Lets argue carbs
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 342
From: Virginia Beach
I dig the sound and the snorting of an S&S carb. Nothing like it. The smell of gasoline, the sucking of air, the enrichener lever and the tear drop itself. Its a piece of modern muscle bike art. Overkill? Sure... but who cares. Your riding an EVO! Woohoo!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
Actually, there's nothing like the sound of a Quadrajet when you open the secondaries! I love that moan. lol
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
Since this appears to be an opinion thread, here's my 2 cents:
I've had no problem with the stock CV carb in almost 23 years of owning my FLHS. The 'secret' is to have the dang thing tuned correctly for the engine it's attached to. I'm a big fan of dyno tuning, but that's not to say a good 'seat of the pants' tune isn't satisfactory. I get a solid 40 mpg commuting on my 80" EVO, and that's with a combination stop & go street and interstate riding. Interstate only, I get mid 40's, as long as I'm not trying to be the fastest 65 year old fat dude on a Harley...
I've had no problem with the stock CV carb in almost 23 years of owning my FLHS. The 'secret' is to have the dang thing tuned correctly for the engine it's attached to. I'm a big fan of dyno tuning, but that's not to say a good 'seat of the pants' tune isn't satisfactory. I get a solid 40 mpg commuting on my 80" EVO, and that's with a combination stop & go street and interstate riding. Interstate only, I get mid 40's, as long as I'm not trying to be the fastest 65 year old fat dude on a Harley...
Last edited by Hackd; Aug 24, 2015 at 05:52 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
I have had S&S on my last two bikes, including the current one. On this bike I started out with the butterfly carb and it sucked, both literally and figuratively. I went with a CV and was never happy with it. I ordered the S&S kit and all my troubles went away. I love the enricher being right on the air cleaner. The choke on the CV when it replaces the butterfly is weird to route, at least it was on my old bike. It all felt jury rigged. The S&S fits like it belongs there. I like the K&N filter on the S&S better than anything else. You clean it, re-oil it on the rare occasion and ride. Superior design for a DIY type of guy. Dialing in the S&S is simple. As long as you don't have any intake leak issues you'll get it dialed in quickly, especially on a 1340 stock configuration with aftermarket exhaust. The instructions are clear as a bell.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
I have had S&S on my last two bikes, including the current one. On this bike I started out with the butterfly carb and it sucked, both literally and figuratively. I went with a CV and was never happy with it. I ordered the S&S kit and all my troubles went away. I love the enricher being right on the air cleaner. The choke on the CV when it replaces the butterfly is weird to route, at least it was on my old bike. It all felt jury rigged. The S&S fits like it belongs there. I like the K&N filter on the S&S better than anything else. You clean it, re-oil it on the rare occasion and ride. Superior design for a DIY type of guy. Dialing in the S&S is simple. As long as you don't have any intake leak issues you'll get it dialed in quickly, especially on a 1340 stock configuration with aftermarket exhaust. The instructions are clear as a bell.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
I've been doing some engineering trying to figure out what my over-the-winter engine work on the FXR is going to entail, and I'm wondering about carbs.
For ordinary builds (mine is going to be stock stroke and hopefully stock bore assuming my jugs are ok, mild comp bump, probably stock pistons), what advantage is there to going S&S?
I'm really hoping there is a good answer because I think the teardrop air cleaner is totally badass and I'd love a reason to go that way, but I'm having a hard time finding a reason that my plain old CV won't work just fine or better.
So argue with me.
For ordinary builds (mine is going to be stock stroke and hopefully stock bore assuming my jugs are ok, mild comp bump, probably stock pistons), what advantage is there to going S&S?
I'm really hoping there is a good answer because I think the teardrop air cleaner is totally badass and I'd love a reason to go that way, but I'm having a hard time finding a reason that my plain old CV won't work just fine or better.
So argue with me.
But... if I had a stock carb that was working fine, I would not spend the money on a new carb.
I had a S&S air cleaner that I sold on eBay recently for cheap. Too bad we're a few months late Omaha I would have been glad to see you get a good deal. Check eBay surely they are out there.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
I am odd. I have had all three and liked all 3. Decided to go this route on my 97 softail and it has been one of my greatest mods on the bike. Two things about it I like the most is zero coughing ever. Unless I just took off without letting her warm up. And even that is very rare. And I average about 45-48 MPG which I would have never expected. Truth is all 3 are great carbs provided the installer/rider knows what they are doing with them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVID...f5e36d&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVID...f5e36d&vxp=mtr
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Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: NYC
I know 'feel' is a different thing, but how do the dyno sheets stack up on the differences, and at what level of performance do they make a difference rather than just at the gas pump ( ... don't mention Dynojets).
I've seen a few and the ultimate performance difference was very slight on modestly tuned bikes.
I've seen a few and the ultimate performance difference was very slight on modestly tuned bikes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
I know 'feel' is a different thing, but how do the dyno sheets stack up on the differences, and at what level of performance do they make a difference rather than just at the gas pump ( ... don't mention Dynojets).
I've seen a few and the ultimate performance difference was very slight on modestly tuned bikes.
I've seen a few and the ultimate performance difference was very slight on modestly tuned bikes.
All that said, I would say that a properly functioning and tuned carb, any carb, is going to work pretty much just as well as the next one. They all do the same thing, slightly different ways of accomplishing them, and none of them are that precise of an instrument (compared to a modern feedback sequential fuel injection system). My Evo had a S&S working fine, but I wouldn't buy a different one unless mine for some reason broke beyond repair. There's not much of a difference to warrant spending the money on something else.
The key is properly functioning and tuned for the bike it's on.