Hello everyone. I plan to build/rebuild a Harley from scratch, and I thought that I should begin by deciding what type of engine that I like best (and why). My father-in-law has an extremely loud and totally awesome sounding Super Glide (with straight pipes), and I really like the way that it "lobes"! In fact, it idles so slowly that you'd swear that every single breath it takes will be it's last...


I found this short video on YouTube ( ) which gives some idea about the different sounds of the various Harley engines throughout years past, but I'd appreciate some help really getting to know the good/bad/ugly of the main engines that I'm going to choose from for my bike.


I'm guessing that each and every one (Flat, Knuckle, Pan, Shovel, Evolution & Twin Cam) has some pretty distinct characteristics worth learning about. Especially with regard to building/restoring a scratch bike. Since I'm not rich by any means, I'll have to balance between the "best"/most common type, my personal favorite and what I can find/afford.


I've ordered a book entitled "The Complete Harley Davidson: A Model-by-Model History of the American Motorcycle", which I hope will be a good (and quite interesting) reference. I just watched a documentary called "Harley Davidson: The Spirit of America", and I found it interesting but primarily focused on Harley riders and the biker culture rather than the actual bikes themselves.


I suppose that's enough for now, please offer any advice and point me in the best direction toward success.


Rob

 

Bore size, stroke, cam and compression ration will all have different effects on how the engine will sound. That isn't even including the air flow going in and out.

 

Idling a bike that slow isn't good for it.

 

you just need to listen and pick the one you like...


https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...m=vid&start=10

 

I get what you're saying - even similar motors can sound much different. Most of these things I can change/adjust to "tweak" the sound & performance, yes?

 

I forsee a lower end problem in the future on that bike.

 

I'll bet it's not. He hasn't ridden for over 10 years, I rode it the last two times on small local charity rides, and I'm pretty sure that whichever of his two grandsons that inherit it will most likely either keep but never ride it, or get rid of it. Sadly, I'm not even in the running!!


He tells stories of a local ace mechanic named "Mush", who adjusted it because it "didn't sound JUST right". He said that ol' Mush could fix/tweak anything, although I'm sure that his tweaks had more to do with looks & sound than performance.

$10 says it already has...

I find Harley history very fascinating, so I plan to take my time and learn all of the theory behind what I'm doing. I hope to have as much if not more fun learning about them, than I do actually building one.

 

Call me odd but there are more important factors than the rpm and sound of the engine's idle when selecting an engine. You can crank down the idle speed of a Harley and make it sound like an old John Deere two cylinder engine but you are starving the engine for oil.

 

The EVO was idling WAY TO SLOW. And where was the shovelhead?

 

I'd like another Evo with a 95" kit, baffled 40" slash cut staggered drag pipes.