Ran across a Baker OD6 gear set cheap that was taken out of a trade in bike, not even a comparison between a stock HD and Baker after installing it. Geared my primaries so 6th isn't a full load and have the ability to pull out of 6th on a open road and not a lugging gear.

Will a HD 5 speed get the job done, heck ya! Do Bakers fall into gear, no clunks and smooth as silk, heck ya! no comparison. Would I pay $2000 for a Baker, gotta think about that one!

 

Use ear plugs! Your bike doesn't need another gear, it's rider who is the weak link here! Increased noise levels, from all manner of sources, including the wind, increase rider stress, ear plugs take the bulk of that noise away. I've been riding since the 70s with plugs.

On the subject of fuel consumption, the bike still has to produce the same amount of power, whatever the gearing, to maintain a given road speed, so mpg ain't goin' to change. In fact if using the extra gear to increase road speed (just as easy with a stock trans) consumption will increase.

An Evo is quite happy travelling at around 90mph with stock gearing and only mild performance increases (stage 1 plus cam). Plus ear plugs......

 

On my 'glide with the 111 and 3.37 final drive, the six speed did definately increase mpg at speeds 70+, which is the only time it's in 6th.
Running 80+mph before dropped way down to 30-32 mpg, now it'll get around 36, sometimes better.

We make several road trips and also visit kin in the Smokys a few times a year, and the 600mile/10hour run down the interstate makes the six speed very much worth it for me.

 

But by the time you hit 70mph (112.65kmh) you're in Scotland.

 

back in the early 80's when the 5spd came out a lot of guys where spending good money buying then I just changed two sprockets on my shovel & had no trouble running with them & my mpg only changed when my wriest would twisted harder 1000 mile trip avg 43-45 mpg , I plan on doing about the same on my 94 EVO

 

Everybody has their 2-cents worth to offer. Mine is.....don't bother. I did with an early JIMS when it was all the rage and it was built on the Baker design. It was junk and I did manage to get 20K out of it before it got so bad I could no longer stand it. JIMS wanted $2,000 to rebuild it, but I tossed it in the trash-heap. Noisy as hell in 6th. gear and you will not gain any fuel mileage lugging it around in 6th. gear. Like others have suggested....re-gear with a sprocket change. If it has an electronic speedo...you may never get it calibrated as well.

The venerable old 5-speed is about as solid as a rock. My RK gets 41 at Interstate speeds (70-80) and 50-plus if you keep it below 65. At around 50mph (Natchez Trace parkway) I get 55-plus.

I was so happy to see the day that I put my 5-speed back in.

 

Like any other gear if you are lugging in 6th then you shifted to early. At 75mph I'm at about 2700 rpms. If you don't ride long miles at 70mph+ then there is no need for a 6 speed . It is for comfort no doubt and it is not for everyone some people enjoy a shovel 4 speed at 90 shaking their nuts out out of their sack, heck I do just not for long periods.

 

You still haven't put that pulley on?

 

I think it depends on what you ride, who rides with you and what they pack. One-up was a dream to cruise down the road at 2700 rpm. My situation was usually two-up and she had everything she could pack on the bike. I never could justify the fuel cost savings, because I never realized any unless I was running on a long straight highway or downhill. A heavy bike packing a heavy load will never realize any savings in a strain lugging it up hills in 6th. gear and it may even result in a loss of MPG......mine did. You'll have to save a lot of gas to justify the cost of swapping to a 6-speed.

 

Indeed! What is often forgotten is that 6-speeds were only introduced to lower engine speed and hence noise, so our later bikes can reach the later EPA regulations, they ain't put there for us! To press that point, some of the car manufacturers are using 8-speed autos on their top range cars - a big V-8 does NOT need 8-speeds to perform well!