Changing sprockets

[cdogg556]

I was just wondering since on all my dirt bikes I used to change out the front sprocket depending on what type of riding I was doing, so I started wondering if anyone has ever done that on their Dog?

I see that baker makes different sizes, as far as how many teeth are on it, and Curtis has different lenth belts so if someone wanted quicker accelleration from a stop then all he'd have to do is increase the front by one tooth and it will rev quicker, you might even be able to still use the original belt if ya only went one tooth, anyway just wonder'n!

 

[kickstart]

I remember this being discussed a long time ago and if I remember right (yea right) the only sprocket available was the one on the bikes and they were all the same. Keep in mind that I sometimes have trouble remembering what was for supper last night

 

[Th3InfamousI]

http://bigdogbiker.com/threads/reducing-transmission-pulley-tooth-count.36297/#post-480944

 

[cdogg556]

I stand corrected, a smaller tooth on the front is quicker revving! Thanks Eric!

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Here is one more thread with a cool calculator at RB Racing

http://bigdogbiker.com/threads/transmission-gear-change.10785/#post-158145

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/gearspeed.html

 

[Th3InfamousI]

I stand corrected, a smaller tooth on the front is quicker revving! Thanks Eric!

I remember thinking about this a long time ago cause I like to cruise at about 65'ish and I'm kinda almost between gears at that speed. Too low RPM for 5th gear.

Do you know what the stock count is on our Front Pulley's?

 

[cdogg556]

I remember thinking about this a long time ago cause I like to cruise at about 65'ish and I'm kinda almost between gears at that speed. Too low RPM for 5th gear.

Do you know what the stock count is on our Front Pulley's?

It's a 34 tooth, but Pat say's he thinks the only one available for our bikes was the 34 that it comes with.

 

[cdogg556]

I remember thinking about this a long time ago cause I like to cruise at about 65'ish and I'm kinda almost between gears at that speed. Too low RPM for 5th gear.

Do you know what the stock count is on our Front Pulley's?

Check this out!
https://bakerdrivetrain.com/pages/calculate-gear-ratios-on-your-motorcycle-rpm-vs-speed

 

[cdogg556]

This is on the baker website,

These pulleys are made from a solid chunk of steel and are 23% lighter than the stock cast iron piece. We recommend long life pulleys for performance applications where 100,000 mile+ pulley life is required. Designed for long distance touring applications with mild to moderate engine performance upgrades.

All Big Twins with a belt drive from 1985-up have a 32 tooth transmission pulley. Changing to a different pulley with more or less teeth will change two performance attributes of your American machine: rear wheel torque and cruising RPM. Increasing rear wheel torque will increase acceleration. Installing a pulley with more than 32 teeth will decrease your acceleration through the gears and decrease your cruising RPM. Installing a pulley with less than 32 teeth will increase your acceleration through the gears and it will also increase your cruising RPM. This is called engineering compromise; to get one thing, you have to give up another.

However, Our BAKER 6-Speed Overdrive allows you to ‘cheat’ engineering compromise. It is common for our customers to install a 30 tooth pulley when they install our 6-Speed Overdrive. This gives them a 7% increase in rear wheel torque and an 8% lower cruising RPM on the highway. It is truly the best of both worlds for your American V-Twin.



Machined from billet rounds of 1045, these stock replacements are toughest pulleys available on the market. With lightening holes added to help reduce rotating mass, and a maximized cross section reach the balance between strength and weight reduction, they are a step above the mass produced stock units. Available in the following tooth counts.

 

[FrankBDPS]

Why? My 107 will about throw you off the bike as it is and will get to 110 mph and more. Dirt bikes are different than highway bikes. They dont have the torque that our long stroke engines do. The only way I would change sprockets would be to go drag racing and then I would not be sure about that.

 

[SomeTexan]

Why? My 107 will about throw you off the bike as it is and will get to 110 mph and more. Dirt bikes are different than highway bikes. They dont have the torque that our long stroke engines do. The only way I would change sprockets would be to go drag racing and then I would not be sure about that.

On a bike like these, you would be changing the gearing to suit your style of riding. If you want to cruise at 60 and use 6th, you may want to gear it differently. I know 6th is useless on my bike below 70-75ish. Or at least it is lugging the bike more than I like. If you run backroads and twistie roads, you might want to change the gearing a bit to let you hold one gear longer and avoid shifting as much. There are lots of reasons to perfect the drive ratio to your riding style and intended useage.

