The stock cams have .484 lift. I can't see going with less. the 527 is very similar to the SE 204, but with a bit more lift.........they run very well in stock moteors. Having a little extra compression is good,but if you ain't feedin it, what have you got?

 

djl,
Thanks. You touched on two points I'm determined to avoid: additional head work and compression releases.

 

Thanks Scott,
Really good to hear that.

 

I've been researching cams for awhile now and the 48h's always get lots of love. Seems like the go to cam in a stock 96"!

 

Don't sacrifice $75 for what you want, you'll regret it later. Performance costs, how much you wanna go?

 

I was under the impression somewhere in the 30°'s for intake closing was a good place to be, no? It may be a little sluggish way down low when comparing only those two cams, but a cam with that closing shouldn't be a "turd" at all...not true?

 

Stock cam is 30........

 

Let's keep the discussion in context. As I posted, I have installed several set of the 48s with good results; not dissing the 48 cams. However, the OP has narrowed his cam choices down to the 48 and the 525 and, in that context, I think the 525 looks interesting on paper and worth a try. The "turd" comparison might have been a little OTT but the point I was making was that the earlier intake close of the 525 and the general cam profile was going to strike earlier than the 48.

Looking at the profiles of the two cams, I would expect the 525 to generate a lot of torque early, like 1800-2000 rpms and continue to peak between 3500-4000 rpms which, IMHO, would be perfect for a touring model running a Stage I 96" motor with the tall geared six speed transmission. Now, you have to consider that this is coming from a guy that has run four different cam sets this past year in my all bore 107" '02 FLHT; I like to tinker and I would be curious enough to try the 525. The RS 525 looks like an interesting choice for the OP but the 48 is certainly a good choice as well.

Now if talking 103", I would have to go with the 48 or even the SE204 on stilts. Additionally, if we open up the cam choices to include TMan and S&S, there are also other great options as well but the OP set out the 48 and the 525 has the two cams he is considering.

Compression = torque. Guys install a set of worked heads and attribute all the increase in performance to the porting while much of the increase is the result of setting compression at the sweet spot for the particular cam. That was my point about stock heads; the heads flow very little between .400"-.500" lift and flow flattens out at .500" lift. Sure the valve is opens a bit more but nothing is happening. So, the added compression is much more of a benefit than the added lift. The 48 with a 29* intake close will generate the same corrected CR and CCP as the stock cam; 8.9/183psi. Drop the 525 in and corrected CR and CCP increase to 9.2/189psi; that would point me to the 525 over the 48 in a touring model.

 

Just saying CRs would be nice to have with CCP approaching 190psi; lots of motors running there without them. However, if you have ACR heads, it would be worthwhile to install the ACRs and wire them up; the harness is plug/play; just easier on the battery and starter.

 

One thing that is overlooked is the compensator. The acr's engage EVERY time the engine is started not just when the operator remembers to activate them and using cr's them takes considerable strain off the comp as well. I would consider them must haves in 07 and up bikes.