I will be adding a sidecar to my '16 Roadglide soon, so, to better pull the extra weight I want to lower the gear ratio. The '16 RG has a 32 tooth trans pulley and a 68 tooth rear pulley. I want to change the gearing to the same ratio as the Triglides, which have a 30 tooth trans and 70 tooth rear pulley. The front 30T pulley is available from HD and the aftermarket, but I can't find a 70T rear for a '16 anywhere. (the triglide 70 rear won't bolt up). One reason for doing both pulleys is that going down two teeth on the front and up two on the rear means that the stock 24mm 140 tooth belt will fit OK.
Anybody have an idea what rear pulley might fit and where to find it?


Another alternative is to just change the front pulley to the 30T and leave the rear as is, but I've been told there won't be enough belt adjustment, and need a shorter belt, 139 tooth vs. the stock 140T. Has anybody done this and would the 140T belt work? Or a source for a 139T that is the stock width, 24mm?

On my 2000 Roadglide I changed the front pulley from a 32T to a 31T, and that was an improvement when pulling the sidecar, but the stock belt was at it's limit of adjustment with that setup.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I would question why in the first place. The 103 Has plenty of power to pull the sidecar. Also if you need to dropping to 5th gear it is no sin. You can operate in 5th all day and night at speeds you would run on any highway with a sidecar. Even with my 1996 EVO stock 1340 Never had a need to change the gearing.

 

Not sure if it applies to your setup ... on my Sportster I went up two teeth on the front sprocket and left the rear stock ... I was able to use the stock drive belt, there was enough room to slide the rear wheel forward ... I have the same setup after adding a trike kit to the same bike ...

 

On a 2008 Ultra with added Champion Trike kit I changed the "front primary gear' and deleted the new style compensator (called an up-grade). . I used the set-up from Evolution Industries . This dropped the gearing so 6th gear is useable , cruises at 80 mph, 3200 RPM in 6th gear and makes taking off from stop way better! Only took me 2 hrs. to change out . May want to check this out as an option ?

 

Thanks! It looks like that is a better - and cheaper way to go.

 

Different strokes for different folks. I've never been satisfied with the stock power of any bike I've bought, I always modify for more power. It's not so much a question of need as a question of want.

 

Not getting worked up just asking. I to am a fan of sidecars. I will also be adding one to my 2017 RGU in the future.