2001 FLHTC ... I am always looking for 6th gear after 60 mph and I remember reading that there is a $300 option installed to add a tooth or two to the drive sprocket? Have any of you done this? Anyone have a link to the part?

Does it help much on the highway?

Does it matter on the low-end 1st gear power?

Should I go 1 tooth or two?

Thanks!

 

I ran a 65T rear pulley on my '95 FLHTC

cost: $45 and new bolts.

drops rpms about 7.8%

You need to have an inch on the adjuster and loose the belt guard.

I used this when touring...90% of the day in 5th gear, on return I would put the 70T back on for around town.
the swap takes 30 minutes.

my FXR has a 61T rear pulley. required softail belt, had that on since 1993- 14% overdrive. built motor, tuned for torque on a lightweight bike....nice that I can get all the way through an intersection before shifting to 2nd...


but really our bikes were built to run 4000 rpms all day long, you should be keeping the revs up above 2500...which is 60 mph in 5th gear on your bike

sometimes the guys who have overly loud pipes end up running lower rpms ( scared by their own sound) ...which can harm the motor and put more wear on the brakes


a front pulley swap requires pulling the primary drive and cases- not as easily reversible.




Mike

 

If it is stock, you might want to stay where you are. If it has some extra ponies and torque, you could add a tooth up front. If you have a big bore and several more ponies than stock, you might well be able to pull 2 more teeth up front. I have a stock 03 egc and have the stock gearing. I also have an 02 wide glide with 95", cams, heads, bla bla and went up 2 on the front. It lost the real quickness but will pull strong in any gear. And it will pull from 40 mph in 5th. On the freeway at speed is where it really is nice. My Pistons were slapping at 96k and it was as cheap to put in the 95" as it was to go back stock, so I did the cams and heads and gearing at the same time and can still get 48 mpg on surface roads. Hope this info helps with your decision. Without some hp/torque increase, you may not get off signals as good as you might like, and you may need a lower gear to pull those hills-- jmo

 

I've been thinking of going to the 34th tooth front pulley myself. I have read that some people say it works great but I don't find a lot of reviews online.

 

I've owned bikes with 3, 4, 5 and 6 speed trans and looked for an extra gear on every one of 'em! Nothings wrong, ride on and enjoy what you have. What you will find helpful on the highway is a pair of ear plugs - best tuning aid known to man! And a darned sight cheaper than changing gearing......