter.

drop a gear man! like Greg said tach that thing up. they don't have alot of low end grunt like a Hog. the engine doesnt really come to life 'til around 5k.

Rev 'er up Joe, use the gears. It starts to get happy around 4500rpm and just gets better. Hit the rev limiter a few times so you know how high it'll go, that'll give you a feel for it.

From reading all the comments I guess I will start revving that sucker up. I did not get much riding time last year. Just past the 500 mile mark so I was vert easy on her. This year I will open her up a little more now that I know better. Thanks everyone!

JOE

You don't mention how many miles the bike has on it, but mine was really tight up to a couple thousand miles. The changes you have planned will make a big difference but these bikes do like to be shifted-especially the America.

This thread brings up an interesting line of thought. My TBA was my first bike. I broke it in right and basically didn't really rev it up much during the first year.

When I put the K&Ns on and rejetted, I also started revving it up more. Well of course the difference in performance was dramatic, but in retrospect it wasn't just because of the mods.

A couple years ago I got a loaner green TA from the dealer and wondered if they didn't tweak the newer models for better output. Of course they didn't. I now realize I had just learned how to run the throttle, getting the most out of the stock configuration. Interesting...