 

[Mr. Wright]

When I put the OP on my 03, it changed the ratio from the engine to the trans. It has a lot of torque, but I find myself looking for 6th gear around 60 mph. So running the back roads, up and down hills, I have to do a lot of shifting between 5th and 6th alot.

 

[FrankBDPS]

On a bike like these, you would be changing the gearing to suit your style of riding. If you want to cruise at 60 and use 6th, you may want to gear it differently. I know 6th is useless on my bike below 70-75ish. Or at least it is lugging the bike more than I like. If you run backroads and twistie roads, you might want to change the gearing a bit to let you hold one gear longer and avoid shifting as much. There are lots of reasons to perfect the drive ratio to your riding style and intended useage.

Thanks Adam. I knew the six speed bikes were geared for higher speeds in sixth gear and did not think about not being able to use it in some parts of the country. I don't have that issue since my old school beater only shifts four times.

 

[BWG56]

I was just wondering since on all my dirt bikes I used to change out the front sprocket depending on what type of riding I was doing, so I started wondering if anyone has ever done that on their Dog?

I see that baker makes different sizes, as far as how many teeth are on it, and Curtis has different lenth belts so if someone wanted quicker accelleration from a stop then all he'd have to do is increase the front by one tooth and it will rev quicker, you might even be able to still use the original belt if ya only went one tooth, anyway just wonder'n!

Under WOT in 1st and 2nd my tire spins, not sure what your looking for? Once the tire spins there isn't any traction and if it didn't spin I'm not to sure you could hang on. Of course you could fit it with a drag slick and lay on the tank and put your feet on the rear pegs to help you, but at the end of the day you still have a cruiser. Enjoy it for what its intended for

 

[BWG56]

You could always put an auto clutch in if your getting too old to shift, like Tapio did

 

[cdogg556]

You could always put an auto clutch in if your getting too old to shift, like Tapio did

Haha! Maybe so, I don't expect you too understand Ker, your riding style is definitly different than mine, when I rode your bike out of respect I kept the rpm's very low, when I ride my bike I do actually get on it every now and then, the bike will probably have a top speed of at least 140 mph, I myself have taken it up to 130 mph or so, speedo was pinned so I am just guessing, anyway I really do not need to go that fast ever, so anything over 80 mph is a waste in my opinion, so why not gear it down to take advantange of the horsepower at lower speeds, kinda like a drag car in a sence, ya follow me buddy? Hehe!

 

[BWG56]

Haha! Maybe so, I don't expect you too understand Ker, your riding style is definitly different than mine, when I rode your bike out of respect I kept the rpm's very low, when I ride my bike I do actually get on it every now and then, the bike will probably have a top speed of at least 140 mph, I myself have taken it up to 130 mph or so, speedo was pinned so I am just guessing, anyway I really do not need to go that fast ever, so anything over 80 mph is a waste in my opinion, so why not gear it down to take advantange of the horsepower at lower speeds, kinda like a drag car in a sence, ya follow me buddy? Hehe!

Then ya better start using torque values and loctite so your not loosing bolts off the bike, if your looking for speed, get a crotch rocket. If your looking for power drop down a gear, keep it above 4000k rpm
Kinda like buying a Honda Civic to do 120mph, buy something that will do it easy, like a Hellcat Easily achieves set goal

 

[cdogg556]

Then ya better start using torque values and loctite so your not loosing bolts off the bike

Remember, I bought the bike used! That means someone else worked on it hoser! The bolts that fell out prolly were due to someone that did not use locktight on the bolts, and yes, I did use locktight on everything I work on, eventually that will be all the bolts on the bike! Again, I did not have the luxury of buying my bike new, your bike has only had one mechanic, YOU!!!! Thanks for you advise though, it is greatly appreciated bro!

 

[BWG56]

If you know where you can buy different belts and drive gears, I would think he would be your go to guy and he will have all your answers.

 

[ksmike]

John,

No one makes a different pulley for a late model BD that I know of so I made one myself. Stock is 34T so I started with a 32 tooth on my bagger and finally ended up with a 31. To do it you have to take a stock harley type pulley and do some machine work to it. It is by far one of the best mods that can be done to a BD. On my bagger with the 31T it runs about 3,000 rpm at 72mph. Most people would be fine with the 32T as belt length and clearance issues can come up with the 31T. If you are interested and feel comfortable with changing the pulley yourself I can probably get one made up for you for a few $$.

Send me a pm if you want to chat more.

Mike