Reverse gear kit
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Supporter
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 41
Likes: 8
From: Inverness, Scotland
Reverse gear kit
Good morning (it is here in Scotland)😂.
I’ve been looking into getting a reverse gear kit and some of the prices are crazy. Against that I don’t want o buy something that might damage the bike. It’s a 2004 Road king with tour pak etc. I’ve got a small driveway and can’t turn the bike round 360degrees. It’s also gravel,and a slight incline. Fairly long so if I ride it straight in it’s pretty hard trying to push it backwards all the way down the drive. No chance of me pushing it backwards up the drive
There’s a huge discrepancy in price from basic Chinese ones I’d reckon at £200 up to £2000 plus. Certainly no chance of affording that.
Are any of the cheaper ones worth a risk a lot of stuff for HD and other makes are made in China already. I’ve highlighted one here but this has a different bit in it to any other I’ve seen
Les
Sorry can’t put any pictures on for some reason
I’ve been looking into getting a reverse gear kit and some of the prices are crazy. Against that I don’t want o buy something that might damage the bike. It’s a 2004 Road king with tour pak etc. I’ve got a small driveway and can’t turn the bike round 360degrees. It’s also gravel,and a slight incline. Fairly long so if I ride it straight in it’s pretty hard trying to push it backwards all the way down the drive. No chance of me pushing it backwards up the drive
There’s a huge discrepancy in price from basic Chinese ones I’d reckon at £200 up to £2000 plus. Certainly no chance of affording that.
Are any of the cheaper ones worth a risk a lot of stuff for HD and other makes are made in China already. I’ve highlighted one here but this has a different bit in it to any other I’ve seen
Les
Sorry can’t put any pictures on for some reason
Last edited by Oor Wullie; May 3, 2025 at 07:09 AM. Reason: Unable to show images
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 1,979
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Trying to get more from your story. Is that the only time you'll need the reverse? Do you, perhaps, have a solid flat space at you home? Reason for asking is if you have a solid flat space, like a garage, you could get a motorcycle jack. Ride your bike in, jack it up and spin it 180* ready for the next ride. I do that on my '13 King. Just an option.
Last edited by RKZen; May 3, 2025 at 10:28 AM. Reason: typo
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 2,424
From: USA
I'd be willing to explore the cheaper knock-off kits myself. There's no bearings, it's just a few gears added onto the ends of shafts that barely get used, and very lightly when they do get used. I had a reverse on my 04 RK. I needed it, and used it regularly. And in the ~8 years I had it, it probably moved the bike all of 1/4 mile or so. For like you, I tended to need it for only a few feet at a time.
I personally went with a never installed Moto Trike kit, and had plenty of troubles with the installation of that kit. Filled with permatex, lever slipped on the shaft, junk electrics, etc. It really offered nothing of "quality" over the cheap kits, other than it was there and was cheap itself.
Now, if you're the type that plans on doing reverse gear burnouts and such, that could well be a different story.
I personally went with a never installed Moto Trike kit, and had plenty of troubles with the installation of that kit. Filled with permatex, lever slipped on the shaft, junk electrics, etc. It really offered nothing of "quality" over the cheap kits, other than it was there and was cheap itself.
Now, if you're the type that plans on doing reverse gear burnouts and such, that could well be a different story.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 964
From: Lincolnshire, IL
The best and least expensive solution was already mentioned.....just buy a good motorcycle jack. That's exactly what I did 10 years ago when I bought my Ultra Limited. I ride into the garage (concrete floor), pump up the jack to raise the cycle off the floor. Rotate the jack 180 degrees with the cycle on it and I push it into the corner of my garage so I can park my car in front of it.
Roll it out facing the driveway, when I want to ride.....and off I go......easy peezy!
Here in the states there is (unfortunitely) a lot of crappy motorcycle jacks that either aren't stable with loads or don't roll very well.....REMEMBER, you get what you pay forand your cycle is worth a lot of $$$$! Look for long lifting bars and the widest wheel base you can find. The jacks under $150 USD are usually crap and unstable. A proper quality jack should cost $250 plus in USD....and probably more like $350 plus USD.
Roll it out facing the driveway, when I want to ride.....and off I go......easy peezy!
Here in the states there is (unfortunitely) a lot of crappy motorcycle jacks that either aren't stable with loads or don't roll very well.....REMEMBER, you get what you pay forand your cycle is worth a lot of $$$$! Look for long lifting bars and the widest wheel base you can find. The jacks under $150 USD are usually crap and unstable. A proper quality jack should cost $250 plus in USD....and probably more like $350 plus USD.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,923
Likes: 3,903
From: Cape Cod
I used one of these things in my single car garage all the time, there are others out there like it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1250-l...waAt8BEALw_wcB
https://www.harborfreight.com/1250-l...waAt8BEALw_wcB
Thread Starter
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Supporter
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 41
Likes: 8
From: Inverness, Scotland
Trying to get more from your story. Is that the only time you'll need the reverse? Do you, perhaps, have a solid flat space at you home? Reason for asking is if you have a solid flat space, like a garage, you could get a motorcycle jack. Ride your bike in, jack it up and spin it 180* ready for the next ride. I do that on my '13 King. Just an option.
determined not to give up biking yet. I’ll show a pic of my leg to explain I don’t normally show it but I doubt anyone in here knows me personally this is why I could do with a reverse. If the images go against moral standards I’ll remove them. At the time that’s just what I saw in the hospital bed took another two ops to make sure I’ve still got my leg. Not the same strength but totally happy and grateful to still have it. Don’t look quite so good in a kilt now though 😂😂
Thread Starter
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Supporter
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 41
Likes: 8
From: Inverness, Scotland
I used one of these things in my single car garage all the time, there are others out there like it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1250-l...waAt8BEALw_wcB
https://www.harborfreight.com/1250-l...waAt8BEALw_wcB
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 909
From: Texas
Try Champion trike kits. Have their reverse kit on my 98 ultra classic.
They can help with the fit for your year model.
Ya don't have to have a trike. This is a stand-alone reverse kit. Manual, not electric.
Google it.
They can help with the fit for your year model.
Ya don't have to have a trike. This is a stand-alone reverse kit. Manual, not electric.
Google it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 713
Likes: 235
From: Florida
The Pittsburgh Dolly listed in this thread lifts your bike 1.5" higher off the ground. If you are vertically challenged and have a small problem with getting your feet on the ground this could be a issue.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 4,126
Likes: 2,117
From: W. MI.
I need a good "electric " reverse unit. Roadsmith has them for my UC but they are up there. My indy said to use nothing but electric. Anything else can be problems down the road in the transmission.