General Topics/Tech Tips Discussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.

what exactly is a "Big Twin"

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 09:37 PM
  #1  
chkmte's Avatar
chkmte
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 75
Likes: 45
From: south florida
Default what exactly is a "Big Twin"

google wasnt much help....Arlen ness shows an air filter fitment for all big twin 00-17( except fly by wire)….so what the hell does this mean? everything bolts up identically from 00-17 for carbs and fi???

 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 10:01 PM
  #2  
QC's Avatar
QC
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
Default

According to that fitment chart, a big-Twin would be anything 88" and up from year 2000 to 2017.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 10:13 PM
  #3  
dawg's Avatar
dawg
Seasoned HDF Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,559
Likes: 3,955
From: Vermont
Default

Originally Posted by chkmte
what exactly is a “Big Twin”

‘Nuff said.....

 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 10:49 PM
  #4  
Scarydog's Avatar
Scarydog
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 337
Likes: 214
From: California
Default

Big twin is any harley that is not a sportster. Or live wire, street ECT.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 11:01 PM
  #5  
RANGER73's Avatar
RANGER73
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
Default

Fancy name for Twin Cam.
Like
Shovel Head
Knuckle Head
Pan Head
Evolution
M8
It's an engine designation.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 11:04 PM
  #6  
r0de_runr's Avatar
r0de_runr
Road Warrior
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 644
From: Center Point Texas
Default

What do you have? We can help you pick a Ness Big Sucker if you tell us what you have.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2020 | 11:06 PM
  #7  
Superdog3:16's Avatar
Superdog3:16
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 726
From: Tiffin,Oh
Default

Anything bigger than a Sportster
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2020 | 08:38 AM
  #8  
bustert's Avatar
bustert
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,071
Likes: 1,006
Default

slang for an hd that does not use a unitized engine & tranny.
size not an issue because xl sometimes is the same size as a bt
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 23, 2020 | 10:50 AM
  #9  
multihdrdr's Avatar
multihdrdr
Club Member
10 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
Default

Originally Posted by Scarydog
Big twin is any harley that is not a sportster. Or live wire, street ECT.
Or V-Rod (or is that in the ETC ("ect" above))
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2020 | 11:00 AM
  #10  
Superdog3:16's Avatar
Superdog3:16
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 726
From: Tiffin,Oh
Default

Yessir.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:56 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE