Sportster Baker XL6 transmission

Harley transmissions are noisy and unprecise. Sledgehammer engineering... I installed a Baker when my old transmission was totally worn out after 30 000 km. That's not an impressive life length. This is my everyday bike I use for basic transport in the city and I need it to be rock solid, also when I go to the next city by the highway.

Driving the Baker XL6 makes me wonder, why can't Harley make a decent transmission when other 3'rd party suppliers can do ?  Its precise, silent and have a trap door that doesn't break.

Riding at 110-130 km / h is comfortable and in a good vibration range. I love it, but mostly because its so precise when shifting,

The procedure is quite simple, tear out the old one, refit the 5'th countershaft gear from your old transmission on to the Baker, do a little elbow grease to modify the housing and the pawl latch. Took me 5 hours from start to finish with just normal hand tools on the garage floor. Easy peasy. Just follow the Baker instructions attached with the transmission.

Out with the old one and prepping the space for teh 6'th gear with the template bolted on :

No need to say but, make sure you cover up and clean out thorougly afterwards

I used a cheap tool like this to grind away the material for the 6'th gear. Just a lot of elbow grease..make sure you grind away enough, or you will hear it when you hit the 6'th grear. Follow the template and go at least 25 mm deep from the outside of the template. Again, follow the Baker instructions.

My precious, oiled and ready to go in..

The cave are prepped, cleaned, oiled and ready to recieve..

Its a tight fit..

After that you need to modify the shifter pawl arm a little...Just grind away a little so the two points don't collides when shifting into gear. Just follow the instructions..

When finished it looks so good its a shame to put on the cover :) Before assembling, dont forget the spacers to move the clutch basket and the magneto out a little.. Use the Harley workshop manual to adjust the gear pawl..you will need a 3 mm drill bit..

I don't want so much bling on my bike, but I did an exeption for the baker clutch cover..My shoe tends to grind away the black paint on the original cover so this looks better..

 mm

Sportster tank risers

The maximum length before you need to also raise the rear end of the tank is 50 mm on a 2002 sportster. I used 50 mm and its just right. I had to modify my La Pera saddle to fit. I bent the front and used a hot glue gun to refit the upholstry. This is how i got them made at MekMagnussen

Use a low head socked head bolt and fit the brackets to the tank first on the inside with the head on the inside. Then lower the tank and bolt it on to the original hole with the original bolt. To do this you have to loosen the rear bolts in order to lift the tank enough to fit the brackets.

This is the study, and later I have painted the brackets and put dome nuts on to make it look better.

It gives quite a change in the appearance of the bike. Not easy to see, but if you know the bike you will see something's changed. I like the look with the elevated tank. When i put on the dragbar it will look great.

This is the before picture..Look at the gap between the seat and the tank, also the angle on the tank.