Who here has had good luck and longevity with the ultima motor? Mainly how many miles any mods any issues and lst what numbers did you get after you broke the. Motor in? I had 2 diff. Ultima 127's but the bikes were uilt for Re sale. 1 fxr 1 bagger
My fxr broke a rocker arm
My bagger likes to eat starters and starter rings.

 

I've had alot of trouble with the 127" It is stupid fast but personally would buy a S&S next time. Replaced many parts minor and major, just recently was looking for a cause of noisy lifters and found the cam bushing spun out, wasn't the cause of the noisy lifters but now have a S&S oil pump, cam, lifters and cam cover. The story on the Ultima's after talking to owners is win some, lose some. Ultima replaced my heads and still appreciate the backbone by them, the new heads was CNC machined with several rough cast areas still showing in the combustion chamber area, they just needed cleaned up by hand before installing, something you wouldn't think should be common in a race application engine.

 

don't know anything about them but there's a 120 on cleveland craigslist for $2000

 

big motors are fun - but the price you will pay for that fun is something else = in my shop i no longer buy done motors from anyone / nor do i build anything bigger then a 4 5/8 stroke and 3 5/8 bore and that is a stretch for me i like the 89 - 3 1/2 bore

but i also still have a few hot rods myself so

 

MHO, My cash would go on the S&S, with no other considerations.

 

cant speak to ultima, but my opinion is S&S all the way

2 full seasons on my 124.

blew out one starter bendix (warrantied by AllBalls, been running a rebuilt stock 1.2kw starter since then tho), which also took out the ring/pinion gear. running a 10/84 setup now for a little more cranking torque.

chewed up 1 sprocket per season. PBI alloy sprocket (they're cheaper than replacing chains). they last ~ 8-10k miles.

2 rear tires, 1 front

couple sets of exhaust gaskets (seem to get at least one exhaust leak per season....dunno if high compression is tough on gaskets or Dragula is slightly out of spec for a bigbore evo)


and a whole lot of gas.


seriously. not one mechanical problem....and I dont exactly baby this thing (although ill admit I slowed down a bit since my best friend wrecked his 92 ultra a couple weeks ago)

go S&S

 

I fretted over this for a long time before deciding on the V111. No regrets with 20k since last October. I figured it was less likely to blow up on a trip. If that happens any savings would be gone. Plus it already comes with good lifters, oil pump, etc. And not so much valve train stress.

 

the 111 S&S would be my choice.

 

Hmmmm??
Chiwanese??? or USA ??
Decisions, Decisions!!!!
I think maybe S&S has been around long enough to have "Earned their Stripes"

 

S&S has had some engines grenade so no machine with rotating parts is bullet proof, Ultima's have many happy owners also with base and pumped up engines.

The Ultima engine has good cases, nice machined flywheels and the steel rod design is made for abuse, heads have a upper level grade of aluminum. The problem is they will have production of machining that isn't precision or outsourced parts that have a run of failure, they have always made the corrections but damage was done.

My situation was a 127" came along for 1/3 price of a S&S, taking the engine apart even splitting the cases can see Ultima has copied the American Harley and even improved some area's, the Ulitima HPHV oil pump is identical to the S&S, the R1 is a Super G with improvements, basic Timpken bearings fit, just gotta give the American machinest an attaboy with the S&S products.

I don't cut the engine much slack, the problems that have been encountered havn't been parts breakage, have been bearing flaking, bushing spinning, pressed fit item. Here is the wildcard that John was talking about, this engine can stretch the front forks out of a 60 mph throttle roll on, each gear accelerates the same amount of speed with ease. My situation was what the hell gamble, if it came down to full price of a Ultima for $5000 or a S&S for $6000, would go ahead and sell a kidney for a grand to get the S&S after some hands on experience, would even think hard about it if I came across another Ultima again for $2000 but the fun factor can't be replaced.