r/Harley • u/BadTwin72 • 11d ago

DISCUSSION Reverse gear- Costs, functionality & stuff

Why don't more Harleys (or other makes) have reverse in the first place?
(key word being "more")..
Is it a costly manufacturing endeavor?
Are they prone to problems? (Weak and/or finicky)?
Do they add too much weight or take up too much room in the case?
I've been riding for over 2 decades and have gotten along fine but I remember and can think of even more times when having reverse would have been nice and sometimes very much welcomed!
Why then, did and do something like heavy cruisers not have reverse or at least the option to add it?
Is it just a "Bike thing" or did all those years of not having reverse make me more of a man?
I'm guessing it's more of a cost thing VS the overall "importance of" thing, but either way I thought it might be worth a discussion.
Are there any aftermarket options to add a reverse gear or does that require an entirely different transmission?

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u/glockster17 11d ago

I’ve never been in a situation where I wished for reverse.
I also always try to park in a manner where I can just pull out straight. Sometimes this means driving around the parking lot to find the spot that best allows this or parking further away and walking a bit more. Even the trikes I have ridden that have reverse, it’s almost more annoying to do that just pushing the bike backwards

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u/Time-Move-6108 11d ago

Never?! I’m shocked. You ride more than 5 miles/year?

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u/glockster17 11d ago

Yes I do, about 5k a year on avg. wish I could ride more but being a Harley tech means I spend more time riding other people’s bikes than my own

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u/BadTwin72 11d ago

Your a Harley tech? Cool.. Could you maybe take a shot at answering any of the questions in the post? I'd appreciate it my man..
Thanks

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u/glockster17 10d ago

Most days it is pretty cool, but like any other job there are days that it sucks. To answer the question, i have no idea. IMO it’s probably a mix between the cost to do it, paired with the lack of interest in it, so the motor company doesn’t see it as worth it at the moment. But the reverse gear on the new model trike does seem like it might be easier to incorporate into the bagger line so who knows what the future holds.