When to shift, when not to shift. Trying not to lug it.

[WhiteFeather]

Reading this thread put me at ease. Coming off a Shadow 1100 I felt like I was running my new duc a little tight. It seems that my bike likes 4,000RPM a whole lot, she'll tolorate 3,000 with just a little vibration but anything below two and the valves start to get sticky or so it seems to me. I actually stalled the bike I test drove trying to pull out in 1st at 1,500RPM. Again probably sounds silly to you guys but my Shadow would drive all day without any throttle applied. And cruising was down around 2,000rpm.

Still this is the greatest bike I have ever owned.

[Redux]

I know exactly what you're talking about. It take a bit of getting used to. The other thing that's quite different with the Duc is when the clutch engages. For quick high speed shifts when at the track, the clutch engages/disengages when the lever is almost all the way out. Great for "flick shifts" but quite unlike many other bikes. It's easy to stall on the take off until you get used to it. My other bike is a Harley Springer Softail and EVERYTHING is very different. It's important for me to go through a little "pre-flight" mental work before taking off and cruising the two bikes to be comfortable with the differences and that seems to work well. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!!!