Reverse Gear Ruminations

Now that the Miata has been sold I have the cash in hand for a reverse gear on the Road King. 800 lbs of motorcycle and short legs don't make going backwards easy at all. From parking spaces to wrestling out of the shed, backwards is almost impossible for me to achieve while sitting on the bike.

I should put the money towards other things, but I find myself seriously considering this.

And yes, I've done the various things like lower seats, lowering the bike, thick soled boots and such. Long legged I am not.

Yelvington has a reverse rear sprocket that is supposedly coming out next year. But's apparently going to be about $1,800, and may be delayed. Neat setup and super easy installation. Simple handlebar controls. Everything seems great, except the price.

Baker has a transmission reverse with electric handlebar controls also. And is the most expensive transmission kit at ~$1,800. It's not exactly a simple kit either.

Champion and several others have simple mechanical kits for the transmissions with a lever on top of the transmission on the right. I don't like the notion of reaching down like that to engage reverse, but they are $1,100-1,400, which I do like. The installation of these is a lot easier than the Baker kit.

Just ruminating.

Baker has a good reputation in HD circles. If you're considering $1400 for the Champion kit, who I've not heard of, then an extra four bills for the Baker isn't that far out of line. A transmission R&R is not a minor job, but hey, it's just time and a couple of SST's. You might even be able to do the job without pulling the transmission case out of the bike. Just pull the primary and I think all the guts will come out on the right side. Not real sure about twinkies, but I doubt they changed much over the years.

Or, you could always grow longer legs. Probably cheaper to go with the Baker unit.

Or just buy the Goldwing you really want.

$1,800.00????

My fife is 5'2" at best. She rides a tall superbike. I never seen her have any issues with backing the bike up. If on gravel or a hill, I will help, but she could probably do it. But she doesn't have the need to back up while sitting down.

The Road King weights nearly 800 pounds. It's several feet wide. I've an inseam less than 28 inches.

It's a slow hard process backing into a parking space on a paved level lot. Let it be grass or gravel or having the bike facing down hill, it gets real interesting, and not always in a fun or funny way.

BMW K1200LT.