88 vs 96

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 27, 2008 | 09:33 PM

#41

max1

Intermediate

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

From: Glen Arm, Maryland

RE: 88 vs 96

&nbsp\\;&nbsp\\; I have a '99 dyna sport that has 40,000 trouble free miles on it. Engine is quiet and the torque comes on down low in the rpm range where riding is usually done. Had tech look at cam bearing and tensioners. They look fine.&nbsp\\; My '07 ultra has twelve thousand miles, runs fine. Lifters make too much noise. Torque curve is at a higher rpm. The 96 just doesnt seem to be as solid and tight as the 88.

Jun 28, 2008 | 04:56 AM

#42

domenicp7

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 2,687

Likes: 6

From: Kalaui Kona HI

RE: 88 vs 96

I had a 96 and went to the 103 missed my sporty.

Jun 28, 2008 | 05:32 AM

#43

Bossman1

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 2,051

Likes: 0

From: Inverness FL

RE: 88 vs 96

My 96 is as gud as any motor I have owned, It is a great cruiser and after a few mods is plenty fast enuff for me!!

Jun 28, 2008 | 05:45 AM

#44

pscheval

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 1,356

Likes: 3

From: 28°31'49.84"N , 82°30'8.56"W

RE: 88 vs 96

I was in the market in 06, before the 07's came out... I was patient, and glad I was... I love the 96, with the six speed.... there was no price difference between the two... the best part!

As for over heating, It's only happened in long idles. I'm in Florida, and drive some real traffic every day, but only felt heat a time or two.

Jun 28, 2008 | 10:42 AM

#45

atomic

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,602

Likes: 0

From: Maryland

RE: 88 vs 96

Quote:

ORIGINAL: travroc

Quote:

ORIGINAL: atomic

&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;You can get a v-rod and it will blow either out of the water

&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;
Way different kind of motorcycle.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; That being said, my&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;74ci Sportster will blow either out of the water as well, again different kind of motorcycle.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; 88's and&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;96's are not exactly racing bikes.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; They are cruisers.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;&nbsp\\;\\\ \\\;

&nbsp\\;
Yeah I agree they are cruisers and neither one is fast so just take the more reliable engine.&nbsp\\; 88 works fine for me.

Jan 11, 2009 | 08:18 PM

#46

mopardave

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 3,592

Likes: 6

From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias

My '06 88 ci SB came with a 6 speed and with just a stage 1 it runs with any 96 I've came across.

Wanna run mine?
07 Nightrain w stage 1 mods, internally stock

I've heard all kinds of theories on here about which is better or stronger and why.
The big dif beween the two is the 88" has a 4" stroke while the 96" has 4.375" stroke.
Both engines share the same pretty much everything else, though I'm not sure of the cams. Probably a different cam profile, since they redesigned the drive system on them. The heads may also be different, although they look the same side by side.

It's easy to get more cubes out of a 96. You can go 107" without boring the cases.
The 88" with no stroke increase is limited to 98" without boring the cases.
You can go nuts and bore the cases all the way up to a 131", but then you are at your limit and I'm pretty sure you have to run an even longer stroke...like 4.625"....you can do that with either an 88" or 96" to start with (I think).
In the end, if all things are equal except the 96" is bigger, the 96" should be able to pull an 88" with no problem. I went from an 05 with V&H BSS, Hypercharger and PCIII to an 07 with V&H BSS, AN BS S2 and TMax w/autotune. By my seat of the pants, the 96" would have smoked my old 88".

I don't go around racing everyone, but I have raced more than a few guys just playin' around. My bike smokes a stock 07, a friend of mine has one. I beat a couple Victory's (I think they were both Kingpins).

I found this on the web and they are pretty good at really explaining the difference. Check it out:

Bore & Stroke

Harley V-Twin engines are undersquare by design. "Undersquare" implies that the piston stroke is larger than the bore diameter. By contrast, high-revving Japanese four cylinder engines often have an oversquare bore and stroke relationship (the bore is larger than the stroke). If bore and stroke are the same, the engine is said to be square. Oversquare engines rev higher than undersquare engines and they can make impressive horsepower at top rpm. Undersquare engines produce strong torque at low to mid range rpm's because of the "leverage" advantage of a longer stroke. This longer stroke, however, increases piston speed per engine cycle, causes greater side-loads on the cylinder walls and decreases maximum rpm's. V-twin engine displacement can be increased by a bigger bore, a longer stroke or a combination of both for really BIG cubic inches. If you are a torque devotee, increase your stroke. If you are a horsepower (rpm) junkie, increase your bore. If you believe that too much power is just the right amount, you can increase both!
http://zenfire.ws/ironman/harley.htm