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Reverse Options

23K views 64 replies 15 participants last post by  Jblohm 
#1 ·
With my physical limitations I want to install a reverse kit on my 2015 CVO RGU.

One option is to use the Baker reverse. https://bakerdrivetrain.com/collect...r-factory-6-speed-reverse?variant=16099193411

The other option is use this kit from Suspension Technologies. https://suspensiontechnologies.com/products/mechanical-reverse

Both kits have their own goods and bads. I'm leaning towards the kit form Suspension Technologies but would like to hear others thoughts as to which kit they would use.
 
#3 ·
#4 ·
I tested the Yelvington Reverse which I believe is the Suspension Technologies reverse at Sturgis a couple of years ago. It worked really good. I ask if it could be used if the bike was converted to a trike and was told no. I would want a system that works for 2 or 3 wheels. I have not added a reverse yet I'm still using Flintstone power to back the bike up but my knees are giving out. Just throwing it out there.
 
#5 ·
This is a good point. I hope I won't need a trike for many many more years to come but having one that works on a trike is a good point.
And yes the Yelvington reverse is sold thru Suspension Technologies. I like the idea of it more than the Baker or MotorTrike kits but will have to look at each more. I am planning on pulling the trigger on one here in the next week.
 
#7 ·
I would not choose the Motor Trike since you have to reach down around the pipes may also have fitment issues if you have he HD cooling fan and shields and possibly with some aftermarket exhaust. And may be a pain with a passenger on. But that is just my opinion from looking at some online pics. One person review stated difficult to use with a bad back since you have to hold clutch in and use the lever.
 
#8 ·
Yes while I like to employ the K.I.S.S. method on many things I am of the mind set that I like a switch on my dash I can push to activate this. Right now the system from Suspension Technologies is winning out over Baker and MotorTrike.
MotorTrike is about $500 cheaper than either of the other two but in this case I would say you get what you pay for. I have read more than on review on MotorTrike saying there were issues with the fit & finish.
 
#11 ·
Anything by Baker is solid in terms of Product and Company........have no experience with this product but do know on the old Baker 7 I had in the '15......when the new owner blew it up (100% his fault) Baker replaced it for free with the new Grudge.......pretty cool if you ask me......and Old Man Baker is a TRIP too......love that guy
 
#13 ·
Well I pulled the trigger on the MRP from ST this morning and they have already gotten the parts ready for shipment. I ordered the aux switches and harness also so my total was $1914 after their military discount. Can wait for it to get here and to not have to ask my daugher to help me back up anymore.
 
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#16 ·
So far ST has been easy to deal with and gave me a veterans discount also. It will be here next Thursday so once I get it installed I'll give a report on how easy it was to install and what I think of it.
 
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#17 ·
For those of you with reverse can you give me any pointers on how to do so? What things do I need to watch out for? Are there any problems when trying to turn and back? When I back out of my garage I have to turn to the right some to clear the edge of my house and I am doing this on gravel. This is one of the big reasons I want reverse. Or I can position my bike where I can back into the garage and then drive out. But I still have to turn a little.
 
#18 ·
Go very slow and short distance with two wheels. Try not to turn while backing up go straight. Turning a little on flat ground is not the end of the world but you need to be ready for it. Practice in a parking lot. Use a Y turn to turn around if you can.
 
#19 ·
The brown truck dropped off the box Wednesday and I can say I am impressed with the unit itself. I am installing it Monday with the help of a Army buddy who is now a HD tech. Going over to his house on Monday to do the work. Will try to take pictures when I can and will report back once it is installed and I get a chance to try it out.




 
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#20 ·
Well I had sat here lookin at this box for 2 days and just couldn't wait any longer. So instead of waiting for Monday to get here and going over to my Army buddies house I started working on it today. I'll still go over to his house on Monday and check out all the work I did and make sure I didn't screw anything up.

So yesterday I installed the aux switch and had started on the wiring. So the first thing I did was finish that off. Adding the aux switch gives you wiring plus one plug.



So then it was time to figure out how to lower the rear tire but not have it fall out. Well guess what? My floor jack worked real good for that.



The stock rear axle almost all the way out. Once I pull it I'll find out for sure if my idea will work or not.



Yes it worked and here is the cush drive which you can see with the stock rear pulley removed.





To install the M.R.P. you have to remove the cush drive and cut the ring that holds them together so that each piece is now separate.





 
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#21 ·
What it looks like without the cush drive installed.



Rear brake caliper, ABS sensor are removed and set off to the side.



Before I installed the new axle shaft I put a thin coating of Anti-Seize on it.



Shaft back in and the torque plate installed.



Here is a video of me testing the reverse function as shown on ST's web site. It works as it should.



Yes it is suppose to make that noise. They explain the what's and why's of it doing this so instead of my trying to explain it please watch their video here.

 
#22 ·
Rear brake caliper bracket and rear caliper reinstalled back on the bike. All of this went as well as can be expected. Then the fun began with setting the belt tension and rear tire alignment.



