Hello, just after some advice from those in the know about 103" or 106" Big Bore kits for 96" motors.
I'm not interested in dyno numbers at all..... I'm interested in ridability. Just want to know if these kits put out too much to be cruiser and tourer friendly on an 09 RK. I love the power and sound of a big displacement motor and I give it shit every now and then but I mostly cruise and I'm not looking for a drag bike. I just want the big deep rumble and the power on tap for when I want it....
So my question really is - Can a 106" motor be tuned for mostly cruising??? Or is that an oxymoron??
Thanks for any advice?
I have a 103 kit on my '09 FLHT and it's got great cruising and handling manners, even gets better fuel consumption than the 96 did, has loads of torque through to about 5,300rpm. I am very happy with it. Mine is running 255 cams, SE stage 2 air cleaner and Bub Broughart slip ons and tuned with a TTS, got a canned map at the moment but will be doing tuning runs in the near future to fine tune it.
You said you want a simple upgrade, and reliable. well to me when you resize stock Barrels to make a 96" into a 103" thats the same as changing a 88" into a 95" just the 95" uses a shorter stroke 4" stroke the 96" uses 4 3/8" stroke. when i look at the stock barrel linners they look good plenty of meat there and they hold there shape and that means you will have good seal in the bore, so that is important.
then you resize to turn the 96" into 103" or the 88" into 95", when i looked at my 95" after 70,000k it looked similar to the old 80" EVO's you can see how the bore wears anyone that has done a few would know what i mean its ok and normal but i would not go larger and have the cylinder linner even thinner as even though you get 3" more shared between two cyclinders i doubt very much long term you would get any gain. and have to remember with the 4 3/8" stoke the piston speed is higher at any set rev so more wear and tear. as for a 124" s&s for touring in USA they might but i would not choose a 124" to tour as 4 5/8" stroke and pistons that have bugger all skirt . the 124" motor with B2 heads flys no doubt but touring not what i call touring, in USA they ride then winter comes and they get snowed in and they rebuild. but in the southern states it's like here almost. you ride a 124" from Syd to Perth and back and you will need to rebuild, but i know guys ride stock dressers there and back then do it again thats what i call touring the 124" is more a bar hopper. the G2 126" short stroke could be a good touring if you want a lot of Power & TQ but as i don't know anyone personally i could not say.
but from what you have stated i would say 103" is enough and keep the cam lift minimal as high lift cams just mean more wear and tear on valve train, go for a proven combination and say 100HP 115TQ by 4000rev or less and you should be happy and hopefully trouble free riding.
cheers
