I've owned 4 Harleys. An '01 1200 and 3 '07s with a 6 speed. Lately I've been riding my current bike, an '07 Streetbob and even at 65 I kinda like leaving it in 5th gear for a while. I like the bike revved a little, seems like I'm more in control. I'm constantly shopping bikes, even when I own one, and have a tendency to go for '07s and later (I know, Dynas introduced the 6 speed in '06) because of them having 6 speeds.
Besides my Sportster I've never ridden a Harley with 5 speeds.
I've heard that the 5 speeds are geared differently so I assume that 5th gear is geared higher than that on a 6 speed.
For those of you who've had experience on both did you think having the 6th gear was THAT important? Did it make a HUGE difference?
Does anyone miss having a 5 speed?

 

I have one of each. When I am on the interstate with my 5 speed Fatboy, I am always wanting one more gear up. Don't much like 5th gear above 70 on a Harley. On my '07 RoadKing, I don't shift into 6th until about 65-70, and that seems perfect. My RK is geared very high; I'll cruise at 40MPH in 3rd gear. Thinking about going for slightly lower gearing.

Only thing I don't like about the 6 speed is that, unlike the 5 speed, you can't tell what gear your in sometimes, and I always forget. With the 5 speed, you can tell by the "feel" of the motor what gear you're in.

 

On the Ultra Classic you get a little green dash light that indicates '6' when in that gear. I generally wait till about 70 to shift into top gear. Great on the Interstate with cruise control engaged.

 

1 through 5 is the same ratio on both trannies ( 5th is 1:1 in both ) 6th is actually the overdrive at 1:.86 , also why you should stay in 5th under 65 . That 6th is meant to be an open flat highway hauler .

 

I didn't mean to imply that I DON'T use my 6th gear. I guess my question is: Is the 5th gear on a 5 speed that much higher than that on a 6 speed that you don't feel you need the 6th speed?
I think Dickey answered my question. And I agree, sometimes I don't know if I'm in 4th or 5th. And I believe all 6 speeds have that little green light.

Just read Twizted's reply.

If they're both geared the same then I definitely see the need for 6th. I always assumed that everything was geared a slight bit higher on a 5 speed.

 

I always shift up to 6th mainly because I dontknow what gear I'm in.. Then I tend to shift back down to 5th after I realize I am in 6th and boggin down goin 55.. 6th is nice at highway speeds 65+...

 

Twisted, are you sure? I was always told the HD 6 is not an overdrive tranny. That 6th is 1:1.

Just rented a Bagger and the 6th gear @ 80 mph is 3000 rpm same as 5th on my 98 Softail.


Looks like the SE 6 has .86 but is the standard OEM 6 a 1:1?

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/prima...r-ratio-2.html

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ns-ratios.html

 

I stay off the highways as much as I can, and when I do travel that way I keep it around 65-70. Still, sixth gear was kind of useless to me so I geared it lower with a 30T sprocket. I can still cruise on the slabs without a problem but it's made the majority of my riding much better.

According to the program I have, both 5 and 6 speeds are 1:1. Don't know about the SE.

 

Read both those post's and they are laboring under false assumptions the 6 sp is a 5 box with slightly higher ratio 6th gear added as an overdrive . The numbers can be played with depending on what chart you look at for ratios . Get down actual gear teeth count the 6 is higher .

Harely may have been dicking with things I haven't heard about again on the newer bikes it doesn't make any sense to have 6 gears and the final is still 1:1 , all that means is more shifting and no gains at higher road speeds . That is unless they did it to stop the bearing problem they where having with bike being lugged in 6th overdrive ?????

It would also kill any interchangeability between models and I can't see the MoCo doing that for manufacturing reasons , too many variations to deal with on the production line .

I'll have to do digging for the newer models you got me curious now what they may be playing with here .

 

Only thing I don't like about the 6 speed is that, unlike the 5 speed, you can't tell what gear your in sometimes, and I always forget. With the 5 speed, you can tell by the "feel" of the motor what gear you're in.[/QUOTE]


Wish I could tell I'm always trying to change up to 6th on a 5 speed box.