Originally Posted by BobStreetBob

There is nothing like getting up to 75-80 mph and hitting 6th and feeling those rpm's level out. I want a 7th gear....

Originally Posted by obonaventure

I'm always looking for 7th.

Originally Posted by Da Gumpmeister

BINGO !!!!! +1 D"Beagle" (That's what the Heck I thought it said, the first time I saw it, Charlie )

I've owned a Baker 6 spd, with a 124" in an Ultra. When we rode with other "Baggers", we always took from a gal to gal 1/2 LESS going the same distance as the rest in the group. IT had the OOOMPH to pull it, easily.

It is MY OPINION, that MOST ppl shift into 6th, TOO SOON. OR stay in 6th TOO LONG, when they should be in 5th. IF you are turning out a good chunk of torgue and hp, (BIG motor) you can 'get by' in 6th, cause you can still 'pull it'.
It is a direct correlation between 'overdrive' and 'power'. If you have a .89 overdrive ratio, you just dropped your 'power' by 11%.
Now, throw in some 'extra weight', uphill, and add in a headwind. you are WAY OVER your working power level, unless you keep the "R"s up in the working band. (FASTER !!!!)

A very easy method of determining this, (THANX, AGAIN, Dad ) is just twist the troddle quickly, at highway speed, under load, in 6th gear. IF you get li'l or no response, initially, pretty good chance, you're 'lugging' the motor.(Dad called it 'hanging', as in it is just 'hanging' there at the same RPM)
Granted, it is NOT going to pull the front wheel, or throw Momma 'off the train', BUT it should get up and out of it's own way. IF not, stay in 5th jus' a li'l longer (faster speed)
Even with the 124", there were times, out in SoDak, I would downshift to 5th, cause with the wind, it would lug the motor in 6th, unless I would turn the wick up to 80+. But it would pull 80+, all day long, and 'play' with it.
6th behind a 'stock' 88, IMHO, is dammt near a joke, unless it is an FX series. Baggers are just too heavy and too 'wind' resistant, to 'overdrive'. Behind a stock 95, borderline. BUT they'll pull it, just get going faster before hand. And KEEP it up there.
THIS is the reason Baker came out with the DD6spd. Direct Drive. 6th in these, is BACK to the 1:1 vs .89:1. They did it via the primary drive, vs the 6th gear inside the tranny.
BTW, Gump had this idea years before Baker. In fact, the pan has belt drive pri. I changed out the front 40 tooth pulley, for a 44 from a different drive. I am 'overdriving' the primary about 10%, this translates to either a 10% increase in speed at a given RPM, OR a 10% reduction in RPM at a given MPH. I do not shift into 4th, until about 60mph. NOW you know how I can run with a pack at 80+, with a panhead.
I was prepared to do the same thing on the 78 FLH, BUT there is NOT enough room in the alum. primary for that big of a pulley, on the motor sprocket shaft. So I am having to do it via the final drive, ONLY.

KEEP the "R"s up, folks. Makes a BIG diff to that motor. BOTH power and MILEAGE wise. 'Lugging' is BAD for any motor, BUT peshally the way these things are constructed. That's why you never hear my 'old' ones, idled down so they sound 'REAL COOL', jus' 'loping' at idle.

Originally Posted by trafficjams

I dont even bother hitting 6th until 70mph or so. But that baby cruises at 80. Gotta believe there has to be less wear & tear and longer engine life with a 6th gear if you do a lot of highway miles.