Why don't newer big twins have the potato sound?
#1
11-18-2010, 10:25 PM
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Why don't newer big twins have the potato sound?
I don't have a lot of experience with BT's (I ride a Nightster) but I am looking at Fatboys lately. I was surprised by the exhaust note of the stock (2007) model - the valve noise was almost louder than the pipes. I later checked out a 2008 with V&H longshots, which was loud, but lacked what I would consider the classic Harley potato sound. What mods do folks do to get a great sound?
#2
11-18-2010, 10:40 PM
you need to buy a older carb bike, now there smoged out with fuel injected, find yourself a 05 or later i believe o5 was last yr for carbed bikes
#4
11-18-2010, 10:52 PM
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It is a combination of things. They changed the cams to go with the EFI, but mostly since the EFI requires alot of power, they upped the idle to 1050, which killed the sound we all miss. The carbed bikes thru 05 had it, but since then, no joy.
#5
11-18-2010, 11:14 PM
I think you can get it with overlap and cams. You also have to lower the idle, but lowering the idle alone will not get you what you want.
A few mods to the engine, and a tune that will allow it will let EFI lope.
A few mods to the engine, and a tune that will allow it will let EFI lope.
#6
11-18-2010, 11:18 PM
Because Harley has to build a bike that can meet epa emissions and noise standards. They also restrict the ECM on 04 and later models. to get the potato potato sound you definately need some motor work 103+ high compression a big cam and a bike with a carb on it woulnt hurt but if you are looking for something newer that EFI with the bigger motor still wont give quite the same potato potato sound like the carb bikes will.
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#7
11-18-2010, 11:36 PM
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#8
11-18-2010, 11:38 PM
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Because Harley has to build a bike that can meet epa emissions and noise standards. They also restrict the ECM on 04 and later models. to get the potato potato sound you definately need some motor work 103+ high compression a big cam and a bike with a carb on it woulnt hurt but if you are looking for something newer that EFI with the bigger motor still wont give quite the same potato potato sound like the carb bikes will.
#9
11-19-2010, 12:10 AM
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Because Harley has to build a bike that can meet epa emissions and noise standards. They also restrict the ECM on 04 and later models. to get the potato potato sound you definately need some motor work 103+ high compression a big cam and a bike with a carb on it woulnt hurt but if you are looking for something newer that EFI with the bigger motor still wont give quite the same potato potato sound like the carb bikes will.
#10
11-19-2010, 04:01 AM
"Potato, Potato, Potato", always sounded strange to me...
Not the sound, but the verbal 'rendition'. Higher idle RPM with EFI killed the sound, no matter how you describe it. My Magnetti Morelli ignition brought idle rpm down to around 800-900, sometimes drops a little lower. I like the way it sounds there, but it still doesn't have that classic 'tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump'...
Not the sound, but the verbal 'rendition'. Higher idle RPM with EFI killed the sound, no matter how you describe it. My Magnetti Morelli ignition brought idle rpm down to around 800-900, sometimes drops a little lower. I like the way it sounds there, but it still doesn't have that classic 'tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump'...
