Had my Sportster for 5 years, every ride I would somehow manage to try 6th gear. Funny thing is, since I got my Road King, I hardly ever get into 6th, And it's a 6 speed. Go figure.

 

I think you're right. Unless I think about it I'm ready to grab 6th at 65. 4th and 5th above 60 don't sound different enough with my stock pipes. Maybe that's it too.
A tach would help me a lot. I'm used to watching a tach from driving Type 1 & Type 3 VWs which should not be spun too fast, much like Ye Olde Harley.

 

Get into 6th more than I care to admit. Not much torque there, though.

 

I'm still looking for that secret "reverse gear." I heard the crazy folks in Wisconsin hid it somewhere between 1st and Neutral.

 

In my case it was 5th, solved the problem with a 24T main drive trans sprocket. With lots of Evo torque starting in 1st is no problem and 4th is now an overdrive, a lot less vibs at 60-70mph. Did lose my drag racing launch, but don't race anymore after popping a pushrod going through the traps(1/8thmi)in 3rd one day. Would rather keep the engine in one piece now.

 

hell i ride a road king,...and i'm always lookin for it,........seems like at 60mph,...rpm's sound high.

 

I used to look for 6th gear in my Deuce all the time on the interstate. When I first got the bike, that was one of the first things I said about it; "This bikes needs a 6th gear." I traded that bike for a '08 Softail Custom so now I have a 6th gear and it's great. But now because I actually DO have a 6th gear and use it, I am always looking for it on the Sportster. I guess it's just safe to say Harleys need 6 gears.

 

if you had six,we would want seven.

 

Hubby has an '05 Ultra and is constantly looking for 6th....he calls that the diamond gear....cuz if he hadn't put this diamond on my hand, he would have had the money to put the 6th gear in there.....He's says it was a good trade though.

 

I just not stop myself from doing it. I know it is there some where.