6 speed?
That's why they put the gear indicator lights on the bikes now so you have no doubt which gear you're in. After checking your gear indicator then your infotainment center for directions you can look up and actually pay attention to the road. It's a novel idea.
Last edited by corliss@bakerdrivetrain.com; Aug 27, 2014 at 07:34 AM. Reason: spelling
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
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From: TOAK western branch
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!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 15
From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
So, another opinion.....
Being a car guy, the 6spd makes perfect sense.. I can easily justify it for the highway, long cruising days, cross country, etc.. The notion that it will not get you better fuel economy is BS.. If your engine is struggling to maintain speed in 6th(O/D), you dont have enough torque or your speed is too low.. This is an antique engine design, they require some RPM's to run smoothly, anything less than about 2700 for a cruise is going to shorten its life.. I learned when I removed my compensator on the Dyna and installed a direct drive, from Baker by the way, that it HATED to be under 3k in 5th while climbing any sort of incline.. You could feel every engine pulse, essentially lugging.. I put the compensator back in and its fine, but thats only because it is "compensating" for the lugging feeling, you just cant feel the hammering.. I'd venture to say that most folks that have a 6spd, especially the factory built twinkies, are causing more damage to thier engines than not... Long story short, my opinion is, 99% of us dont need it.. While Baker has some very nice high quality components and excellent customer service, I resign to the 99% because I refuse to pay more money for a gearset than I can buy a complete transmission(with labor) for my truck..
Being a car guy, the 6spd makes perfect sense.. I can easily justify it for the highway, long cruising days, cross country, etc.. The notion that it will not get you better fuel economy is BS.. If your engine is struggling to maintain speed in 6th(O/D), you dont have enough torque or your speed is too low.. This is an antique engine design, they require some RPM's to run smoothly, anything less than about 2700 for a cruise is going to shorten its life.. I learned when I removed my compensator on the Dyna and installed a direct drive, from Baker by the way, that it HATED to be under 3k in 5th while climbing any sort of incline.. You could feel every engine pulse, essentially lugging.. I put the compensator back in and its fine, but thats only because it is "compensating" for the lugging feeling, you just cant feel the hammering.. I'd venture to say that most folks that have a 6spd, especially the factory built twinkies, are causing more damage to thier engines than not... Long story short, my opinion is, 99% of us dont need it.. While Baker has some very nice high quality components and excellent customer service, I resign to the 99% because I refuse to pay more money for a gearset than I can buy a complete transmission(with labor) for my truck..
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
It's also only got two cylinders! Unlike our 7-speed 4-cyl diesel that also has a dual mass flywheel - a sort of giant compensator. Our engines do indeed prefer to run at a decent crankshaft speed.
Club Member
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From: Bedford UK
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: H-TOWN TEXAS
I don't think you put your foot in your mouth Graham. I think all you've done is bring up valid points as did HGM. I'm not by any means knocking nobody's products, but the 6 speed thing is more "hype" IMO then a wise investment. You can achieve similar rpm drops by changing primary and or final drive ratios for fractions of the cost. For some that have the time and money burning a hole in there pocket it makes more sense to slap a 6 in the bike. To each is own. Just my .02
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I don't think you put your foot in your mouth Graham. I think all you've done is bring up valid points as did HGM. I'm not by any means knocking nobody's products, but the 6 speed thing is more "hype" IMO then a wise investment. You can achieve similar rpm drops by changing primary and or final drive ratios for fractions of the cost. For some that have the time and money burning a hole in there pocket it makes more sense to slap a 6 in the bike. To each is own. Just my .02