Now the FUN and the HARDEST part of the whole install, Drilling a hole into my saddlebag. I know it isn't a BIG deal but these saddlebags are in good shape and I just cringed having to drill this hole.



Final hole size is 7/16th and then you install a rubber grommet. Because I have the power locks I already have a hole for the wiring for the locks so instead of drilling two holes like the instructions say I ran the compressor wiring up thru that grommet.





I ran out of time to finish off today so I will be back at it tomorrow and finish the compressor install and final wiring of the compressor. Then it will be a quick final check of everything that I had removed and then I can check out how this reverse works and what I think of having it on my bike.
 
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#24 ·
Well it works and I was able to back out of my garage with it but when I tried to activate it again it wouldn't work. Pulled up my driveway and messed with it more and then moved the air line and it started working again. So I will go ride it and see if it acts up again. If it does I'll call ST tomorrow and see if they can offer any help.


 
#25 ·
Congtrats! But, you're going to have to start using the garage to the left side. That's so tight it made me nervous just watching! :smile:
 
#26 ·
It would be nice but the left side has my Jeep in it and the Jeep is all torn down right now. The contractor that built my place really screwed up the garage placement.
 
#27 ·
Yes that DANG NAB alarm is a PITA and is going away. I don't like the push connectors they use so I changed things up a little to make it easier to disconnect the air line by adding a second push connector. I may just change the one at the axle with one of the 90* fittings I have. I have an air system on my Jeep that uses the same size air line so I have a lot of parts.





Just some pictures of the compressor and how I packed my gear in around it. It worked out well and the only thing I had to move over to the other saddlebag was my 1 gallon gas can and my tool roll.





I was able to back up my driveway and back into my garage which is not something I could do even before my amputation. So I am more than happy with this kit I just need to figure out what the intermittent issue with it not going into reverse is. I haven't driven it very far yet but tomorrow I am heading to Yakima which is an hour away so maybe that will loosen things up a little. Getting into my garage is always a pain because that is a lip between the gravel and the garage floor. It took me a few tries to get the back tire up and into the garage. But having this powered reverse is great.
 
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#28 ·
I have been using the Baker reverse in my 2013 RGU for a year and a half now with no issues at all. It's simple to use with your shift lever, stop with the bike in 1st gear, use the toggle switch and push down on the shifter to engage reverse. After you back up just shift up into 1st. The kit is a bit expensive but hey I've seen guys spend more on exhaust systems to get the sound they want. If you are mechanically inclined and do the work yourself this is a fun weekend install.
 
#29 ·
I looked at the Baker units along with the AIM and MotorTrike reverse kits. There were good and bad about each option but I liked the M.R.P. the most out of all of them. The cost isn't that much different between any of the higher end units.
Once I get some miles on this reverse I can say more about how I like it.
 
#30 ·
Just a quick update the this setup. I used the reverse a few times while going out to SWIX and then a few on the first 2 days. Then while on a ride Wednesday 14 Aug I went to use it and the bike was acting like it was bound up and it would have killed the engine if I had kept letting the clutch out.

So while we were waiting for a storm to roll past is I called Suspension Technologies and spoke with tech support. Something is broken inside and I will have to send it back for them to diagnose and repair whatever is broken.
There will be a shipping label waiting for me when I get back home. Bad part is the bike will be down during this time.

Good part is that that the bike is still rideable now.
 
#31 ·
Just another quick update on the drama of this whole issue.


I removed the M.R.P. Wednesday and got the unit shipped on Thursday 22 Aug. What sucks is that it isn't going to get to Yelvington until 30 Aug so I won't see the M.R.P. back until sometime after Labor Day weekend. One of the reasons I had liked this unit was if something broke I could still ride the bike.

I called and spoke with Noah today from Yelvington just to make 100% sure I was correct that I could reinstall my old stock rear pulley onto the bike and ride it until the repaired M.R.P. came back from them. So I'll be riding just with out a reverse.

The bike is going in on 5 Sept to get the 10k service done and my 117" big bore kit is getting installed also. Can't wait to get the bike back and see what that extra power is going to be like.
 
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#34 ·
Thanks and I will update this once I have some more information.

Rick, keep Us posted on how You make out with Yelvington.
I hope everything works out to Your Liking Bro.
Mike U.

I always try to be fair in my reporting on products as I use them. To date Yelvington has been awesome and hasn't balked at offering to fix the issue with my reverse. I know many would be upset about something breaking in the first week of use and I'll admit I wasn't happy but I will not bod mouth a company just because I had a issue with it. They are standing behind their product and that is what matters to me. With the age of the internet people sometimes seem quick to just want to talk bad about a product and not allow the company to try and make it right.

I don't have any experiance with any of the other reverses offered but I wonder if you can return the bike to stock if something happens to the reverse in the tranny? With the Yelvington unit it is really easy to just put the stock pulley back on and you can still use the bike. This means a lot to me as I'll be riding this coming weekend.
 
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