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[megavolt17]

Hi all,

I have a coworker who at first thought any Harley since the 1960s was not worth getting, but now he's considering a CVO or a new Road King.  He's looking for technical differences between the CVO and the stock bikes.  He has heard of the transmission whine in 5th gear and is wondering if the CVO uses the standard Harley 6 speed, or is different.

I looked in my manual, the Harley web site and even the CVO brochure and can't find any reference to it being a different transmission which leads me to believe they are the same. I don't want to give him bad information (and would love more bragging rights for the CVO bike) so I am posting my question here.   

BTW I don't hear any whine in my bike in 5th gear, my hearing is not bad and my pipes are not much louder than stock.  But he isn't going to get to drive my bike to experience it first hand!

[drogers]

Same 6 speed tranny.It has been updated to eliminate the whine.

[Chief]

Same 6 speed tranny.It has been updated to eliminate the whine.

I don't believe there have been any changes to the transmission, but the installation of the IDS rear pulley reduces the whine.

Baker Drivetrain also has their F6F (Factory Six Fix) that replaces the striaght cut 5th with their helical cut 5th, truly getting rid of the 5th gear whine.

[RioGlide]

Hi all,

I have a coworker who at first thought any Harley since the 1960s was not worth getting, but now he's considering a CVO or a new Road King.  He's looking for technical differences between the CVO and the stock bikes.  He has heard of the transmission whine in 5th gear and is wondering if the CVO uses the standard Harley 6 speed, or is different.

I looked in my manual, the Harley web site and even the CVO brochure and can't find any reference to it being a different transmission which leads me to believe they are the same. I don't want to give him bad information (and would love more bragging rights for the CVO bike) so I am posting my question here.   

BTW I don't hear any whine in my bike in 5th gear, my hearing is not bad and my pipes are not much louder than stock.  But he isn't going to get to drive my bike to experience it first hand!

How about a nice CVO Road King ??

Mine whines, was louder when brand new than now.  I test drove a regular RK before buying the CVO - it seemed like the whine was more pronounced on the regular TC model than the SE.  But I think that was probably a result of other factors like different exhaust noise and not a feature of any inherent transmission differences.

Honestly, I barely notice the whine in 5th now - for a while I kind of liked knowing that I was not in 6th with a little audible difference as sort of a tell-tale.

I think reports of the "whine" has been blown out of proportion.

[Steve_G]

I have 1300 mi. on my new bike and have listened for the dreaded 5th gear whine.  I really can't hear it.

[Chief]

I have 1300 mi. on my new bike and have listened for the dreaded 5th gear whine.  I really can't hear it.

The IDS (Isolated Drive System) on the rear pulley quiets it down very effectively. So effectively that many owners of 2007s have installed them. It is worthwhile addition, but it shouldn't be needed.

[Hoist!]

Just tell him to throw a set of Performance FatCats on there. He'll never hear 5th gear whine again. Amazing how it cures 2 problems at once!!!

Hoist!

[SirMichael]

 Most people wouldn't even notice the noise if someone didn't tell them about it!!    All I did was put some of that Redline "Shockproof" oil in the tranny and you don't even notice it!!

 As Hoist also said , exhaust can help too!!


                                                           The 5th gear noise is more hype than anything!!


                                                                                               MIKE

                                                         
                                                                                         

[LRebel]

08 SEUC here with V&H Big Shot Duals.....what whine?

I do hear a little whine in 1st, but have never noticed a whine in 5th

[VAZHOG]

I have the same trans in my John Deere

[megavolt17]

I have the same trans in my John Deere

LOL!!!

To be honest I have LISTENED FOR the 5th gear whine, and I can't hear it.    I agree that the 5th gear whine seems to be greatly blown out of proportion.  At least it is in the '08s.

My coworker is a bit hard of hearing, so his fear of getting a bike with gear whine is a bit funny to me.  I don't know if he'd hear a cement truck driving through a nitro factory some days...    And I know he'd eventually end up with either the loudest muffler he can find, or remove the mufflers and go with straight pipes. 

[drogers]

I don't believe there have been any changes to the transmission, but the installation of the IDS rear pulley reduces the whine.

Well,that's what my dealer told me,so it must be true.

[amigo Jorge]

My CUSE '06 (was the last year of the 5-speed) was installed the SE 6-speed as soon as I purchased it and I compare with my Springer '08 (which comes with 6-speed) and I feel different tranmission.........

[spydglide]

My CUSE '06 (was the last year of the 5-speed) was installed the SE 6-speed as soon as I purchased it and I compare with my Springer '08 (which comes with 6-speed) and I feel different tranmission.........

Hey Jorge, did you have the dreaded 'whine' with either of them?  spyder

[Chief]

My CUSE '06 (was the last year of the 5-speed) was installed the SE 6-speed as soon as I purchased it and I compare with my Springer '08 (which comes with 6-speed) and I feel different tranmission.........

THe SE 6-Speed and the 6-spd Cruise Drive are not the same. Internally they are very different and not interchangeable at all.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that the Cruise Drive is much cheaper to product than the SE 6-spd sold as an upgrade. IMO, the SE 6-spd is a better transmission than the Cruise Drive. All 6-spds are not created equal.