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[Ironhorse]

Have you noticed any gain in mpgs on the freeway since adding the 6spd? I'm looking to lower engine speed while touring and improve fuel consumption. I'll probably get the HD gear set since I have a dealer that gets me 25% off all HD stuff. For my winter project, I am either going to do a 6 speed upgrade, or get some headwork done.

Thanks

[TB]

I ride with a guy with a HD 6speed in a 95" Roadglide.  We took a trip this summer to the Tail of the Dragon.  He considently got 42-45 mph.  However, there were few occations for him to use the 6th gear.  On the freeway, we would have to be going at least 75 or more for him to carry the gear.  Anything less and he would have to downshift and run 5th.  His bike sure likes to run at 80+ though.

[GC_Super]

I'm thinking you would have to do a lot of freeway touring to really notice any real gains in mpg. These bikes are somewhat sluggish below 3K, so with a sixer you would need to be cruising at 80 or so and that would negate any savings.  I'm putting a six speed on my new SEU and combining it with the 3.37 gearing to help keep the rpms up. Hopefully it will fool me into thinking I have enough power to leave the motor alone, well, at least for two years when the wty runs out.

[Ironhorse]

I'm thinking you would have to do a lot of freeway touring to really notice any real gains in mpg. These bikes are somewhat sluggish below 3K, so with a sixer you would need to be cruising at 80 or so and that would negate any savings.  I'm putting a six speed on my new SEU and combining it with the 3.37 gearing to help keep the rpms up. Hopefully it will fool me into thinking I have enough power to leave the motor alone, well, at least for two years when the wty runs out.

Well I guess I'm lucky, because my older M&M Bagger came with 3:37 gearing I think. I'm looking to get better mpgs when I go cross country and push 80mph all day long. I'd like to drop the rpms from 3,800 - 4,000 to maybe 3,200.

If I calculate it correctly, I will need to keep the bike 33 years and ride 20K a year to save enough gas to cover the purchase!

LOL!

[Unbalanced]

Ironhorse,

I see no gain in mpgs unless its 70 to 80 mph.   I put the Baker 6 speed in with R2 first 2 gears and the .080 6th gear.   I did this because I run a 348 total gearring.  I was running 415 but decided not to go backto a chain quite yet since I have the heavy belt on the bike atm.   With the gearing I have and a tall 1st and 2nd gear I was trying to cut the rpms down for highway cruising.   70 is about 2700 rpm and 80 is about 3000 I had to use an S&S Speedo Calibration unit to fix my speedo

The 6speed was never intended by me to get better gas mileage just allows me to play down low and still affords me cruising on the highway without being at rediculous rpms while doing it.

[Crawdaddy]

Ironhorse,

I have seen no significant change in MPG.  75 and 80 are good speeds to use it.  One side benefit is the noise reduction on long rides.  Cruising for long periods, the noise gets annoying at 3200.  

[hwyfever]

Howdy Ironhorse,  I don't know about MPG increases related to the 6 speed, mine was installed before delivery so I have nothing to compare, but I can tell you it is one of the better additions I've made to a Harley...  Compared to my 02 RK, (95 BB, SE203, Mikuni, SE Slips) I was always searching for the next gear when riding at hwy speeds.  Now on my 05 SEEG, I have one.  I use it whenever at 65 mph+ crusing speed, which is where I ride most.   It smooths everything out and quiets the ride considerably.  The ride is better, the stereo is fuller, the sky is bluer, the clouds whiter, well maybe the last two are a bit of an over exaggeration.  Over 5 fill-ups, my MPG is averaging 47 MPG, but I have been accused - never found guilty - of testing the throttle on the hwy to verify it still opens all the way...  

[grc]

Howdy Ironhorse,  I don't know about MPG increases related to the 6 speed, mine was installed before delivery so I have nothing to compare, but I can tell you it is one of the better additions I've made to a Harley...  Compared to my 02 RK, (95 BB, SE203, Mikuni, SE Slips) I was always searching for the next gear when riding at hwy speeds.  Now on my 05 SEEG, I have one.  I use it whenever at 65 mph+ crusing speed, which is where I ride most.   It smooths everything out and quiets the ride considerably.  The ride is better, the stereo is fuller, the sky is bluer, the clouds whiter, well maybe the last two are a bit of an over exaggeration.  [highlight]Over 5 fill-ups, my MPG is averaging 47 MPG[/highlight], but I have been accused - never found guilty - of testing the throttle on the hwy to verify it still opens all the way...  

hwyfever,

I hope that was a typo - my '05 SEEG averages around 37 - 38 mpg in a mix of riding, with 40 mpg on the highway the best I've done so far.  That's without twisting the wick real hard; if I do that the mpg drops to 34 - 36.  No 6 speed, so far I don't see the need.

