Which cam for sound?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 320
Likes: 179
From: Socal
As suggested by others, define your riding habits, study the rpms where you ride the most. I am still not sure which cam Im going to go with. This next cam testing by FM should clear the air a bit. A nice broad torque curve from say 2250-4500 and a cam the make good power under 5000. My bike has only seen 5000 a couple of times in 9000 miles. As for idle sound, dont really care that much, but a cam that comes in at 3500 even though it has a wicked idle would be useless for me. Just food for thought. When you hear a bike you like ask the owner what cam is in it. I would then look around for dyno sheets to look at the curves to solidify the choice. Again purely a personal choice on sound.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 140
Likes: 81
From: Wisconsin
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 862
Likes: 417
From: In the mountains
"Compared to a cammed shovel they might not sound choppy to you, but listen to a normal evo next to a 1200 evo Sportster and you'll agree."
I don't agree, the Shovelhead cam has more overlap. They are close, but the Sportster has less. And I never said a Sportster sounds less "choppy".
I don't agree, the Shovelhead cam has more overlap. They are close, but the Sportster has less. And I never said a Sportster sounds less "choppy".
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 1,208
From: Ohio
Wow, I cant imagine
not that I am hammering the throttle from every stoplight but I do enjoy the throttle, especially when out in the country. Between me and my riding buddies we have also found the need to occasionally challenge one another
lol. Normally, we only hit it up through 3rd gear. 
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,205
"Compared to a cammed shovel they might not sound choppy to you, but listen to a normal evo next to a 1200 evo Sportster and you'll agree."
I don't agree, the Shovelhead cam has more overlap. They are close, but the Sportster has less. And I never said a Sportster sounds less "choppy".
I don't agree, the Shovelhead cam has more overlap. They are close, but the Sportster has less. And I never said a Sportster sounds less "choppy".
Carbed bikes run a richer idle too, which can add some chop. And at least mine idled a little lower than my current (twin cam) bikes when set according to spec.
Maybe the simple way to put it is that an engine with a higher HP peak or more HP per cubic inch is inevitably going to have a "bigger" cam, all else equal.
Many here point out that you definitely don't want too big a cam, especially for a heavier bike, because it'll move the power to a range where you're less likely to get use out of it and you'll miss the lower engine speed torque you trade off to get it. There is seldom ever any free lunch in that area. But there can also be no doubt that if all you care about is sound/chop, more cam with more overlap will give you more of it, at the expense of other things you probably want.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 320
Likes: 179
From: Socal
Wow, I cant imagine
not that I am hammering the throttle from every stoplight but I do enjoy the throttle, especially when out in the country. Between me and my riding buddies we have also found the need to occasionally challenge one another
lol. Normally, we only hit it up through 3rd gear.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
Ive hit my 5700RPM limiter more times than I can count.
When doing high speed passes, and zero to 60 pulls, I exceed 5000RPM easily.
For the 22XE cam that's going into my bike next, the tune's limiter should be set at 6200RPM.
Peak power is well beyond 5000RPM, and these engines can handle that.
When doing high speed passes, and zero to 60 pulls, I exceed 5000RPM easily.
For the 22XE cam that's going into my bike next, the tune's limiter should be set at 6200RPM.
Peak power is well beyond 5000RPM, and these engines can handle that.
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Banned
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 673
Likes: 409
It seems this "lope" sound you are chasing is basically misfiring at idle caused by low intake velocity, in turn caused by cams with big overlap.
Would it not be easier to program the ignition to randomly cut spark at idle? Then you could stay with a cam that gives the power band you like and still get that cool sounding uneven idle.
Just a thought
Would it not be easier to program the ignition to randomly cut spark at idle? Then you could stay with a cam that gives the power band you like and still get that cool sounding uneven idle.
Just a thought
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 1,208
From: Ohio
It is possible to have your cake and eat it too. You can get a good choppy sound at idle and have more torque down low than stock. Note, you may not have the most torque of all possible cams available, and you may not have the most chop at idle, but you can have more torque across the entire power band than stock, significantly more peak torque, more peak HP, a choppy sound and an all-around better running bike. It has been my experience, the bike will run cooler and if you ride it normal it will return normal fuel economy.
The key in all of this is to stay with bolt in cams unless raising compression etc., pick a good pipe without the cat and get a real non-epa tuner and tune. Fuel moto and other good aftermarket companies can absolutely help with the correct configuration.
I love the results of Woods cams but they have been known to have aggressive ramps and be very hard on the valve train. At least this was the case with the Twin Cam. I dont know about the M8 but will consider Woods before making final decision.
The key in all of this is to stay with bolt in cams unless raising compression etc., pick a good pipe without the cat and get a real non-epa tuner and tune. Fuel moto and other good aftermarket companies can absolutely help with the correct configuration.
I love the results of Woods cams but they have been known to have aggressive ramps and be very hard on the valve train. At least this was the case with the Twin Cam. I dont know about the M8 but will consider Woods before making final decision.
Last edited by stratplexi; Jan 19, 2024 at 08:18 AM.