I was at a dealer last week looking at a 96 Road King. The salesman had the idle so low that it was firing every half second very steady and went on for minutes with not a hint of cutting off. Which cam would make it do that?

 

Was it a carbed bike or EFI? Sounds like a carbed bike with the idle set too low.

 

It was carbed and the idle was very low. It was the fact that it WOULD idle that low that caught my attention.

 

More importantly. was it getting any oil? Idle speed should be 950 to 1050 to circulate oil properly. Any dealer that purposely sets idle too low is not to be trusted mechanically.

 

On the other hand, I know guys that have been setting there idle that low for years without problems. My stock carbed 99 EVO will idle that slow with a stock cam. I generally set mine a little above very slow. Of course I only have 27,000 miles on her.

 

I keep my idle high so the oil and electrics get plenty of oomph. My old shovel would idle down to scary slow with dual plugs, single fire and a V-thunder SH-1001 cam.