EVO vs 88 ..
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 307
Likes: 108
"I wouldn't consider a Twin Cam engine, and I can repair/rebuild/replace my Evo indefinitely." I'd consider any of them, since a Harley is merely raw meat to be customized to the owners liking. However, the Evo is easy to work on, my 1988 FXR has survived over 100K miles of hard use (including years of storage outdoors when it was a daily ride), and after a top-end job and new cam/lifters it's ready for another couple decades of use. I wish it had the Shovelhead four speed (more gears on a Harley is a waste) and the vastly tougher Shovelhead clutch, but not enough to bother modifying it. The standard mods work. Get the tall European spec rear pulley (stockers have bar-bike final gearing), sell the stock carb and toss on an S&S, if the stock exhaust is still there I press out the baffles with a hydraulic press, install a cam and new lifters (overlap is your friend and makes for less load on the starter), and ride away happy. Harleys are unsophisticated bikes and the Evo was deliberately strangled with easily removed exhaust/cam/carb, so modify or trash those and enjoy the results.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Evo is great engine and can be daily ride. Now I ride Evo but I also had TC 88. Twin Cam was stronger in my opinion, it does not have any problems. Maybe it works a little hotter but it is not a problem (first TC96 were running HOT but that a different story). Chain tensioners wil last 30k miles or longer. Then they can be replaced with gear drive (new cams, 95" pistons, head work =90HP @ wheel). TC96 will run even hotter than TC88 but with 6 speed it will criuse all day@ 80 mph. The main advantage of EVO is THE SOUND. Power output is in my opinion worse than TC88. My FXR (stage 1 with Mikuni 42) is not faster than my TC88 powered Dyna. the only thing that I don`t like in my FXR (except hard suspension and forward controls) is lack of power...Except that Ilove it.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas Nv
Kinda interesting hearing riders with baggers talking about either motor as a rocket. I own a 87 FXLR and a 04 FXSTSI, The best way to describe them is the Evo is like a 350 chevy small block, the TC is like a 454 big block, The evo revs out faster and screams once it is in the sweet spot 3k+. The TC also hauls, but really, it all depends on what you want to do with it. Technology is great IMHO, so I am already looking for a 103 or 110 for my next scoot. As for shovels, well, uh, no thanks been there done that.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 17
From:
Frankly, I think the heat issue is inherent to the design of the Twin Cam. I've got a book outlining the development of the engine and they had a hell of a time trying to solve the over-heating problem, and did get it down to 230 or so, and then they just gave up because they ran out of time and had to get it in production. A lot of guys have never had anything but a Twin Cam and don't know that the engine isn't supposed to burn your legs any day it's above 80 degrees.
As for performance, the magazines that test bikes in the quarter mile show similar times for the stock Evo, TC88, and even the TC96, an engine that's nearly 20% bigger displacement than the Evo!
As for performance, the magazines that test bikes in the quarter mile show similar times for the stock Evo, TC88, and even the TC96, an engine that's nearly 20% bigger displacement than the Evo!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 0
From: Desmoines, Iowa
the Evo is a great motor.you do some work on them and they will haul the mail.and it is true they did save Harley.but every motor since did start out as a evo they added a few thing's.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From:
If the TC only came in 80 iches like the EVO I would suspect that the TC would be the far inferior performance engine. I have a buddy that rides a 05 Ultra, he's ridden my 96 Ultra and I bet he would swap even.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 6
From: Huntersville, NC
What makes you think he would swap for your 10 year old machine ? I have an '05 Ultra, the motor has almost the same mods as my Tour Glide. ;^) Aint no way the TG can hang with the '05. I still "like" the TG better than the '05 though.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
Well! I rode an 84 Iron Sportster for 23 years. I just got a 99 Softail Custom, and I can tell you it is as smooth as silk after the Sporty. I love the way the Evo runs and sounds ( drag pipes ) Sure, there is some mechanical presence, but isn't that what we want in a motorcycle? I think Harley had me in mind when the built the Softail Custom. Did I tell you how much I like this bike.