Baker Drivetrain

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Sep 5, 2013 | 07:52 AM

j.james

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

From: Framingham, MA

Baker Drivetrain

I saw that baker made a 6-speed transmission kit for the sporty but the years it fits are throwing me off (91-03). Were there any changes made in 04+ to the transmission that would not make it work? I was hoping it would still work with my iron. if not ill just swap it for a xl1200r trans.

Sep 5, 2013 | 08:01 AM

Scuba10jdl

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 3,212

Likes: 212

It will not. They made a LOT of changes between the solid mount transmissions and the current models. No trap door, helical gears, case redesign, layout redesign.

Sep 5, 2013 | 11:51 AM

j.james

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

From: Framingham, MA

so if i want a six speed my only viable option would be to take one off a xr1200? that seems like it should work in theory (as long as its the same model year of course)

Sep 5, 2013 | 12:01 PM

cHarley

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.james

so if i want a six speed my only viable option would be to take one off a xr1200? that seems like it should work in theory (as long as its the same model year of course)

On the 2004 and later Sporties, the tranny and motor are a single unit. You cannot remove or replace the tranny as a unit. To repair the tranny on your bike requires the complete dis-assembly of the motor and the splitting apart of the motor cases.

This is why Baker or no one else makes replacement trannies for the 2004 and later bikes.

Sep 5, 2013 | 02:27 PM

John Harper

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 8,477

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From: San Diego, CA

I think you can change your primary chain drive ratio as well as your final (belt) drive ratios if you know which direction you want to go. Might be much cheaper and easier than splitting the cases. Or, just sell your bike and buy a 1200r if that is what you desire.

JOhn

Sep 5, 2013 | 02:32 PM

aswracing

Road Captain

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 654

Likes: 734

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.james

so if i want a six speed my only viable option would be to take one off a xr1200? that seems like it should work in theory (as long as its the same model year of course)

The XR1200's are 5-speeds as well. All Sportsters since '91 have been 5-speeds.

As Charley mentioned, in 2004 they did away with the trap door, and servicing the trans means a full tear down and splitting the cases. No longer can you have the trans out in 30 minutes.

The gears and shafts remained largely the same for 2004, but they went to a new & improved dual rail shifter arrangement, that first appeared on the XB's a year earlier. I can't see how you could get a Baker 6-speed into one, since the Baker has it's own shift drum and fork arrangement. I don't see how you could make it fit. It's a whole different animal.

In 2006, HD changed everything again. Practically every part of the trans got changed, shafts, gears, shift arrangement. They went to a helix cut on the trans gears to make them run quieter.

Bottom line, you can't get there from here. You want a 6-speed, you need to get a 91-03 bike and then fork out another $2300 to get the trans.

Sep 5, 2013 | 02:41 PM

parabellum_9x19

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 2,095

Likes: 11

From: Central Illinois

Do you mind us asking why you want the 6th gear this much?

Not trolling, genuinely curious.

I have both a 6 speed and 5 speed bike (Yamaha FZ6 and an Iron 883) and I honestly don't see the 6th gear as being very useful.