Adding a 5th gear
For your transmission you can get a different gear known as close ratio gearset. Again I am not expert in this but if I have the correct part it will reduce that long space between 3rd and 4th. Research it, you will probably get what you want.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 198
Likes: 4
From: Texas
I believe it is true [but I do not know with the certainty of an expert] that the IronHead range from 1 to 4 is the same as the Evo range from 1 to 5.
For your transmission you can get a different gear known as close ratio gearset. Again I am not expert in this but if I have the correct part it will reduce that long space between 3rd and 4th. Research it, you will probably get what you want.
For your transmission you can get a different gear known as close ratio gearset. Again I am not expert in this but if I have the correct part it will reduce that long space between 3rd and 4th. Research it, you will probably get what you want.
Last edited by Ironkidzsled; Apr 8, 2021 at 09:37 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,096
Likes: 51,358
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Thanks Mick. Good to see you still around. I will def look into that. Never have ridden an evo sport.. From what you said though cruising at 80-90mph on the highway in 5th on an evo doesn't feel anything comparable to an ironhead doing same speed in 4th gear? I know they also have rubber mounts on the motor, so excluding that factor. Same rpm range? My main objective is to be able to cruise around 85-90mph and not rattle my teeth out of my head. But also not suffer to badly performance wise in the other gears. I realize the bike is older than me, so maybe just expecting too much.. I've never noticed space between any gears.. 🤔 Kinda the opposite.. hah. Possibly archive this more easily with a sprocket swap?
You wanna play those games go find a cheap evo sporty, plenty around and very upgradable performance wise on the cheap.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,499
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From: Long Island, New York
I owned a 1979 XLH four speed and then followed that one up with a 1991 XLH five speed. Night and day at highway speeds. Ironhead would do 65 MPH, but it was not a pleasant experience. Evo will do 70 MPH all day long and not kill you.
Hate to say it here, but the Evo was a huge improvement to the Sportster lineup and the 5 Speed was a godsend. Even if I was just going to build a bar hopper, I would start with a 1991 and up to get the 5 speed, it is just that much better.
Ironheads are great bikes, but like my Flathead, they are not highway stars, not their intended environment. Good luck.
Hate to say it here, but the Evo was a huge improvement to the Sportster lineup and the 5 Speed was a godsend. Even if I was just going to build a bar hopper, I would start with a 1991 and up to get the 5 speed, it is just that much better.
Ironheads are great bikes, but like my Flathead, they are not highway stars, not their intended environment. Good luck.
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