Which cam for sound?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,451
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
The general public does not want to hear a loud noise we like it cause we like Harleys. But I sure don't when I am trying to take a nap. I lived by a bar once, really hated it then.
I made the comment based on the post you don't know what your bike sounds like to others.
Over the years some have turned down idle to try and sound like a shovel. Some say bad idea due to oil pressure and some claim on fuel injected bikes you want to keep voltage up for pump. I would think battery would be enough. But there has been plenty of old threads on this.
Myself I jack my idle up so it warms up easier,less likely to stall. Not such a issue with fuel injection
I do agree a cam sounds cool. But make sure right cam for what you want to ride,not just cause it sounds like it is going to stall
I made the comment based on the post you don't know what your bike sounds like to others.
Over the years some have turned down idle to try and sound like a shovel. Some say bad idea due to oil pressure and some claim on fuel injected bikes you want to keep voltage up for pump. I would think battery would be enough. But there has been plenty of old threads on this.
Myself I jack my idle up so it warms up easier,less likely to stall. Not such a issue with fuel injection
I do agree a cam sounds cool. But make sure right cam for what you want to ride,not just cause it sounds like it is going to stall
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 1,208
From: Ohio
An M8 with a good bump stick, real tune, and real performance pipes sounds amazing. Similar to big inch Twin Cams that are built, they sound mean and very much like a hot rod…much more so than any pan, shovel or EVO. If you want the M8 to sound like it should, you have several suggestions on this thread to consider. The CR480 and S&S 475 both sound mean. I assume the 480 is bolt-in, but I don’t know anything about it. The 475 is a bolt-in cam. One word of caution…it is possible to over cam and end up with a soft bottom end. I believe a good set of performance pipes (no cat) and a real tuner (no EPA garbage) with the 475 will still have the bottom end power but add big gains throughout the RPM range. I asked the mechanic at the dealer about this specifically and he warned that it must be tuned properly to see the big gains…120 HP and 140 TQ. I trust him and his advice. He has built 2 engines for me and will also do the work on my M8.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 320
Likes: 179
From: Socal
An M8 with a good bump stick, real tune, and real performance pipes sounds amazing. Similar to big inch Twin Cams that are built, they sound mean and very much like a hot rod
much more so than any pan, shovel or EVO. If you want the M8 to sound like it should, you have several suggestions on this thread to consider. The CR480 and S&S 475 both sound mean. I assume the 480 is bolt-in, but I dont know anything about it. The 475 is a bolt-in cam. One word of caution
it is possible to over cam and end up with a soft bottom end. I believe a good set of performance pipes (no cat) and a real tuner (no EPA garbage) with the 475 will still have the bottom end power but add big gains throughout the RPM range. I asked the mechanic at the dealer about this specifically and he warned that it must be tuned properly to see the big gains
120 HP and 140 TQ. I trust him and his advice. He has built 2 engines for me and will also do the work on my M8.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 1,208
From: Ohio
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 786
From: France
In this video there are some example of different cams for the M8, and as it is explained, it all depends on the result you want to obtain and your use, between the CR480 which favors very early torque and the woods 22XE which favors performance, a lot of things can change, personally if I had to change cam it would be the CR480 because I don't like aggressive riding and I prefer the ease of use at low revs while I prefer the S&S 475 for the great lope at idle, but you don't spend your time listening to its engine at idle ...
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
The general public does not want to hear a loud noise we like it cause we like Harleys. But I sure don't when I am trying to take a nap. I lived by a bar once, really hated it then.
I made the comment based on the post you don't know what your bike sounds like to others.
Over the years some have turned down idle to try and sound like a shovel. Some say bad idea due to oil pressure and some claim on fuel injected bikes you want to keep voltage up for pump. I would think battery would be enough. But there has been plenty of old threads on this.
Myself I jack my idle up so it warms up easier,less likely to stall. Not such a issue with fuel injection
I do agree a cam sounds cool. But make sure right cam for what you want to ride,not just cause it sounds like it is going to stall
I made the comment based on the post you don't know what your bike sounds like to others.
Over the years some have turned down idle to try and sound like a shovel. Some say bad idea due to oil pressure and some claim on fuel injected bikes you want to keep voltage up for pump. I would think battery would be enough. But there has been plenty of old threads on this.
Myself I jack my idle up so it warms up easier,less likely to stall. Not such a issue with fuel injection
I do agree a cam sounds cool. But make sure right cam for what you want to ride,not just cause it sounds like it is going to stall
I am not out for speed or an amazing increase in torque or whatever goes along with a cam upgrade. I just want something that sounds good and little more volume to drown out the M8 sound. Mine has a strange whistle. And of course the Dyno that goes along with that.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 862
Likes: 417
From: In the mountains
"You're absolutely correct. If the bike is not "tuned" properly, sound, of course, means nothing"
Putting a cam in a motor then using a fuel pak is a waste. If all one cares about is sound, idle the bike down until it lunches your alternator.
Putting a cam in a motor then using a fuel pak is a waste. If all one cares about is sound, idle the bike down until it lunches your alternator.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 1,168
From: Northern Colorado
I have a Woods 22XD making a bunch of racket through a Thunderheader and tuned with a Fuel Moto canned program on a Powervision. Mf'r sounds like a trophy truck at full song and lumps along nicely at idle. Not soft on power anywhere from idle to double the posted limit. My helmet drowns most of the noise out but there's juuuust enough that it keeps me wanting to twist the grip completely off every chance I get
The "sounding like a Shovel" thing is funny to me. The "potato potato" sound is fine for a 50yr old chop that barely reaches freeway speeds. I like a nice galloping idle that turns into a wail right off the hit.
The "sounding like a Shovel" thing is funny to me. The "potato potato" sound is fine for a 50yr old chop that barely reaches freeway speeds. I like a nice galloping idle that turns into a wail right off the hit.
Last edited by shiftace; Jan 17, 2024 at 08:56 AM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,298
Likes: 2,392
From: Florida
This is a cruiser, not a race bike. It's got more than enough power for what it's designed for. It's that M8 sound I want to improve. It isn't terrible, it just doesn't match the power this bike already has. There are some good recommendations here I'm going to look into further.