6 speed?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Absolutely not true...anything you gain on the top end by changing gear ratios, you lose on bottom end...so take two identical bikes with the same motor...On the first bike change the gear ratio to get a 500 rpm drop...on the second bike install a six speed to get the 500 rpm drop...the bike with the six speed will now run away from the 5 speed bike at a stoplight..that's just a mathematical fact of gear ratio advantage...I will never own another bike that does not have a 6 speed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,153
From: Ohio
Currently running 3.34, Baker OD6, 32 Evolution Performance chrome molly pulley that shaved 4 lbs rotating mass with a 127" no complaints, the Baker has the bagger first gear and works well on just releasing the clutch and go, no riding it. 5th gear is 2500 @ 55 mph and in the wheel house of hold on, 6th drops around 2200-2300, run the interstates @ 65-70 and the R's are in a range to get out of trouble without dropping a gear. Another gear can open up alot of versatility so I'm a fan of a 6 speed
Last edited by 1997bagger; Aug 27, 2014 at 09:08 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 619
From: North Dakota & Minnesota
I love the Baker DD6 in my Evo Road King.
Great acceleration off the line in the first 3 gears and at the same time it levels out nicely when I hit the interstate (75 MPH speed limit). The lower ratio in gears 1-5 give the old 80 incher more pep vs. stock. Probably keeps me from going with a stage 1 which would really **** off my MM FI and the stupid 96' ECM.
Great acceleration off the line in the first 3 gears and at the same time it levels out nicely when I hit the interstate (75 MPH speed limit). The lower ratio in gears 1-5 give the old 80 incher more pep vs. stock. Probably keeps me from going with a stage 1 which would really **** off my MM FI and the stupid 96' ECM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Twin Cities,Mn.
Stock for stock I won't argue the mathematical fact of gear ratios at all. You are correct, but the OP wasn't concerned about red light to red light running at all. So for his first post of the subject a 6 speed is nothing, but hype. Just my .02/opinion and we all know what those are like........
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Actually, the sprocket change was brought up and my response was I didn't want to sacrifice low end power. Traffic where I'm at can sometimes hit close to 90 m.p.h. (yep, I've seen it.) I also like to run at higher speeds on the freeway. I have heard that if you run above 80 for extended periods of time you run a good risk of losing the bottom end in the motor. Running across south Dakota I tend to really crank her up.
When on a the highway I tend to stay between 80-90 myself.
Last edited by Throttle_Jockey; Aug 28, 2014 at 03:44 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Decided on installing a 124" instead.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Twin Cities,Mn.
Is that with an hd evo? How many miles do you have on it?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Head work, cam, ect 80". Motor had 75k miles when taken apart this time. The only reason I tore it down was due to a cracked frame. So I ended up rebuilding the entire bike and stroked the motor. When I tore the lower end down the only thing wrong with the rotating assembly was the rear cylinder wrist pin bushing had spun.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
Sir Brown, as a well respected member if this forum I hate to disagree with you; but I must voice my contrary opinion. Spinning the engine at a lower rpm uses less gasoline. That is why cars now come with a double overdrive. It makes a big difference. Try driving 100 miles in 4th gear and you will see what I mean.
But that said, unless you drive your motorcycle 50,000 miles a year, the modest fuel savings from a 6 speed are not going to pencil out financially (and even at 50k I don't think it pencils in a reasonable amount of time, I'm too lazy to pencil it on my phone).
IMHO It does make sense if you have a broken transmission or if you want the lower cruise rpm for sound reasons. My Evo at 80 was so loud it was just ear splitting. But cars noticed me, which is good!
And if I did get a 6 speed, which I might for sound on highway, it will be a Baker based on my observations of their excellent customer service.
But that said, unless you drive your motorcycle 50,000 miles a year, the modest fuel savings from a 6 speed are not going to pencil out financially (and even at 50k I don't think it pencils in a reasonable amount of time, I'm too lazy to pencil it on my phone).
IMHO It does make sense if you have a broken transmission or if you want the lower cruise rpm for sound reasons. My Evo at 80 was so loud it was just ear splitting. But cars noticed me, which is good!
And if I did get a 6 speed, which I might for sound on highway, it will be a Baker based on my observations of their excellent customer service.
thanks for making me chuckle the only car on the market that claims it has double overdrive is the mx-5 but its really not. most cars from the late 80's
till now use this. its called lockup torque converter when your car is in overdrive and your holding a speed the computer tells the transmission to lock the converter.
and as far as mpg the only way you gain is if you have the power to hold the speed and most Harleys don't.
my buddies chopper is similar to mine except for the engine we both have baker OD6 transmissions his bike has around 72 hp and gets 39 mpg my bike has over 100 hp and im getting around 50 mpg. my bike will hold 65 just barely cracking the throttle. at around 2900 rpm
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
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From: St. Louis, MO
thanks for making me chuckle the only car on the market that claims it has double overdrive is the mx-5 but its really not. most cars from the late 80's
till now use this. its called lockup torque converter when your car is in overdrive and your holding a speed the computer tells the transmission to lock the converter.
and as far as mpg the only way you gain is if you have the power to hold the speed and most Harleys don't.
my buddies chopper is similar to mine except for the engine we both have baker OD6 transmissions his bike has around 72 hp and gets 39 mpg my bike has over 100 hp and im getting around 50 mpg. my bike will hold 65 just barely cracking the throttle. at around 2900 rpm
till now use this. its called lockup torque converter when your car is in overdrive and your holding a speed the computer tells the transmission to lock the converter.
and as far as mpg the only way you gain is if you have the power to hold the speed and most Harleys don't.
my buddies chopper is similar to mine except for the engine we both have baker OD6 transmissions his bike has around 72 hp and gets 39 mpg my bike has over 100 hp and im getting around 50 mpg. my bike will hold 65 just barely cracking the throttle. at around 2900 rpm
Here are the ratios:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Wa...6_transmission
And if you think lowering RPM doesn't help mileage, go drive 100 miles in 5th and then in 4th and compare your mileage.
Now I agree, there is a limit to how far you can lower (numerically) the gear ratio and still pull the speed you desire. My Vette tops out at 185 in 5th, not 6th, because 6th is too high of an overdrive to overcome the wind resistance at that speed. It can pull 70 all day long and get 28 mpg. Drop to 5th and it's more like 25.
As to the Harley, whether you'd get better mileage for lowering your RPM is indeed dependent on whether the lower rpm generates enough power to maintain the speed and results in lower brake specific fuel consumption. I'm betting a stock Evo or TC with 60-70 rwhp would benefit slightly in fuel economy from turning 500 less rpm on the highway at 70, but not enough to offset the cost of the transmission.
This is an interesting website that I think you could get the real answer if you cared to. It's geared (no pun intended) toward max speed but you could infer better mileage from the dyno sheets.
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Horsepower.html
Last edited by Joe_G; Aug 28, 2014 at 07:40 PM.