I have seen them everywhere, I was wondering what makes them so popular/special. Do they offer superior performance or people choose them because of their retro look?

 

It's an iconic look.

 

To deeply ponder this I would dissect the S&S name. Super Stock, nostalgia in drag racing like back in the 60s and 70s.
That said, S&S has always been performance minded.

 

The carb is Great, But, the back side of the air cleaner is the secret, that makes it Great! Check out the carb section of their website? S&S stands for Smith & Smith, founded in 1958, with aluminum pushrods!

 

Both...

 

Back in the day there were much fewer choices when it came to aftermarket Harley performance parts. S&S was one of the biggest. Particularly with carburetors. If you wanted to replace or upgrade the carb you likely went with the S&S. The teardrop air cleaner cover was one thing that differentiated them from the rest.

It is now an iconic look.

 

S&S is as synonymous w/ quality & performance..., as Harley is with bikes

Ghost

 

I read an article in some mag a long time ago that was testing a bunch of different air cleaners and the S&S was the best one.
Not sure why, I can't recall but it did win.

 

i've always liked the look of the S&S air filter setup. i've liked their carbs even more. simple and easy to tune.

 

Wow. 1st response nails it on the head. Not that I'm surprised considering the source.

Plus it's just a pleasing shape. Love mine.