My 2002 FXST SS is set up with an S&S Super E Shorty, V&H Straight Shots w/BCT Thunder Monsters, Spike Air Cleaner and S&S 510 Gear Cams. The sound at idle is classic HD and the pull off the line is phenomenal. It's quiet (engine/trans) and runs way cooler than my 96" Street Glide. I miss the 6th speed on the highway but I've set it up to be a bar hopper so my long haul miles are limited.

Over all I love it and have no plans on letting it go any time soon.

 

LOL my bad! Oops... got cross eyed I guess.

 

My 2000 Ultra had the T/C 88 and it ran a lot cooler than my wife's T/C 96.
I can't remember if the T/C 88 came with an oil cooler or if I put one on it but heat was not really an issue wit that bike.

I didn't care for the 5 spd so I had a Baker 6spd installed but it very quickly became obvious that the engine needed a little more "get up and go" to push the 6spd so I had the "95" kit installed and that was a HUGE improvement!

My wife's '08 Heritage with the T/C 96 ran so hot that we did the pipes, a/c and dyno tune, and also an oil cooler, and the mid-frame heat shields to keep the heat off of her legs.

My friend has a 2010 Ultra T/C 96, with the catalytic converter and it had to be rebuilt due to overheating. He upgraded it to a "103", eliminated the catalytic converter and installed an oil cooler.

I have a '13 CVO Ultra and even when it was stock, he says that is ran cooler than his bike did when it was stock.

I've only rode one "103", a RK cop bike, but I didn't notice it running as hot as my wife's "96"runs.

 

I now have 2 88's and love them both, one with EFI and one with carb. Have rode everything else and if I were wealthy would be like Jay Leno but happy with the money pits I have. Just for the money I have into my Road King could just about have afforded a CVO....

 

How did you ever get that low a runout? Phenonemal!

 

I have an 88 and a 96 on different Softails. The 88 is slightly cooler, but I prefer the 6 speed on the 96. SJ Ron

 

88CI here and I still burned my right hamstring before adding the deflectors, but that was sitting in B to B traffic in 90 degree heat on the GW bridge. I definitely could use a little more "oomph" off the line, so maybe a 95" and cam is in order? I don't mind the 5 speed and spinning at 3K rpm @ 75mph. It really is the sweet spot for this motor.

 

If they were all the same price, and you got your choice, most would buy the bigger engine.

I had an 88 on a Softail, and it was a dog. As much due to the long gearing as to the motor.

Touring bikes like the low down torque of a bigger motor. For zipping around town on a light weight bike, a nicely geared 88 can be pretty fun.

Most of the heat on the 103's come more from the cats than the engines.

 

You assume too much here...Some of us would never buy a big inch motor from a company that is known to have some questionable engineering practices.
I'd much rather build it myself or have someone that isn't trying to deal with the EPA crap build it.

It was a dog because the EPA dictated how the engine was set up.
Twin Cam motors whether they're 88's, 96's or 103's, they are underpowered because of very small ports and the resulting flow limitations.
Take the heads off and port them correctly, put the correct cams in them and let them breath, and they all improve.

80" motors were excellent motors for touring bikes for a long time and with almost no modification they had plenty of power to run with pretty much anything coming out of the factory today.
My 80" FXRT will out run any stock or stage 1 103" motor out there...

Yes it does....The only reason that the factory has had to go to these big inch motors is because with all of the EPA nonsense being shoved down our throats, it's the only way to make these rather poorly engineered things capable of getting out of their own way.

A nicely camed '88 with minor head work and a carb is a far better platform for a bagger that these big inch motors that are only made that big to offset the built in problems.
Larger motors make more heat and therefore need to shed more heat, heat rises....Right up to you.

A slightly smaller and more efficient 88" to 95" is a near perfect displacement for this type of motor.

Enjoy your 103" heat monsters....I'll be out front enjoying my ride.

 

I agree the size of the engines is getting out of hand, you don't need all those inches to make power. If you remove the inherent flaws from all the engines they work great ( I have an 07 Ultra ) the heat isn't an issue "ANYMORE"! But there are some that udder an old drag racing phrase "There is no replacement for displacement", and maybe they are right.