Gearing
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
Gearing
I have been looking around to try to reduce my rpm's while on the highway without spending thousands on a 6 speed. I found a 27 tooth comp sprocket that will do the trick, I just can't find a chain. I was told to get a longer chain, cut it and put a master link in it, dont think I want to do that. I know I can get a tranny pulley for the belt but that changes my speedo reading and I have to pull the inner primary, changing the comp sprocket is the easiest way I just need a longer chain. I did find a place that sells a kit, Illusion Cycles, they are sold out and have been for months, the sprocket is 2 more teeth so I am guessing I need a 2 link larger chain, has anybody else done this and can point me in the right direction?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I have an S&S 107" in my 1990 bike, with stock gearing, which is fine. There really is no need to raise gearing, your bike will be fine! Current bikes have 6-speeds to reduce engine speed for EPA tests, not for our benefit.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
Thank you for the reply grbrown, I spend most of my time in 5th gear and a rpm reduction would reduce the buzz effect, it is a preference, just as some want more rpm's for quicker take off. I found a 27 tooth comp sprocket and just need to find a chain to match, any info would be great.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Thank you for the reply grbrown, I spend most of my time in 5th gear and a rpm reduction would reduce the buzz effect, it is a preference, just as some want more rpm's for quicker take off. I found a 27 tooth comp sprocket and just need to find a chain to match, any info would be great.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Another alternative is one of those speedometer adjusters, remember reading about one that cost around $100. Don't know just how they work, but somebody on the forum thought it worked good. Then you could drop 5 teeth on a rear pulley, new belt - getting the right size isn't a problem for that - and you'd probably have what you want. Will cost a bunch, but what doesn't on a Harley. It's what I'm planning to do on my Tour Glide, needs a new pulley anyway, so that expense won't really be an extra - and I'm replacing the swing arm bolt and bushings/bearings, so most of the work is being done anyway, too. Mine has an S&S 96" in it, so it really feels like it could use another gear, but thousands for a 6 speed is out of the question for me. Yeah, it's an arm stretcher with stock gearing, and is pretty smooth at anything legal, but it should get better gas mileage with lower gearing. I wonder if a slightly quieter and smoother ride would entice me to cruise faster, darned thing likes to creep past 80 the way it is... 
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
I guess I am going to go to a 34 tooth trans sprocket, the stock belt will fit as I know 3 of my friends have done this and love it, reduces rpm's about 300 at 70 mph, from 3,000 to about 2,700, right where the engine is really smooth. Just have to pull the inner primary instead of just the outer when replacing the comp sprocket.
grbrown, I did not mean the buzz in my ears but the buzz the bike makes when rpm's go up when cruising above 70 mph. I went to Mississippi this summer from Virginia and really would have liked lower rpms when cruising, we were in the 70 to 75 mph range most of the time, about 300 rpm's lower would have been perfect.
grbrown, I did not mean the buzz in my ears but the buzz the bike makes when rpm's go up when cruising above 70 mph. I went to Mississippi this summer from Virginia and really would have liked lower rpms when cruising, we were in the 70 to 75 mph range most of the time, about 300 rpm's lower would have been perfect.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
grbrown, I did not mean the buzz in my ears but the buzz the bike makes when rpm's go up when cruising above 70 mph. I went to Mississippi this summer from Virginia and really would have liked lower rpms when cruising, we were in the 70 to 75 mph range most of the time, about 300 rpm's lower would have been perfect.
Last edited by grbrown; Oct 1, 2013 at 10:31 AM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Orange, VA,
I routinely travel much faster than that. You should be wearing ear plugs - period! Then your bike will feel and sound fine, buzzy or otherwise! Quite obviously you can change your gearing as you want, all I am suggesting is that there is no need to, your bike will be happier as it is and doesn't need any change also you will be better off wearing ear plugs - the best tuning aid known to man! They cost just a few cents to try out.....
Where in England are you, I spent some time there playing soccer for Derby County
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
At the risk of harping on about this, you risk damage to your hearing by not wearing ear plugs on the sort of trip you described. We had wall-to-wall stuff about it back in the 70s, unfortunately before the internet, otherwise we could refer to it easily. As a keen hi-fi listener I protect my hearing while riding and driving (and shooting!). In addition, plugs really are a great tuning aid and will give your bike a free boost in performance on those long trips.......
