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You don't agree with what? I told you to compare an Evo Sportster to a big twin Evo. I don't even know the cam specs but my ear tells me that the 1200 Sportster has more overlap.
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.
your post> "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."
You are taking this discussion all over the place, I tried to inject facts (cam specs etc.) into it, so let's agree to disagree.
Last edited by natural gasser; Jan 19, 2024 at 09:47 AM.
I think we can all agree, Sportsters sound d@mn good with a good set of pipes. Even the 883s, sound waaaaaay better than an M8. The stock cam in the M8 is all about Euro 5 and Euro 6 compliance and while it does have good low end torque, it falls off way to fast and abrupt.
But, not to worry, the aftermarket has given us “bolt-in” options to not only stand tall in the face of 883s idling nearby, but to stand tall in the face of the venerable carb-fed shovels with drag pipes idling nearby. Lol
your post> "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."
You are taking this discussion all over the place, I tried to inject facts (cam specs etc.) into it, so let's agree to disagree.
Reading comprehension is key. You even quoted the sentence, now read it. I never said a 1200 Sportster was choppier than a cammed Shovel. I said it was choppier than a stock big twin Evo. And it is. I haven't taken the discussion anywhere else, you did that. I think you'd actually agree with me if you'd just read what I said instead of what you thought was there.
1200 Sportsters have a choppier idle and (I believe) more power per cubic inch than any stock big twin Evo or Twin Cam of any displacement. If someone has the actual cam specs for the 1200 (evo) Sportster vs. the big twin Evo, and all three flavors of Twin Cam, I suspect it has considerably more duration and overlap than those.
I don't miss my Sportster but it probably sounded better than either of my TC 103 bikes (and it absolutely sounded better than any stock M8). And it was nothing special, just a normal Sporty with a set of V&H pipes on it.
Reading comprehension is key. You even quoted the sentence, now read it. I never said a 1200 Sportster was choppier than a cammed Shovel. I said it was choppier than a stock big twin Evo. And it is. I haven't taken the discussion anywhere else, you did that. I think you'd actually agree with me if you'd just read what I said instead of what you thought was there.
1200 Sportsters have a choppier idle and (I believe) more power per cubic inch than any stock big twin Evo or Twin Cam of any displacement. If someone has the actual cam specs for the 1200 (evo) Sportster vs. the big twin Evo, and all three flavors of Twin Cam, I suspect it has considerably more duration and overlap than those.
I don't miss my Sportster but it probably sounded better than either of my TC 103 bikes (and it absolutely sounded better than any stock M8). And it was nothing special, just a normal Sporty with a set of V&H pipes on it.
what year was your Sportster? Another thing the Sportster had over its big twin brethren besides cam specs is higher compression, at least the later rubber mounted EVOs. I believe they were running 10:1, which will add a little more pop to the sound. The W cams were very good cams too and used in both the 883 and 1200s.
Cherish your riding buddies... mine are interested in video games and expensive bicycles... But you gave me an idea of what to try tomorrow on my way to work - completely sending it in 3rd gear.
Same in my family, most guys married with grown kids would rather play video games then ride a motorcycle. I can't believe what is happening with the new 40 to 50 age group 😳
I really like the sound of my Sporty, below is a short vid of it and another Sporty, around the 20 second mark-
But I also was very frustrated with the sound of my M8, so I did something about it...video below of after cam install sound, starting at the 46 second mark-
"Another thing the Sportster had over its big twin brethren besides cam specs is higher compression, at least the later rubber mounted EVOs."
Yes compression a factor also, good post.
Last edited by natural gasser; Jan 21, 2024 at 07:27 PM.
I'm just wondering who cares about Sportsters or any motor older than the M8, since this is an '18 plus Softail thread asking about cams. Good convo but is it relevant?
To the OP so far from what I've been looking at the best cams for sound that also perform, depending on exhaust, are CR483, Star 30/30, S&S 475, and the TTS 175. I'm sure there are more and in the end it depends on how you ride whether a cam is the right fit for you.
what year was your Sportster? Another thing the Sportster had over its big twin brethren besides cam specs is higher compression, at least the later rubber mounted EVOs. I believe they were running 10:1, which will add a little more pop to the sound. The W cams were very good cams too and used in both the 883 and 1200s.
I found this chart
02, which I guess would be the D cam in your chart.
The same duration will be choppier in a smaller displacement engine as well.
Interestingly the D cam above has the same exhaust duration as the cam in my small block Chevy.
I'm just wondering who cares about Sportsters or any motor older than the M8, since this is an '18 plus Softail thread asking about cams. Good convo but is it relevant?
To the OP so far from what I've been looking at the best cams for sound that also perform, depending on exhaust, are CR483, Star 30/30, S&S 475, and the TTS 175. I'm sure there are more and in the end it depends on how you ride whether a cam is the right fit for you.
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