It's just nicer to have the extra gear on the highway.

 

I've dead set myself on purchasing a 2002 Road King from a private seller in Florida. I was talking to two other co-workers today about purchasing the bike. They both are Harley owners. They both told me that I don't want a 5 speed bike, don't get a 5-speed bike. I've always owned 6 speed bikes riding on sport bikes. I'm just wondering why they both told me this? What's the deal with that?

 

The 6 speed is much nicer on the highway. But there are tons of 5 speed bikes out there and those guys don't complain much. But most have never ridden a 6 speed either.

 

Depends on the year of the 6 speed, I believe. My 2007 Ultra, the first year of the 6 speed, has gear ratios that are not very usable; ie, 6th is so high I have to be running at 75 before I can even shift into 6th. 6th is good if I want to run 80-85 which is almost never. The gearing changed in later years for the better but I don't know what years. For me, the rest of the ratios are OK and I normally wind it up and cruise in 5th instead of 6th because 5th puts it in the sweet spot.

I like the overall gear ratios of the 5 speed better than the 6 speed (on my '07) except I think 5th on the 5 speed needed to be a little taller because on my '04 I found running at 75+ wound the motor up to the point it was a little tiring for me to ride at that speed. Hard to explain that, and I had no tach but it was probably spinning 3200-3400, just a guess.

One more thing of note: on my '07, the 6 speed is noisy. It whines quite a bit compared to the 5 speed, which I never heard. I am used to it but it caught me off guard the first time I rode the bike. Again, I can't speak for later years as to whether this changed.

 

Coming from a 5speed Metric Cruiser myself and having to tolerate 5th gear winding out and chattering your teeth, not to mention what it's doing to the drive-train running close to wide open. The 6speed is like the overdrive on the modern day vehicles, once you've experienced it you will never go back. Go with a newer 6speed trust me on that.

 

totally agree

 

Yep, me too. Cruising at 75 in 6th gear the bike just purr's effortlessly.

 

The gearing must be way better because 75 in 6th for me and the tranny starts clattering, rpms drop to below 2500 and it just flat out sucks. That's what I get for buying a "first year"

 

They have definitely improved the 6 speed and coupled with the 103 it is just about perfect.

 

Here's the million dollar question. Is it really worth the $6500+ to look at 2007 newer RK's?