Harley Engine (Sound) Comparison
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 46
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From: Indiana
Harley Engine (Sound) Comparison
Hello everyone. I plan to build/rebuild a Harley from scratch, and I thought that I should begin by deciding what type of engine that I like best (and why). My father-in-law has an extremely loud and totally awesome sounding Super Glide (with straight pipes), and I really like the way that it "lobes"! In fact, it idles so slowly that you'd swear that every single breath it takes will be it's last...
I found this short video on YouTube (
) which gives some idea about the different sounds of the various Harley engines throughout years past, but I'd appreciate some help really getting to know the good/bad/ugly of the main engines that I'm going to choose from for my bike.
I'm guessing that each and every one (Flat, Knuckle, Pan, Shovel, Evolution & Twin Cam) has some pretty distinct characteristics worth learning about. Especially with regard to building/restoring a scratch bike. Since I'm not rich by any means, I'll have to balance between the "best"/most common type, my personal favorite and what I can find/afford.
I've ordered a book entitled "The Complete Harley Davidson: A Model-by-Model History of the American Motorcycle", which I hope will be a good (and quite interesting) reference. I just watched a documentary called "Harley Davidson: The Spirit of America", and I found it interesting but primarily focused on Harley riders and the biker culture rather than the actual bikes themselves.
I suppose that's enough for now, please offer any advice and point me in the best direction toward success.
Rob
I found this short video on YouTube (
I'm guessing that each and every one (Flat, Knuckle, Pan, Shovel, Evolution & Twin Cam) has some pretty distinct characteristics worth learning about. Especially with regard to building/restoring a scratch bike. Since I'm not rich by any means, I'll have to balance between the "best"/most common type, my personal favorite and what I can find/afford.
I've ordered a book entitled "The Complete Harley Davidson: A Model-by-Model History of the American Motorcycle", which I hope will be a good (and quite interesting) reference. I just watched a documentary called "Harley Davidson: The Spirit of America", and I found it interesting but primarily focused on Harley riders and the biker culture rather than the actual bikes themselves.
I suppose that's enough for now, please offer any advice and point me in the best direction toward success.
Rob
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
you just need to listen and pick the one you like...
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...m=vid&start=10
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...m=vid&start=10
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
I get what you're saying - even similar motors can sound much different. Most of these things I can change/adjust to "tweak" the sound & performance, yes?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 46
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From: Indiana
I'll bet it's not. He hasn't ridden for over 10 years, I rode it the last two times on small local charity rides, and I'm pretty sure that whichever of his two grandsons that inherit it will most likely either keep but never ride it, or get rid of it. Sadly, I'm not even in the running!!
He tells stories of a local ace mechanic named "Mush", who adjusted it because it "didn't sound JUST right". He said that ol' Mush could fix/tweak anything, although I'm sure that his tweaks had more to do with looks & sound than performance.
$10 says it already has...
I find Harley history very fascinating, so I plan to take my time and learn all of the theory behind what I'm doing. I hope to have as much if not more fun learning about them, than I do actually building one.
He tells stories of a local ace mechanic named "Mush", who adjusted it because it "didn't sound JUST right". He said that ol' Mush could fix/tweak anything, although I'm sure that his tweaks had more to do with looks & sound than performance.
$10 says it already has...
I find Harley history very fascinating, so I plan to take my time and learn all of the theory behind what I'm doing. I hope to have as much if not more fun learning about them, than I do actually building one.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jun 7, 2016 at 02:35 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 454
Likes: 33
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Call me odd but there are more important factors than the rpm and sound of the engine's idle when selecting an engine. You can crank down the idle speed of a Harley and make it sound like an old John Deere two cylinder engine but you are starving the engine for oil.
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