Thoughts on Gearing

[WhipLash96]

Just curious what opinions are out there on this set up.

124" Engine
Primary drive of 25/36
OD6 using standard 2.94 1st gear.

[nibroc]

my stock evo has a 34 trans sprocket----that's the way I like it

[klammer76]

Good friend has a 124 in his 2003 Ultra. stock 3.15 gearing (25/36) 5 speed. Likes it and it works well. The 124 has great low torque to pull that combo. The OD six maybe a waste with the 124.

[WhipLash96]

Good friend has a 124 in his 2003 Ultra. stock 3.15 gearing (25/36) 5 speed. Likes it and it works well. The 124 has great low torque to pull that combo. The OD six maybe a waste with the 124.

Can you elaborate on why you think the OD6 mau be a waste?

[kd]

I suspect because the OD6 is really a 5 speed with an overdrive gear.  There really would be not much ratio change in the first 5 gears.   Just guessing though.   

[Hybredhog]

   A 124 or more has plenty of torque to make a 5spd. very usable, and with mine I just went with a 33t trans pulley. It doesn't hurt to let them spin up, and probably the majority of 6 speed owners lug the piss out of them, if its under 2500rpm's (3k even better), its lugging, time to shift down.

[klammer76]

Good friend has a 124 in his 2003 Ultra. stock 3.15 gearing (25/36) 5 speed. Likes it and it works well. The 124 has great low torque to pull that combo. The OD six maybe a waste with the 124.

Can you elaborate on why you think the OD6 mau be a waste?

I guess it depends on how you ride. My bike is a 2002 with a 103. I run 3.37 primary gearing and a SE OD 6 speed. It is the best of both worlds for me here in the hills and mountains of up state NY and the NE. When I was running the stock 3.15 (25/36) it was fine one up but 2 up the 3.37 (24/37) works better all around 1 to 5 on state/secondary roads. The 3.37 was just too high strung when cruising at 80 on the strip touring in 5th. The 3.15 was fine at 80. The 25/36 turned 3400 @ 80 mph in 5th, cruise set and verified by gps. The OD 6 speed with 24/37 turns 3200 @ 80 mph in 6th. I have never run the SE 6 speed with a 25/36 3.15 set up but i think 6th would be way too high. Your 124 will but out way bigger numbers that my 103 (115 TQ/103 HP).

My friend is a big guy, 300+. His LC S&S 124 makes very good power. TQ is great. He has 5 speed and 25/36 primary. He cruises effortlessly on the strip and with that TQ he has no problem on the secondary roads. I think with the added TQ/HP your 124 will cruise fine 1-5. If you want to set the cruise at 90+ on the strip then maybe you want the 6 speed.

Attached is the link for Jerrys dyno sheet from BlackHillsKen. You can see the power his 124 makes.

http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php?topic=89618.msg1027336#msg1027336

[WhipLash96]

Good friend has a 124 in his 2003 Ultra. stock 3.15 gearing (25/36) 5 speed. Likes it and it works well. The 124 has great low torque to pull that combo. The OD six maybe a waste with the 124.

Can you elaborate on why you think the OD6 mau be a waste?

I guess it depends on how you ride. My bike is a 2002 with a 103. I run 3.37 primary gearing and a SE OD 6 speed. It is the best of both worlds for me here in the hills and mountains of up state NY and the NE. When I was running the stock 3.15 (25/36) it was fine one up but 2 up the 3.37 (24/37) works better all around 1 to 5 on state/secondary roads. The 3.37 was just too high strung when cruising at 80 on the strip touring in 5th. The 3.15 was fine at 80. The 25/36 turned 3400 @ 80 mph in 5th, cruise set and verified by gps. The OD 6 speed with 24/37 turns 3200 @ 80 mph in 6th. I have never run the SE 6 speed with a 25/36 3.15 set up but i think 6th would be way too high. Your 124 will but out way bigger numbers that my 103 (115 TQ/103 HP).

