If you just want to go a little faster a different or modified air cleaner, modified exhaust, a set of mild cams and a race fueler or other dro will probably get you there. A couple of the parts you can modify yourself, there are tons of aftermarket parts, and of course there is Ebay. Just depends on how handy you are and how valuable your time is.
When you put in the new cams, if you convert to a gear drive and replace the ina inner bearings with torrington bearings you will greatly improve the reliability of your present motor.
Call Andrews products yourself. http://www.andrews-products.com/ Explain to them exactly what you have,(side hack, big dog, lots of camp gear) and what you want it to do ( good gas milage, pass truck) they can tell you what cam combined with what compression ratio will get you there.
They can also tell you if you will need to bore your jugs to 95 inches to get there.
Then find an experienced independant or dealer mechanic who will follow their recommendations and build what you want.
I see Harley Davidson as the Microsoft of the Motorcycle industry.
Lot of hoopla at the introduction of a new design but wait for the service pack to arrive later and fix the issues with it.
The 96" motors is brand new. It also has an unproven 6 speed, recently redesigned primary drive, and a cam drive that is a rebound from a failed previous redesign. The first 07's were affectionally called "Pizza Ovens" by many of their owners because of the heat put off by the motor. Harley responded with a EFI download and heat resistant underware available for purchase from the accessories shop.
You can volunteer to R&D these new products for HD at your expense, many people do. If you build what you need from your bike, by the time you wear it out, HD should have gotten the bugs out of the 96 and drive line.
Thoughts from experience.
Joe
QuoteThe 96" motors is brand new. It also has an unproven 6 speed, recently redesigned primary drive, and a cam drive that is a rebound from a failed previous redesign. The first 07's were affectionally called "Pizza Ovens" by many of their owners because of the heat put off by the motor. Harley responded with a EFI download and heat resistant underware available for purchase from the accessories shop. You can volunteer to R&D these new products for HD at your expense, many people do. If you build what you need from your bike, by the time you wear it out, HD should have gotten the bugs out of the 96 and drive line. Thoughts from experience.Joe
Joe, not sure if you actually own a 96" bike or not. I have a 2002 RoadKing with a modified 95" (including gear cams) and a 2007 Superglide with a 96". I am aware of the "potential" cam issue, but have had absolutely no issues with them, including overheating,etc. The new 6 speed transmisions may be "unproven", but is the nicest shifting harley made, IMHO.
Oh you bought a 96", I'm sorry.... Don't you wish I had posted this sooner?? LOL
Naa actually I sincerly hope that it turns out to be the best motorcycle you ever own. Harleys are fun, thats why we own them.
To answer you, I don't own a 96". But, what I posted was accurate to the best of my knowlege. I have had my share of harley innovation that didn't work out in the 30+ years I have owned, ridden, and worked on them. (I won't bore you with the details here, but I will slander for coffee or alcholic beverages by appointment)
I am not slaming HD or the 96" motor and drive train. Most new designs, at some point, have unexpected problems, universally not just Harley Davidson. Buy an unproven design and you take a chance.
I don't believe any of the 08's are designed to be amazing sidecar platforms. Neither was the 05 of course. The rake is wrong, the gearing not what it could be etc. Harley takes a solo motorcycle and typically adds a sidecar. I'm pretty sure it is still that way although I have not looked at the 08 offerings. A motorcycle with a sidecar has special design needs and a stock harley isn't designed from the factory to address some of those needs.
I am suggesting that he take his money and build what he really needs.
Either bike will need regearing, maybe more horsepower, and raked tripple trees would be a plus. The tax money on a new 08 is enough to buy a nice set of raked trees and get them installed or a set of cams and some tuning? (maybe). Also modifying the 05 doesn't void it's warranty because it's already over, not so for the new bike. Lastly new does not guarantee better, as the past has often proven.
Joe
[QUOTE I don't believe any of the 08's are designed to be amazing sidecar platforms. Neither was the 05 of course. The rake is wrong, the gearing not what it could be etc. Harley takes a solo motorcycle and typically adds a sidecar. I'm pretty sure it is still that way although I have not looked at the 08 offerings. A motorcycle with a sidecar has special design needs and a stock harley isn't designed from the factory to address some of those needs. I am suggesting that he take his money and build what he really needs. Either bike will need regearing, maybe more horsepower, and raked tripple trees would be a plus. The tax money on a new 08 is enough to buy a nice set of raked trees and get them installed or a set of cams and some tuning? (maybe). Also modifying the 05 doesn't void it's warranty because it's already over, not so for the new bike. Lastly new does not guarantee better, as the past has often proven. Joe
Well, while I may not agree about some things, I do share your conclusions about using a Harley as a tug. I seriously considered using my RoadKing a couple years ago, then decided that it needed too many changes (i.e. the items you mention) plus some which were pretty difficult (i.e. gearing), plus even with the 95" motor it didn't have any surplus of power. Add in price and it just made more sense to get something else.Of course, when you already have a particular bike, sometimes it seems easier to modify it versus the pain of selling and finding something else.Also, I was really surprised at how much "power" it robs moving a sidecar. I originally thought my 1000cc Suzuki would have "more than enough" power, whereas in reality it is only adequate.cheersgreg
well...
