Baker Upgraded Direct Drive 7-Speed Upgrade
Bert Baker, the internationally respected King of V-twin Transmissions says that "when you're building a high-performance bike, hauling serious weight, or logging serious miles, your stock 6-speed just doesn't cut it.
"Our BAKER Direct Drive 7-Speed (DD7) was designed from the ground up to deliver better performance, smoother shifting, and gear ratios that actually make sense. Riders make the switch to the DD7 for a whole range of reasons.
"In part because it delivers true Direct Drive in the top gear - because the DD7 uses a smarter RPM spread across all 7 gears, it makes more effective use of the 1:1 top gear ratio - meaning smoother transitions, better torque delivery, and no unnecessary RPM jumps.
"The 7-speed layout gives you tighter gear spacing, reducing lugging in low speeds and whether running a stock motor or something built to rip, the DD7 puts you in the sweet spot of the powerband more often - it is optimized for power.
More than just a bragging rights extra, the gear ratio management allows the DD7 to make full use of the torque and power put out by the new 96 ci and 110 ci motors rolling off the assembly line in Milwaukee. "We did not make this transmission a deep overdrive, rather we shortened first and tightened up the gears. The ratios deliver continuously pulling acceleration from first all the way through fourth gear. Then you are able to start getting into the cruising portion of the program in fifth-seventh without big drops in RPM from one gear to the next or lugging the motorcycle off of a stop light - just smooth, uninhibited acceleration."
DD7 reduces the mainshaft mass by only having 1st gear be a part of the shaft, rather than first-fourth gears like on the stock unit. Reduction in rotating mass for shift quality is a fact that has been utilized in the automotive industry for years. "We ditched the stock detent arm and spring assembly from the door in favor of a Linear Detent that decreased friction while increasing smoothness when coupled with the all-new shift drum design.
"We have tightened up the dog teeth on the gears to prevent the loud clacking noise that accompanies every shift on the factory 6-speed. Through the use of a billet bearing door, 28% wider bearings in the door, steel bearing retainer plates and full width gears, the durability and strength of our unit is a drastic improvement.
"By utilizing fully diamond ground, helical gears in first and fourth-seventh we are able to deliver a much quieter riding experience. While second and third gears are diamond ground, spur gears to handle the peak torque that is reached in that range."
Riders with the older DD7 can upgrade to the new Tapered Bearing style main drive gear bearing by purchasing PN 740-67. The current kit comes standard with the Tapered Bearing Kit. Fitment is for 2007-later Softail, 2007-later Touring: FL, FLT, FLH (except 2002-2023 and later CVO models) and 2006-later Dyna.
"The DD7 is built for abuse. It is designed for real-world power and torque as a drop-in upgrade for 2007-later Touring and Softail models (and 2006-later Dynas). With the DD7 you get smooth, positive shifts - no vague or sloppy transitions. Every shift is crisp and deliberate - at the end of the day that is why riders make the switch to the DD7, for the built-in, drop-in control, refinement, and strength."
See Baker's recently upgraded new website for finish and other options.
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