My friend is a big guy, 300+. His LC S&S 124 makes very good power. TQ is great. He has 5 speed and 25/36 primary. He cruises effortlessly on the strip and with that TQ he has no problem on the secondary roads. I think with the added TQ/HP your 124 will cruise fine 1-5. If you want to set the cruise at 90+ on the strip then maybe you want the 6 speed.

Attached is the link for Jerrys dyno sheet from BlackHillsKen. You can see the power his 124 makes.

http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php?topic=89618.msg1027336#msg1027336

I used to ride mainly 2 up with the wife but I bought her her own bike so now it will be a mix. I'm a club rider but am planning a trip out to Nevada using mainly freeways. I am thinking that since I will be on freeways where average speed will be about 80-90 mph I could use that 6th gear, especially with a 4.625 stroke. Other than that i am a pretty relaxed rider. The average speed I ride around here in Minnesota is about 65 mph. 

I'm struggling with if a 6 speed is really necessary due to where the majority of time is spent. Going out to Nevada and using freeways is not a normal occurrence for me in the aspect that I typically would not use freways.

[PoorUB]

I never understood spending a few thousand  dollars to drop cruise RPM 500 revs. Heck I have run across South Dakota and averaged  95 MPH with a 5 speed. What is 100 MPH on a '05 Ultra, RPM wise? 4,000+ RPM? Never seemed to bother.

[klammer76]

I never understood spending a few thousand  dollars to drop cruise RPM 500 revs. Heck I have run across South Dakota and averaged  95 MPH with a 5 speed. What is 100 MPH on a '05 Ultra, RPM wise? 4,000+ RPM? Never seemed to bother.

Well, different strokes for different folks I guess. with 3.37 primary gearing my bike is way smoother and I'm happier in 6th vs 5th @ 80-100. If you're happy on that ultra at 4000 + for hours, good for you. I would have assumed you would be doing that on your BMW anyway.

[PoorUB]

I never understood spending a few thousand  dollars to drop cruise RPM 500 revs. Heck I have run across South Dakota and averaged  95 MPH with a 5 speed. What is 100 MPH on a '05 Ultra, RPM wise? 4,000+ RPM? Never seemed to bother.

Well, different strokes for different folks I guess. with 3.37 primary gearing my bike is way smoother and I'm happier in 6th vs 5th @ 80-100. If you're happy on that ultra at 4000 + for hours, good for you. I would have assumed you would be doing that on your BMW anyway.

My '05 just purred right along at any RPM. It seemed to be happier the faster it went. Smooth at any RPM. The only problem were the wobbles at 105 MPH, but they would stop by 110 MPH .

As far as the 6 speed, if you got the cash and like to tinker I don't have an issue with it, but to me it seems to be a bunch on money for what you get.

[klammer76]

I never understood spending a few thousand  dollars to drop cruise RPM 500 revs. Heck I have run across South Dakota and averaged  95 MPH with a 5 speed. What is 100 MPH on a '05 Ultra, RPM wise? 4,000+ RPM? Never seemed to bother.

Well, different strokes for different folks I guess. with 3.37 primary gearing my bike is way smoother and I'm happier in 6th vs 5th @ 80-100. If you're happy on that ultra at 4000 + for hours, good for you. I would have assumed you would be doing that on your BMW anyway.

My '05 just purred right along at any RPM. It seemed to be happier the faster it went. Smooth at any RPM. The only problem were the wobbles at 105 MPH, but they would stop by 110 MPH .

As far as the 6 speed, if you got the cash and like to tinker I don't have an issue with it, but to me it seems to be a bunch on money for what you get.

When I rode out to Sturgis in 13, i put the 3.15 back in my 2002. I believe that is what you have in your 2005. It was fine on the long stretches in WI, MN & SD @ 80 with cruise set. If I was pushing 90-95 it would have been buzzy for me.
They are all different. Mine gets twitchy over 100 also.