EVO top speed?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
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From: Michigan
EVO top speed?
I have a '98 Heritage Softail Anniversary Edition Springer with an Evo carbed.
I bought his bike new and only rode it one full season and it's been basically stored with the exception of a "sunny day ride" every once in a while and it has about 9500 miles on it.
Two years ago I took it down to have new tires installed but for the first time ever it didn't want to "rev" without spitting, coughing, etc.
I did the normal stuff (fresh fuel, air cleaner, spark plugs, intake seals, removed and cleaned the carb twice) but still had the same problem.
I pulled the car for the THIRD time and cleaned it again and wouldn't you know, I must have done something right because after that, it ran like new!!!
Anyway, I took it for a ride to "stretch it's legs" and for the first time ever I decided to see what the bike would do on top end speed.
On level ground, it topped out at 90 MPH which is much faster that I need or want it to go but I was wondering if this is close to the average top speed for an EVO.
FWIW, I've owned three other EVO's but I never even bothered to check them.
My Springer has a stock engine, straight Samson fishtails, a dyno-jetted carb, the bike has a windshield and at that time I weighed about 200#'s.
I bought his bike new and only rode it one full season and it's been basically stored with the exception of a "sunny day ride" every once in a while and it has about 9500 miles on it.
Two years ago I took it down to have new tires installed but for the first time ever it didn't want to "rev" without spitting, coughing, etc.
I did the normal stuff (fresh fuel, air cleaner, spark plugs, intake seals, removed and cleaned the carb twice) but still had the same problem.
I pulled the car for the THIRD time and cleaned it again and wouldn't you know, I must have done something right because after that, it ran like new!!!
Anyway, I took it for a ride to "stretch it's legs" and for the first time ever I decided to see what the bike would do on top end speed.
On level ground, it topped out at 90 MPH which is much faster that I need or want it to go but I was wondering if this is close to the average top speed for an EVO.
FWIW, I've owned three other EVO's but I never even bothered to check them.
My Springer has a stock engine, straight Samson fishtails, a dyno-jetted carb, the bike has a windshield and at that time I weighed about 200#'s.
Don't know if my '90 FHLTC will pull 90MPH, but my FXR certainly would.
So by modern standards, these things are slow. My last Zook would cruise effortlessly at 120MPH and never felt strained or unstable.
Guess I just outgrew that sort of thing.
So by modern standards, these things are slow. My last Zook would cruise effortlessly at 120MPH and never felt strained or unstable.
Guess I just outgrew that sort of thing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
I've had my dyna up to 110mph when I had my speedometer still. Started shaking bad will never do it again. I swear though since the speedometer broke and I removed it the bike is a lot faster...
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 19
From: Evo-ville, Iowa
Out at sturgis last year did the devils tower loop and one of the straights was clear as far as could see, held it wide open for a long time, held a stable 105 and when wind was less would creep up to 110. A shade faster than my gsxr 1000 in first gear
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,025
Likes: 7,549
From: Poolville
I know a lot guys are afraid of the death wobble, which on my bike kicks in around 115 mph. Just like in the movie with the Aussie that wanted to run the salt flats. You can push through it if you want and yea it gets a little nerve racking but you can do it. The most i had the nerve to do was 136 mph. On a heavey bike its not the most stable.. I have been upwards of that though when I was younger and cruising on rice grinder.... It is a thrill... Exhilarating.....
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 768
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From: chico
Bikes, dressers, have, it is true, fairly small frontal areas aerodynamically - but they also have really bad drag ratios and eddies - and fairly short length to area ratios. Minor variations in lay-out can make for large changes in absolute drag at air-speeds like 90 +
Nevertheless I'd expect to see just about any Harley bust a full ton. Guys have done that on a 45... But like you say, 90 is fasternyawannago... Me too.
Nevertheless I'd expect to see just about any Harley bust a full ton. Guys have done that on a 45... But like you say, 90 is fasternyawannago... Me too.