Forum

[ogri]

I know it's a long shot but would anyone have a s/h one for sale. I know this will transform Alice (350 Classic)!

[Paul M H]

There is one for sale in the used parts section to the left under used parts & bikes - Gearbox/Primary Drive - Complete Gearboxes. Needs attention though.

[simon]

It's never going to be a cheap mod. Why do you think it will transform your 350 Classic?

[Shane]

Simon - It transformed my 350! Installing a 5sp gearbox changes the bike into a much more user friendly, more pleasurable experience. not a cheap mod, but not super expensive either.

[Chris Tindal]

Just out of interest Shane, why does it make it a more pleasurable experience? I love the old Albion one up three down, kind of goes with the heavy flywheel air cooled pushrod single experience.. I don't get what's not user friendly about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into 'self flagellation ' but mines really easy to use

[Shane]

Changing from a 4 to a 5 speed did a few things for me. I commute 15 miles each way into central London every day. Despite me rebuilding the 4 speed several times I just could not get rid of enough of the neutrals, Pulling out on to very busy roundabouts about requires a reliable gearshift. I could not get the bike to avoid jumping out of 1st gear either., the big gap between 3rd and 4th means that you cannot get the most out of the engine for comfortable riding. From the first ride with the 5 speed I was sold, if just for the much better spacing of the gear ratios. Normally I would repair whatever I have, rather than changing to something else, but despite doing everything suggested by this and other forums, changing most of the components and constant adjusting wouldn't make the 4speed come even close to acceptable.

[Chris Tindal]

Thanks Shane, they must vary somehow as my Indian one is very slick with no neutrals. My old Redditch one needed more of a boot to engage gears but it was still ok, maybe I've just been lucky. Sorry to hijack your post Ogri, hope you find one.

[Lennie]

I am happy with the ratios in the 4 speed, but the gear changes are poor, going up through the gears is ok (except it jumps out of second occasionally), its when you need to go down eg on a hill or into a corner, its absolutely awful, I try to go from 4th to 3rd, hit a neutral, try again, another neutral, invariably end up back in 1st having lost all road speed. I have removed this gearbox and replaced it with one which is better, but not brilliant. Is there a modification available? or is the box in seed of overhaul?

[simon]

I've banged on about this topic forever but i believe that there is nothing wrong with the gearbox that sorting the clutch won't fix. False neutrals and difficultly finding gears is the exact symptoms of a binding clutch. If the bike lets out a heavy clunk when you put it into first from a stationary start then that is your problem.

[Shane]

Perhaps I should have added in my post above, I replaced every clutch component, from lever to the basket, I am not one to admit defeat, but I just couldn't make it work.