Jerry

[spydglide]

hwyfever,

I hope that was a typo - my '05 SEEG averages around 37 - 38 mpg in a mix of riding, with 40 mpg on the highway the best I've done so far.  That's without twisting the wick real hard; if I do that the mpg drops to 34 - 36.  No 6 speed, so far I don't see the need.

Jerry

Hey Jerry, my '04SEEG and Nite-Al's '05SEEG both consistantly get low to mid-40'smpg.  43 to 46mpg when we're riding at speed limit plus speeds.  And our friend on a 95"Classic is getting 50mpg.  So, it's all in how you tune'em.  Har!   spyder

[hwyfever]

Not a typo as much as an exaggeration of the numbers - well sorta - you know numbers.  After doing my Stage 1 and SERT, I was interested in how my SEEG was doing MPG wise.  So I set up a little project to find out.  The average I got was taken during five separate "day" trips, bike unloaded other than the rider (me) and at open hwy speeds, cruise control when possible, mostly calm weather and fairly flat landscape (Typical So Cal Riding).  The data collected over five fill-ups resulted in 44.82 MPG.  I guess I rounded up    Once I get off the hwy and into more normal riding my MPG results change to more like 35-37 MPG.  Here comes the data: 43.7, 43.2, 44.2, 46.3, 46.7.

[Striker]

GRC, I am running RT, True Duals, Jims 6 spd, running at high altitude most of the time, and just got back from a trip to Rocky Point Mexico, averaged in the mid to high 40 mpg.  By the way, from 2200 RPM's and up, I use my 6th gear most of the time.  The bike will pull just fine, no pingging, no piston slap.  We ran most of the trip between 80-95 mph.  I would never have thought the extra gear was that singnifacant.  My partner running a '03 RK was running about 500 rpm's higher when we were cruising.  With this motor, a 6 speed is a great addition if you ride much. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] [smiley=banana.gif]

[John S]

Gas mileage is the result of efficient use of power.  Wasted power is wasted gas.  It is all about efficiently getting your bike moving to improve the gas mileage.  If you really want improved gas mileage, make the front more aerodynamic and reduce the overall weight.  But in Harley's world, that is not an option!!  

So let's talk more about the efficient use of power.... [smiley=jalapeno.gif]

Unless you have a light bike (and what Harley is light weight) the six speed will get you nothing until over 80mph.  You have to ask yourself how much riding will you be doing over 80mph?  If you are cruising 60-70mph and twist the throttle you will most likely have to downshift into 5th to "keep up with the pack".  A guy I ride with went to a 95", 10.5:1 pistons, SE heads, and he was disappointed that he had to downshift on the highway and I just twisted the throttle in 6th while he was "tied to a stump".  The bottom line is he put his motor's power band higher than his riding power band.  Is your motor stock or is it modified (cams, headwork, etc)?

My advise would be to find your riding power band (Mine is 1800 - 4250).  In my case, I built my 95" motor to perform with maximum torque (hp was second) in that range.  I have an 04 Ultra (real heavy) with a strong 95hp/100tq motor.  I also went with a 2 into 1 pipe (mine is a Thunderheader but there are other good ones out there) because they make torque.  To top it all off, again because the bike had to get moving (and to match my RPB to my motor's power band) I went with changing the overall gearing.  What I ended up with was a 7% overdrive in 6th and 5th is now less than 1:1.  The bike pulls me (275lbs) and my wife (I won't say)really well and my gas mileage is 25% better than the guy I was talking about earlier.  Same bike and almost the same setup.

If you want to discuss this in more detail (is that possible?) just drop me a line at salcej@comcast.net.

Ride safely!!   8-)

[d-rock]

I just put the SE primary chain with the lower gearing in my ride and I love it,  but I have to now put the 6 speed in, I running 4200 rpm at 80 mph. I think the extra gear will help.

[HUBBARD]

I just put the SE primary chain with the lower gearing in my ride and I love it,  but I have to now put the 6 speed in, I running 4200 rpm at 80 mph. I think the extra gear will help.

Yeah, 'er 'uh, droc,
   Man, that's a lot of R's!  The ideal set up to me is the 24 tooth Engine Sprocket, and the 37 tooth clutch-hub sprocket, the HD 6-speed, and a Big A$$ Motor!  [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif] Later--HUBBARD

[CVOJOE]

To quote Ironhorse "[highlight]If I calculate it correctly, I will need to keep the bike 33 years and ride 20K a year to save enough gas to cover the purchase[/highlight]." Now if H-D would get the cost down 50% that would mean maybe only 16.5 years and 10K per year. We're getting there!! [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]  But, I'm still thinking it's maybe something for the Xmas list anyway.