Sportster trike oil temp/gearing question

[GrannyPuckett]

I found this forum while "googling" oil temp issues. Just joined and am glad I found you! I have a 2007 883/1200 Sportster with Roadsmith conversion purchased in 2010 and have logged 19,000 miles since (plus another 6,000 on my Honda Shadow). The Shadow is great but I Love my trike! I'm in need of a sanity check from experienced trikers as I'm getting conflicting suggestions from two different custom/repair shops as to oil temp.

Just returned from a 900 mile trip Cincinnati-Buckhannon, VA via the scenic route. On trip out, my husband and I (he rides a 2011 Heritage Softail) took route 33 all the way across West Virginia. Needless to say, that leg of trip was mostly a 3rd and 4th gear ride. At under 50 even climbing mountains, my oil temp topped at 240. Not bad. However, at higher speeds - 55 and up temp can get to 275 and that makes me nervous. I'm 65 and not at all mechanically inclined (neither is my husband) so some sound advice would be a blessing.

Trike currently does not have an oil cooler and I plan to get one before we make a planned trip out to Oneonta, NY later this summer, but I'm wondering if I also need some "gearing" tweaks. My bike is not happy under 2500 RPM and is generally running in the 3000 RPM range - closer to 3800 at 65). Shop I usually take the trike to (folks who did the conversion and sold me the trike) are great mechanics but definitely "old school) and don't like to have their recommendations second-guessed. Hubby prefers a different shop with a more open-minded owner and the two are in conflict. For example, MY shop is pushing to use 70wt oil! We both had an oil change and switched to Lucas synthetic before this trip to see if that made a difference - none seen for my trike though the Softail is running cooler.

When the 1200 conversion was done last year, no gearing changes were made. At my 15,000 mile service in Feb, in response to my "let's get those RPMs down" MY shop changed a pulley (don't know exactly what it was as receipt just says "pulley"). All my gears got taller EXCEPT 5th - still running at 3800 RPM at 65 and am always reaching for another gear at higher speeds.

While most of our riding to date has been in the hill country in southern OH and northern KY, we are doing more longer trips so more running at higher speeds.

Questions - #1 is that RPM range in the expected range for a Sportster? Are some gearing tweaks available or recommended or should I just get an oil cooler and hope for the best? #2 - as to an oil cooler, any recommendations as to what's best suited for a Sportster?

Hubby is suggesting just getting a bigger bike and starting over, but I love my Sportster - it's nimble, comfortable and just the right size for a 65 year old granny!

Thanks! - Judy

[grapenuts]

This my opinion and is worth what you are paying for it. First, check your speedometer against a GPS. If they changed a pulley, your speedometer is off. If only a pulley was changed, I don't see how first thru fourth could be affected but not fifth.
3800 rpm is not excessively high but that comes in at 65 mph (I used to go all day at 80mph/4000 rpm on my Buell). If you want to cruise faster than that I think the easiest way to lower rpm is with taller tires.
I would use a good 20W-50 motorcycle-specific synthetic oil. If you want to add an oil cooler there are several out there. My Buell came with one and you may be able to adapt a used one to your bike.

[sandrooney]

Mine is not a sportster but I changed my primary gearing. I was going the other way but it worked great. Check and see if someone makes different primary gearing for a sportster.
SR

[ladyff1481]

The guy who converted my 2007 Sportster 883/1200 Roadsmith could probably answer your questions. Call Joe at Deublers in Sayre PA. (google it) I loved my Sportster Trike! (Traded up in Oct. for another Roadsmith.)

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard Judy. Oil cooler will be a nice addition. Jags makes some nice ones. 20W-50 motorcycle-specific synthetic oil is a must because it does not break down from the temps that you are stating. Don't have a sporty so can not help other wise