I haven't noticed mine running any hotter than my 96 Dyna but it hasn't got hot yet.

I think the power PAC is well worth the 2k. I think in a couple years the 103 will be standard so I think the resale value on the ones with the power PAC will be better down the road also.

 

Thanks guys. I guess my big concern is for the hot temperatures and it's effect on comfort (ie. mine and the wife's) due to the heat coming off the engine. My friend has an Ultra with the 103", and on our last boys trip, he was the only one out of the 5 of us to have heat issues with the bike. He even bought the shields to keep the heat off his legs.

I agree that the full load is a much better deal, but I don't want to buy into a potential issue. Also, the ABS is an unknown for me. My 08 Deluxe does not have it, so not sure what to expect.

 

Exactly my thoughts. I think that the 103" will be standard in the near future, so makes sense to have it.

 

My experience is that the cat. converter in the header pipe on the 2010 and newer bikes generates the excessive heat, and heat deflectors won't make much of a difference with that, and it won't matter if you have a 96 or 103 - the same cat. in both.

I removed my stock head pipe and put on a Fullsac header pipe w/o a cat. and now have a vast improvement in heat reduction.

Some guys don't mind the heat off the cat, some do . . . .

 

My wife rides a 96 inch Softail with 22,000 miles, and I a 103 Road King with 32,000 on it Both have Fuelmoto tuners and our crotch cooler/heat shields installed..Heat has never been an issue and we ride a lot in stop and go traffic,when we attend rally's..or down in Florida..

 

Unless you want to do a 96 to 107 Fuel Moto ugrade kit or something, my vote is for the 103 Power Pak. The 103 is the best choice for a Touring Bike in terms of Power and Gas Mileage.

As stated, the 103 engine, ABS, and Cruise Control will probably become standard on baggers within a few years, so failure to get them now may hurt resale value when/if you upgrade/sell later down the road. Heat issues can be addressed with Cat removal or Headpipe Swap. Don't have any Regrets....get the Power Pak.

 

I don't know if it is any different with the 96", but the heat was an issue for me with the 103" until I put on RJ's Heatshields. He is or used to be a sponsor. They made me very happy. I have had no problems with the 103" for the 13,000 miles I have managed to put on it. I also have ABS, which I think is a good idea.

 

+ 1 on Captain Itch Crotch Coolers. My wife and I both bought a set for our bikes. She has the 103 in her's. They work great! I gave the HD Shields that came on her bike to an HDforums Member.

 

Mine seemed a little hot when I first got it, but I did a lot of stop and go. Since I got it tuned, it runs great.
I wouldn't worry too much about reliability. Isn't the 103" the motor they put in the Police bikes?

 

My 103 on my 2011 RG Ultra ran hotter when I first got it. I had the dipstick temp LCD gauge in my older 06 Ultra Classic with stage 1 and normal temps would be around 220 degrees. I got a dipstick temp LCD gauge for my 103 RG Ultra and it ran around 250 degrees. When I first got it my motor would always go to the one cylinder running mode when I stopped for red lights. Since then I got stage 1 and dresser duals done on the 103 RG Ultra and had it dyno tuned and I think the temps have dropped some. I haven't rode it enough to know for sure since I had it done before winter. I think HD expects it to run hotter since they install a oil cooler on all the 103s.