Six speed, HD or Baker?

[sanjoseduke]

I have been struggling with which 6 speed to install on my soon to arrive 2006 FLHTCUSE.
A very popular performance house often mentioned on this board had the following to say about the Baker 6 speed.

"I feel you are making a mistake if you don

[HUBBARD]

I have been struggling with which 6 speed to install on my soon to arrive 2006 FLHTCUSE.
A very popular performance house often mentioned on this board had the following to say about the Baker 6 speed.

"I feel you are making a mistake if you don

[don]

For a complete transmission installed, your looking at more than a $1000.00 diffrence in a DDO6 and a SE six. The Baker is probley better, but the Screaming Eagle looks more at home to me behind the silve motor.

[mr_magoo]

Had a HD unit install when the bike arrived and now it is covered for 7yrs just like the bike.  And I really like it.

[jfritz_drfritz]

I have the SE 6 speed, for the most part it works ok, I do find it seems to feel a bit "funny" going into 6th sometimes. I am having a J120 installed into my bike (almost done) but in conversation with TMan (the builder) he indicated that his testing indicated that the baker DD6 had a greater horsepower loss than the harley transmission, still the harley 6 speed is costing you 5 HP and maybe 7 torque. FWIW with the stock engine (103) on my electraglide 6th gear is really only useful above 70 -75 mph and not much good if there is any significant headwind (unless you want to really dog it). There is also some increased gear whine which I compensate for by turning up the radio! [smiley=banana.gif]

[grc]

I have the SE 6 speed, for the most part it works ok, I do find it seems to feel a bit "funny" going into 6th sometimes. I am having a J120 installed into my bike (almost done) but [highlight]in conversation with TMan (the builder) he indicated that his testing indicated that the baker DD6 had a greater horsepower loss than the harley transmission, still the harley 6 speed is costing you 5 HP and maybe 7 torque.[/highlight] FWIW with the stock engine (103) on my electraglide 6th gear is really only useful above 70 -75 mph and not much good if there is any significant headwind (unless you want to really dog it). There is also some increased gear whine which I compensate for by turning up the radio! [smiley=banana.gif]

jfritz_drfritz,

Welcome to the site!

[HUBBARD]

I have the SE 6 speed, for the most part it works ok, I do find it seems to feel a bit "funny" going into 6th sometimes. I am having a J120 installed into my bike (almost done) but in conversation with TMan (the builder) he indicated that his testing indicated that the baker DD6 had a greater horsepower loss than the harley transmission, [highlight]still the harley 6 speed is costing you 5 HP and maybe 7 torque[/highlight]. FWIW with the stock engine (103) on my electraglide 6th gear is really only useful above 70 -75 mph and not much good if there is any significant headwind (unless you want to really dog it). There is also some increased gear whine which I compensate for by turning up the radio! [smiley=banana.gif]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, jfritz_drfritz,
  Please 'splain the highlighted part of your post, concerning the HP and Torque loss, with a 6-Speed, as opposed to a 5-Speed.  Later--HUBBARD  
  

[mr_magoo]

jfritz_drfritz welcome to the site.  Haven't had my 6 speed in long but the motor has more than enough power to pull a fairly good hill in 6th and acctually pick up speed.  Mine makes no more noise in 6th than any of the other gears.

[GC_Super]

I started a post over on HTT a couple months ago concerning the power loss associated w/6spd. Had about 75 hits, and all the "experts" over there were in agreement that there was a loss of power, just how much was the real argument. About 3% was the figure that most agreed to, however, the only way to prove it would be to dyno the same bike under the same conditions w/no other changes. Kinda like gear drive cams. One of the respected shop owners over there has dynos of gear vs chain with no change in power. due to the addition of gears.

[SEULTRA]

Like anything you put on your scoot... if YOU like it, that's what matters. Enjoy that new 6 speed!

[Eqcons]

I've been thinking about just the same choice.  It occurs to me that the ratios of the stock MoFoMoC 5-speed box are close enough, and there's not a lot to be gained (except more exercise for your left foot!) by having 6 gears covering the same spread of ratios;  it's not a sports bike after all. No, for me the whole point of having the 6-speed would be lower revs at cruising speed, so my choice would be the HD with overdrive 6th over the Baker with 1:1 6th.

Jim

[Screamin_Beagle]

Stay with the HD setup.  Baker has a good rep but I'd trust Harley.
JMHO

[grc]

I've been thinking about just the same choice.

[Canuck]

Hey Sanjoseduke,
Didn't you change your order to the Autumn/Haze?  You should change your personal icon which is still showing the "bad paint" model  I am going to have the HD six speed put in mine.  I was going to wait for a proper break-in but I think this is a mod that is better done when you pick up the bike.  You will have to let me know when your bike arrives.  Mine is expected 3/15.  That's next Wednesday [smiley=banana.gif]

Looking forward to Cripple Creek.

[jfritz_drfritz]

In reply to the question about how Tman came up with the mentioned power loss - the issue came up when we were discussing expected results when i take it for dyno tuning. As you can probably imagine, in his business he has to take great pains that his customers have a realistic expectation of what their bike is going to produce for Hp and Torque numbers. Primary among those factors are the state of tune, intake, exhaust, and gearing. So anyways, he asked me what transmission I was using and I told him the SE 6 speed. He said that was Ok, but I must expect about a 5 hp loss and probably 7 loss of torque so I should look with my combo for about 135/135. He said that he has had a few customers with disappointing numbers who kept after him til finally he had to prove it was the transmission which resulted in the lower than expected numbers, so they actually swapped transmissions and retested to prove there was not a problem with engine output. He said his experience was the baker transmission (DD6) was worse for power loss than the harley transmission (his words not mine!). He didn't give me any numbers to corroborate that or offer any explanation as to why that should be. This subject has been thrashed about quite thoroughly on the HTT site by folks more knowledgeable than me with no definite conclusions. Sorry I can't provide any more detailed info than that. Personally I would be happy with either transmission, the deciding factor for me was that I could have it serviced at my dealer.