Harley Chopper Transmission Showdown: 4 Speed vs 5 Speed 

Great topic. As far as highway speeds, I found that RPM's is the issue. It would make sense with an evo that it could run 70, 80 mph with either transmission. But if I cruise my shovel above 3000 rpm long term, stuff begins to fall off or break or etc.

4 speeds don’t do it for me. Had my shovel geared comfortable for 90 and forget about low speed riding or take offs. 5 speed works for me enough to not shell out for a baker 6.

What a video, perfect guidelines for my build, thanks man

Highly informative and well presented as usual (if a lil' late for me!) I run the Cannonball kicker on the five-speed and the only negative is that the trap-door bearings are the earlier type (ok, the price isn't cheap but reasonable compared to the Baker option). Thanks man - stay safe.

Great video 👍

On my old Panhead, I installed a 4-speed with Andrews gears. The transmission was assembled by a guy who knew his stuff. I rebuilt the kickstarter using factory parts (lucky me) and a finned Jammer kicker cover. Baker makes great transmissions, but you'll need a very deep pocket. Thanks, Grease's Garage. Stay safe. -- W

My fxr 82 shovel was the first five speed that evolved in the evo

The 5-speed is superior in every aspect except, as you've correctly stated, jockey shifting. The starter after 1992 has been excellent until like 2005. The uneducated will say something dumb like the 4speed is 1:1 final just like the 5 speed. True but the drivability and reliability minus leaking makes the 5 speed an excellent choice!

I have a 79 Fx with a rotary top and an 86 evo softail with a 5 speed and i definitely prefer the 4 speed. Both have treated me pretty well. my 4 speed actually shifts poorly and leaks more than what see as the allowable amount of leakage but the gearing of the 4 speed to me makes a for a way more enjoyable ride.

Great video as always. One area you didn't mention though is the different main shaft lengths for the various years of 4 speeds. This can be another huge area of frustration and cost based on what motor and 4 speed tranny you're trying to mate up to align your primary drive. Just note for your viewers, not all 4 speeds you buy will match up with every big twin motor you try and run in your chop. Cheers Grease, great work, and keep it up!!!!!!

FL 4 speeds had a 2.60:1 1st gear ratio. The 5 speed's 1st is 3.21:1. You can gear a 5 speed with a bigger countershaft sprocket and/or smaller rear wheel sprocket to get the same overall 1st gear ratio as a 4 speed, and enjoy lower revs (i.e. less vibration and better gas consumption) while in the top gears out on the open road.

Wow, I think you would hate my bike; it's exactly the opposite of all you espouse. I run a jockey setup on my Shovel, but with a 5-speed (actually a Baker 6OD) and my clutch cable goes around the front. It doesn't look too bad because it's partially hidden by the oil cooler. It also shifts smoothly since I used a Barnett cable. The reason I went with that transmission is so it would jive with what I was replacing, which was an Ultima and it had to work with the extant open primary. I'm slowly replacing all the parts on there that aren't made in USA, so I bought a Baker 6 speed overdrive and a Primo-Rivera kicker. All of this is taking me a while because cost is a factor, and I fully realize that not everyone is able, or wants to go that route. The kicker alone costs as much as the entire Ultima transmission, and I've bought running vehicles for less than the price of the Baker. I just want my stuff made in America. Speaking of the Baker, on the 6OD, fifth gear is 1:1 like a regular 5 speed and sixth is 0.86:1. My S&S has no problem pulling it down the road and neither should most other OHV engines, but forget an OD with a flatty. The gearing is way too tall. Man, I just realized this is the longest reply I've ever left on RU-vid. Sorry about that, but I figure the more experiences people can read about, the broader their knowledge base will be. Love your videos; keep them coming. You're the only one on RU-vid that puts out content 100% pertinent to my situation. I look forward to lots more videos.

Crazy how I was looking into all this and you made a video! This is good info! Prism supply does sell a Jockey shift kit for the 5 speed. I was looking into it but I agree I don’t like the clutch cable system on the 5 speed

They also make 5-into-4 and 6-into-4 gear sets that add 1 or 2 gears into a 4 speed transmission case, so that's an option too. It's a good compromise for those that want lower cruise RPMs, with the 4 speed case for kicking and the ratchet top for jockey shift setup. As a guy who ran a 5 speed cable actuated trans with jockey shift, I can _absolutely_ say that it is _terrible._ It was so bad that I reverted to hand clutch after a month.

4 speeds are best, parts are the same 1936 -1976 with different main shaft lengths you can get one cheep ,Have it rebuilt by an expert !!! You can add an extra tooth to trans sprocket for more top end . Andrews makes great replacement parts and different first gear ratios sets 240 and 260 for more bottom end . Its worth it !!! great video !

Yo man im really digging your videos. I just picked up a 86 softail 5 speed yet it has the external clutch rod, not a internal cable it also has the big solenoid on the top of the primary like ive only seen on shovelheads. Any experience with this ? By the way my shifter linkage is not the rotary style but the newer one.

👍👍👍👍👍🏍️

Hey Grease, I just recently ran across a “new old stock” RevTech 4 speed ratchet top transmission that was built in the 90’s. It’s never been used so it’s practically brand new. I’m planning to build an Evo chopper on a rigid frame and set it up for a jockey shifter using this transmission. Do you know anything about this brand? Are they reliable? Or are they junk? Thanks for any help

My old '58 Panhead with Linkert carb and stock running gear would "bury the needle at 120 mph". I'm currently running a fuel injected twin-cam '06 with exhaust, intake, cams, and tuned; yet it tops out at about 90 mph. What gives?? My twin cam with a stock 5-speed, jack-rabbits off the start and gets up to speed fast enough, just doesn't have that sweet top 120-mph speed.

Question…I’ve got an 83 FXR with 5 spd and it’s got that funky arm sticking up for the clutch cable but my 93 FLHTP 5 spd doesn’t have the arm. Same transmission different clutch or different 5 spds all together? Thanks