1- if you read the fine print.. i know i know - who does that....
in harleys police bike specs that read like standard contract language..
there is a paragraph explaining EXACTLY what features of the current FL frame are specifically to handle sidecar loading as to ensure that there wont be any problems if you use a FL to pull a sidecar. and detailing what those problems/ issues are and how they solved them.
2 - while 99% of harley sidecars are sold like mine - in a crate separate - you CAN get the pair with matching vin numbers as a single line item purchase. ie bike and sidecar as ONE bike. one letter of the vin is reserved for this purpose - find a bike with the proper vin and it CAME with a mounted sidecar.
3 - when you install the sidecar kit - the factory lists the bike as a sidecar bike from that point on. its a LOT of picky little changes.
4 - a stock 96" with a 350lb rider, and 200lb wife & 10 days of stuff will cruise at 80 on the cruise control or 91 or 92 manually for hours and hours - no problem - and i cant conceive of any reason whatsoever to change the gearing.
5 - going to a bigger engine 110 or 124 will make it so you dont have to trip off the cruise control on long hills into the wind.. but makes no other difference.
to
I think it would be cool, and maybe add value, if the serial #s matched. If your bike will pull uphill, etc the way you decribe, you certainly don't need more power. My RK (with the 95) will cruise 80mph all day, as long as its fairly flat, and no strong head winds, If I am real loaded down, it takes special effort in the mountains (4 th gear, full throttle, etc). Then the mileage really drops, like hi 20s. This is without a sidecar. Probably riding style, and where I ride. Sure love the bike though, have put 70k miles on it I bought in 02.Its really a shame the MotorCompany doesn't take more interest. A 110" motor, without all the "screamin eagle" bling would be nice. Saw an SE Ultra at the dealer the other day, $41k. yes $41 thousand (no sidecar either). Sure was pretty though
yeah - it is a drag that you either have to get all the bling or have the kit installed in a 96.
the only non bling HD hot rods are the police bikes - they are always somewhere near the street legal max, currently 103's.
if you dont need ultra electronics - a stone stock police bike will out pull anything else. they are hand made - not in the main line.
i use the complete police seat, setup on my ultra - its sooooo nice - you have no idea...
to
So are the older (2000-2005) RoadKing Police bikes different than a stock? I was told by a salesman (salesman?) that all they had was basically a light and radio kit....
I definitely am not positive, but I have heard owners say they have higher compression, and maybe lower gearing (?). I also thing think use a different tire, sort of a "run flat" type.
good
the older ones are se 95's with no bling and other tweaks - higher compression - some years have a special air cleaner housing [higher flow - but still rain proof] run flat tires, solo air ride seat [sweet!!!!!! will fit on a ultra with careful work]
the newer ones are 103's [check the compression chart 103's have higher compression that 96 or 110]
but they have no outward appearance of what is inside - but look at the vin plate - 95' or 103"..
if you want a harley sidecar tug but dont need the bling - a police bike is first rate. while i KNOW that you can get a ultra with matched sidecar - i dont know if they do that with police - also with a police bike they cant sell the display model till after the bid lettings are over for the local municipalities - so its a hassle to get a "new" one - and most dealers like sphd that lease many police bikes they strip all the useful stuff off before they put them on the floor - so if you want one with the factory seat & air cleaner ie unmolested you need to get in a request before they come off lease. if you have a dealer that services the police fleets and can wait it would be possible to put in a request for a new one... and wait.
as for older police bikes, lower gearing, high comp engines with the small carburetor [fast starts at the expense of top end], hand shift long after it was gone from civilian bikes, hot bikes that accelerate very fast no bling.
bad
the wiring is a nightmare - not many if any sections of the harness are really the same - want a radio? 1k of wire to put in a stock radio.. arrrggg, there are some wire kits on ebay to change them over
no cruise control - again a wire nightmare to add it [but once you get either cruise or radio the other is cheap again]
