Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Dyna gearing

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 2, 2011 | 05:18 PM
  #1  
Shredding rubber's Avatar
Shredding rubber
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 8
From: Right about the middle
Default Dyna gearing

So what are my options. In my mustang I put 3.90 gears in the rear end and it now hauls ***. I want to do something similar to my dyna. Can I get a bigger rear sprocket or do I have to change the drive gear. It's an 08 dyna. With the 6th gear it rev really low at speed. I wouldn't mind if it revved higher. And will I need a new belt or can I just bring the rear tire in more to compensate. Thanks for any insight
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2011 | 06:19 PM
  #2  
8541hog's Avatar
8541hog
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
Default

Changing the front drive sprocket from a 32 tooth to 30 tooth will give you nearly a 10% lower ratio, and is the most cost effective since there is no need to replace the belt.

To get the same from a rear sprocket swap would require a 4 tooth change which usually means changing the belt. Since you have to open the primary to change the belt, you might as well just change the front.

Each tooth change on the rear requires about an 1/8" of adjustment, so a 4 tooth requires roughly a 1/2", which should be all you have, leaving no room for adjustment later.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2011 | 09:00 PM
  #3  
nevil's Avatar
nevil
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,278
Likes: 1,138
From: southeast PA
Default

Originally Posted by 8541hog
Changing the front drive sprocket from a 32 tooth to 30 tooth will give you nearly a 10% lower ratio, and is the most cost effective since there is no need to replace the belt.

To get the same from a rear sprocket swap would require a 4 tooth change which usually means changing the belt. Since you have to open the primary to change the belt, you might as well just change the front.

Each tooth change on the rear requires about an 1/8" of adjustment, so a 4 tooth requires roughly a 1/2", which should be all you have, leaving no room for adjustment later.
There's lots of threads here on that mod. Just do a search for 30T.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2011 | 10:09 PM
  #4  
BluBob's Avatar
BluBob
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 8
From: Ohio
Default

I went with a 170/60/17 tire in the rear. It is a 3.15% drop circumference (and overall gear ratio) from the stock 160/70 tire. Going from a 32 tooth to a 30 tooth is about a 6.7% drop, for comparison. The new tire throws my speedo off a little (reads 72 when I am really going 70) but not enough to matter.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2011 | 10:19 PM
  #5  
Shredding rubber's Avatar
Shredding rubber
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 8
From: Right about the middle
Default

Great. Thanks guys. 30 tooth it is. I am also gonna install the woods 555s this winter and the a tuner. Auto tune seems to get great results. Thanks again guys.
 
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 12:41 PM
  #6  
nevil's Avatar
nevil
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,278
Likes: 1,138
From: southeast PA
Default

Be sure to recalibrate the speedo. The tuner should have some way for you to do that.
 
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 06:33 PM
  #7  
craig11dyna's Avatar
craig11dyna
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Jensen Beach Florida
Default

Good info in this thread. I did the same with my 6 speed Corvette. Changed the 3:42's for 4:10's and it really makes a nice difference with little penalty in gas mileage since it is a 6 speed. Would love a 10% gear reduction in my FXDC. Have to price the 30 tooth sprocket and swap cost.
 
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:11 PM
  #8  
PhotoRider's Avatar
PhotoRider
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: PNW, USA
Default

Yet another way is to change the front compensator sprocket. That makes a huge difference. I just bought a 2000 FXDX in August and the pre-owner changed the front compensator sprocket from the stock 25 tooth to a 23 tooth. Talk about a drag bike! 55MHP and turning 3100 RPM in 5th. No need to down shift from 45MPH up.

The drive chain also must be changed so this is a more expensive change.

In the end I changed the sprocket back to stock (he gave me the stock one also). Just to low for the freeway, but if you just wanted to ride twisties I would have left it that way. Only issue is shifting 1-3. It revs so quick you need to be real good at shifting fast.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:15 PM
  #9  
jpace024's Avatar
jpace024
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 754
Likes: 5
From: Saratoga, NY
Default

Originally Posted by PhotoRider
Yet another way is to change the front compensator sprocket. That makes a huge difference. I just bought a 2000 FXDX in August and the pre-owner changed the front compensator sprocket from the stock 25 tooth to a 23 tooth. Talk about a drag bike! 55MHP and turning 3100 RPM in 5th. No need to down shift from 45MPH up.

The drive chain also must be changed so this is a more expensive change.

In the end I changed the sprocket back to stock (he gave me the stock one also). Just to low for the freeway, but if you just wanted to ride twisties I would have left it that way. Only issue is shifting 1-3. It revs so quick you need to be real good at shifting fast.
Plus you lose the "compensator" in the sprocket which is not good for your crank. I would go with the pulley unless you have a darkhorse or similar crank.
 
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2011 | 01:20 PM
  #10  
PhotoRider's Avatar
PhotoRider
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: PNW, USA
Default

Originally Posted by jpace024
Plus you lose the "compensator" in the sprocket which is not good for your crank. I would go with the pulley unless you have a darkhorse or similar crank.
Not sure why that is true. Why do you lose the compensator function with the 23 tooth?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:34 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE