Can you rev an engine to death? - Harley Forum

03fxst · #1 11-08-2007, 09:47 AM

Hey guys
Just got back from the Lone Star Rally in Texas. Great time, beautiful place and warm weather. I spent a few nights down on The Strand where the folks seem intent on beating their bikes to death. There is an endless procession of bikes rolling slowly through the crowd. They stop and twist the throttle, pushing the engine to the rev limiter where it emits a painful ga, ga, ga, ga, ga that seems to be valves flapping like roofing shingles in a hurricane. Many of these bikes are spectacular examples of American Iron stretched or chopped to perfection with massive power plants, fat ass rear ends, gleaming chrome and head truning paint schemes. I'm not talking burnouts either, these engines are howling and banging either in neutral or with clutch levers pulled all the way into the bar. I was tempted to reach out and hit the kill switch to protect those beautiful machines. I'm no wrench, but that can't be good can it. What are these throttle happy people doing to the engines?

94flhtcu · #2 11-08-2007, 10:40 AM

First of all, showin off. Raising the idle in traffic for a few seconds is great, cuz yer gettin a burst of engine oil to cool off the hot, idling parts. Quick blips are not good. I do let it wind up goin down the road, but not sittin in traffic like at an event.

Basically, they're wasting money. Sounds like they have enuff to burn anyhow.

#3 11-08-2007, 12:13 PM

Sure thing '03. Where bikers gather I hear plenty of needless revving goin' on. As '94 said, raising the idle while sitting in traffic is beneficial and I do so regularly. Revving the engine to the limiter under no load is stupid. Over revving a Harley engine is very non- beneficial to engine longevity. Low end torque is where it's at with Harley, yet I hear so many revvin' em up like they think they're on a Jap bike, (Whole different deal, those thrive on RPM- their astounding horsepower is based on being able to rev to 13,000- 14,000 with ease). Ride safe, Sincerely: Shovelmike.

#4 11-12-2007, 09:15 PM

Yup, No good for your motor. Premature engine death. I also raise my Idle a tade when stopped in traffic or moving a bit to slow. If stopped for more then a few minutes I will kill the bike and use my feet.

#5 12-09-2007, 01:34 PM

Ever go to a drag race and hear a driver miss a shift, Then a loud boom after? That loud boom was the sound of their engine blowing up.

#6 12-31-2007, 07:27 AM

It sounds to me like they were simply being "bikers".

03fxst · #7 01-05-2008, 12:54 PM

BcknBLK
Did you mean they were just being bankers? Cause the bikers I know care for their rides. Change the oil before it's due, wrench when and where they can, or get someone else to do it if they can't. And ride, ride, ride. When they ride they ride hard. Twisting it up on the open road to feel the power and hear the howl is the heart stopping thrill they chase. Twisting it up to the rev limiter in neutral just to hear the valves bark, bang and pop sounds like a pretty expensive bit of fun. But hey, if ya got the dough give er a go. To each his or her own...

lowrider01 · #8 01-05-2008, 09:00 PM

Yeah i hear alot of over reving.....makes me draw up in knotts....especially in the burn out pit after the tire blows they keep it limited out...not mine,like you said..to each teir own,......now don't get me wrong.i do love to hear a v twin wind out,makes my heart really thump,but out on the open road...L8R....knees up rubber down

DesertSpeed · #9 01-06-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shovelmike

Sure thing '03. Where bikers gather I hear plenty of needless revving goin' on. As '94 said, raising the idle while sitting in traffic is beneficial and I do so regularly. Revving the engine to the limiter under no load is stupid. Over revving a Harley engine is very non- beneficial to engine longevity. Low end torque is where it's at with Harley, yet I hear so many revvin' em up like they think they're on a Jap bike, (Whole different deal, those thrive on RPM- their astounding horsepower is based on being able to rev to 13,000- 14,000 with ease). Ride safe, Sincerely: Shovelmike.

So what's wrong with running a Harley up to 8 or 9 grand?

No, I don't do it in neutral or with the cluthch pulled. I've hit the r/l a few times in first and once in second.

lowrider01 · #10 01-06-2008, 01:54 PM

nothing really wrong with it i guess.your bike do with it what you want,just seems silly to me to hit the r/l in neutral or no load on the bike....to each their own,what ever floats yer boat and all that stuff........as for me ,i'll keep mine down to a decent roar and good rumble....i like my pistons and rods inside my crankcase......