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I've got an '06 Road King Classic with the 88" and 5-speed trans. One of the things that made the bike MUCH more enjoyable for me was swapping out the trans sprocket to an Andrews 34T sprocket for the belt. It CHANGED the bike for the better!
Just came home from a 100+ mile run to Daytona and back and highway at 75-80 was no problem. I'm not much of a speeder, so 70-75 was typical. Engine runs right at 3,000rpm at 70-mph. 60 is about 2700-2800. I did a thread on the differences a while back. I'll toss the link below. For me, the benefit of the 6-speed would mainly be having the 96-inch engine. I really don't wish for another gear after swapping the sprocket. Here's the link to the thread about the swap:
Hence OEM 6 speed in a RK means that you have a twin cam or later motor (2007 and later), while 5 speed trans means that either twin cam with spring loaded cam shoe tensions (bad), or older evo motor.
As for touring models, 2006 was the first year that Harley got the front and back tires in the same line.
Myself, love the evo motor due its simplicity/bullet proofness (single cam) and why I have a 97 RK, but on the other side of the coin, when Harley get the front and rear tires in line on the 2006 and later models, makes for a better handling bike over-all.
So short of the trans begin changed out on the bike and don't want the evo motor, would be nudged to go with a OEM 6 speed trans, which would put the bike at 2007 or later.
As for the trans themselves, unless your going to see a lot of 80mph plus trips, either trans if fine.
Note, can pull 80mph in third gear on my 5 speed RK, have run at over 120mph at times, so it really comes down to the the 6th gear bike having just a slightly lower final drive in the end when you are running at higher speeds through out the trip really.
I've never heard this part about tires not in line? Please elaborate more if you can. I have a 1996 electra glide. Are the tires not aligned to eachother? That would actually explain a lot!! I installed a smooth rider to correct 80+ wobble. I can go 100+ and she's nice and steady..handsfree carefree.. but riding around town etc itvfeels like the *** is always a little off. Like getting stuck in a track or low psi??
. Please excuse me for hijacking
I agree with Ironhandjohn on the 5 speed. Mine is a 2001 with 95" big bore kit, stage 1 air filter, drilled qty 4 - 3/8" holes in each baffle of the stock mufflers. 70-75 is fine. 80+ feels like it's working too hard. Although I don't think 80 will hurt anything, I don't ride over 75 very often, usually 65-70. The bike gets around 47-48 mpg with just me on it, no windshield. In town the 5 speed is fine. Unless I was doing long high speed runs, I wouldn't hesitate to get a 5 speed if the bike and price are right.
My Ultra with 103 and 6 speed has longer legs for sure, 80-85 no problem. Stock air filter (soon to change), gutted cat, stock CVO mufflers (probably will drill some holes in the baffles) Usually ride same speeds 65-70, 2-up and 12" windshield. Haven't had bike too long, but it's been averaging 42-43 mpg. In town I never use 6th gear.
My 01 is bored to 98" but other than that I agree with all of the above. My 17 of course has the 107 CI and 6 speed. I rarely go into 6th.
I've never heard this part about tires not in line? Please elaborate more if you can. I have a 1996 electra glide. Are the tires not aligned to eachother? That would actually explain a lot!! I installed a smooth rider to correct 80+ wobble. I can go 100+ and she's nice and steady..handsfree carefree.. but riding around town etc itvfeels like the *** is always a little off. Like getting stuck in a track or low psi??
. Please excuse me for hijacking
What is a 'smooth rider' and whats this about tires not being aligned? I feel as if my EG gets REAL sketchy above 80 MPH but I literally though it was just me getting older and more chicken$hit.....
Frankly, I wouldn’t let the number of gears in the trans dictate what I wanted to buy.
Either will do.
I’ve put down lots of 75 to 80MPH freeway blasts on my old 05 with a TC 88 and 5 speed.
The other design updates are what I’d use for my factors on getting a new(er) bike.
Ive had 4, 5 and 6 speeds. Just this summer rode my Shovel 4 speed around lake Michigan. Tried to keep it under 65 going up east side but coming down west side I was over 70 just to keep up with Milwaukee and Chicago traffic. 3500 RPM is enough on a 4 speed shovel with no rubber mounts. I like my 6 speed and my son liked it so much he had installed the 6 speed in his 5 speed gearbox. He on his '03 Glide and me on my '13 use 6th gear all the time. As for me anything over 30 or 40 works for 6th.
Bottom line is even a 40 year old shovel 4 speed will get you there..... In this case Copper Harbor Mi
07 six speeds are great, if you take the stock 66 tooth rear pulley off, and replace it with a 68 tooth sportster rear pulley. No need for a belt change or anything more than that either. You can also bump the 96 up to a 103 real easy.
Ive had 4, 5 and 6 speeds. Just this summer rode my Shovel 4 speed around lake Michigan. Tried to keep it under 65 going up east side but coming down west side I was over 70 just to keep up with Milwaukee and Chicago traffic. 3500 RPM is enough on a 4 speed shovel with no rubber mounts. I like my 6 speed and my son liked it so much he had installed the 6 speed in his 5 speed gearbox. He on his '03 Glide and me on my '13 use 6th gear all the time. As for me anything over 30 or 40 works for 6th.
Bottom line is even a 40 year old shovel 4 speed will get you there..... In this case Copper Harbor Mi
Is that a Sturgis I see? My buddy Harold had one back in the late 80s, and it was a sweet, but troublesome, ride.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
