Gulf Coast? Lucky dog, it was below zero here last night, with a foot of snow to boot. The FXSTEES3 may be just what you're looking for, in that case. Progressive makes a shock for the front end to firm up the dampening in corners, and I run Avon’s on front exclusively, really sticks to the pavement, and no front end oscillations at high speed. There's also better shocks for the softail, even air adjustable (I can get you the PN's, as I live 10 miles from J&P cycles, and know half the staff there), depending on what you want to spend. How much are they asking for the bike? If your budget allows, I know the CVO 110 motors pretty well, and here's what you'll need to do to make it run like your V-Rod, and reliably:
FIRST, add a Jagg oil cooler, NOT HD, Jagg. I run 2 on my Ultra Trike, (and a vertical 8 row unit on my Springer, mounted to the left down tube right beside the left Jug). It knocked my oil temps down from 285+ to 245 TOPS on a 98 degree, drag strip day. As the cylinders on the CVO 110 are prone to linear expansion in extreme temperature, resulting in top end gasket failures (check the web, while you're installing your .020 or .030 head gaskets to up your Compression Ratio, install ALL Cometic gaskets in the top end ). This will remedy; switching to Axtell's Cylinders is a good upgrade, but expensive at $1259, available in stock 4.00" bore, complete with 10.5 to 1 Cometic pistons; the 117's require case boring). There's also a set of 10.6 to one Mahle 4.060", 113ci pistons available for $379, just bore your stock jugs, a good move if your rings are a bit worn, Plus adds the compression you need). Adding a LaNale fan on the LH side (where the horn mounts) will assure you never overheat in traffic again. I run them on all my twin cams, $279. Add the Woods 777 cams and a set of either Ronny Wood's lifters or black Ops lifters (or, for your riding, the SE259 cams would work well, PLUS there's a canned map for them, ask your local HD dealer). The stock exhaust is TERRIBLE, so much back pressure it's a crime. Any good 2 into one will cure this (I use a D&D Fat Cat on my Sach's 103, and a Drago 2 into 1 on my CVO 110 motor), even the slip ons will work well, as there's a coupling between the two stock head pipes that help with scavenging a lot.
-With the above in place, you should be at 100 to 112 Hp, and 113 Ft. Lbs+ torque. While the heads are off, if you go that route, replace those tulip valves with some after-markets, OR just have Cylerama port your heads for $559 (their 575 cams are good too, 98 Hp, but lots more low end), or there's many places that will do your heads reasonably; Baisley, Hillside, HRHS, or Fuelmoto in Wisconsin. Hey, I'm sending my motor there for some balancing, etc. Maybe they'd give us a deal if we both sent our motors there for work; worth a call. Let me know, I'll look into it.


I'm way too good at spending money, but the above will make it a sweet ride. At the very least, if low budget, change to the Progressive shock up-front, Avon's, add the oil cooler ($300), exhaust ($300 slip-ons, $650 two into one), and re-map (or add a TTS tuner). IF your HD dealer is doing it for you, he'll gladly install the SE259 cams and some gaskets for around $1200, make sure you get the Cometic .030 or .020 head gaskets (to up your CR) and top end gaskets. HD PN "27548-10A" includes the 10.5 pistons, 259E cams, pushrods, and nasty HD gaskets for $1259 with a claimed 114Hp/110Ft.Lbs., but I've NOT had good luck with ANY dealer mods, EVER.

Catch you Later, Stoood

113ci piston info:
"Turn your Twin Cam CVO 110 into a 113CI torque monster using your stock Harley cylinders. 4.060", 9cc 10.6 to 1 dome pistons"
*MAHLE PISTONS FEATURE*
*FORGED FROM 4032 ALUMINUM FOR TIGHTER CYLINDER WALL CLEARANCE*
*4032 ALLOY WITH GRAAL ANTI-FRICTION COATING ON SKIRTS*
*PHOSPHAT-COATED TO REDUCE MICRO-WELDING AND PIN GALLING*
*PIN BORS FINISHED ON CNC BORING EQUIPMENT*
*HIGH STRENGTH, LIGHT WEIGHT STEEL WRIST PINS*
*.043mm PLASMA MOLY TOP RINGS, .043mm NAPIER CAST SECOND RINGS*
*3mm LOW TENSION OIL RINGS*
If you have any questions contact RICK in the SPEED SHOP 262-242-2464
ebay, "suburbanmotors09" $375.25

Stoood,
Season's Greetings to you as well! Thanks for getting back to me on this matter. I appreciate your time. I currently own a 2008 VRSCDX and I am wearing the pegs away cornering! It's very low slung as well, hard to get out of the driveway without scraping the frame, but takes off like a missile. It will be hard to give up the power and torque but it makes a 650 or 680 mile day very hard. The bike is after all a drag racer. I was thinking though, performance wise, the high torque FXSTEES3 (2009) would be more comfortable on a longer trip and not feel as sluggish as other models after so much time on the Night Rod Special. I guess the true nature of my problem is.....I want it all! Not to mention, I like the styling and wider front tire on the FXSTSSE3. They have one at the Harley Shop at home so I guess the real test will be to schedule a ride and see for myself. I do appreciate your insight though. I realize there are more comfortable bikes for longer hauls but I'm just not quite ready for one of those yet.

I wish I didn't have so much time to write. I am on a pipelay vessel in the North Sea. I've been on here since September 13th (Job not going well) and I am only too ready to get off of here, get back home and ride. I live on the Gulf Coast so I can ride year round.

Thanks again, and ride safe!

Tad

Hi Tad, Season's Greetings. I've been busy riding, fishing, and winterizing here in Iowa, and haven't been on the HD Forum much. if I was, sorry to have missed your memo and not answering until now.
-From a liability standpoint with the Motor Co., don't quote me on this, but the FX version of the springer softail seemed very low slung (I do corner hard), and the only thing we can attribute to my suddenly shooting into the ditch without any skidmarks (my buddy was along side me on a Honda, we were only going 60), is the frame or pegs possibly contacting the pavement, and the rear wheel losing traction VERY quickly. The front end also seemed very under-equipted for the job, with a narrow rim, and a narrow, low profile tire. The headlight was also inadequate, in that I could not see any further than 6 feet in front of me. I DO own an FX shovelhead, which also has a relatively narrow, low profile front tire, and a 2 inch over, narrow and light-weight front end. But, I keep the bearings serviced regular, a fresh tire at full pressure on it at all times (change every 8,000), plus it has the Shoewa anti-dive adjustable air-shocks up front, a pnuematic accumulator between the forks to assist in this, and very robust dual disk brakes, which I also service regular. I've travelled all over the USA on it, with a passenger and full luggage, without incident (it's an '83, never had the motor overhauled yet, just ALL the standard service done by me). It still can get to 115 quickly. It won't scrape the pavement unless you MAKE it, and that takes hanging off the seat to the inside of a corner at an unsafe speed (I was 24 when I bought it, I ain't that wreckless anymore).
-While I was learning to walk again, I snagged a 2007, FLSTS, with the wide wheels, tires, and stance, and I did the chrome, while John Sachs did the 113Hp motor. You can ride ALL day, very comfortably, where as a 2 hour trip on that "GDSOB" FX springer would make you wish you were home. As I say about my 1972, 750 Kawasaki 2 stroke triple, "It's great, as long as you're going in a straight line for a short distance". Get an FL.
-Oh, you may be interested, I just picked up a 2012, CVO 110 motor from a friend, built up pretty well. Their stock cams, the SE255's, have such short set-timing that the motor's all done by 4100 RPM. My friend ported, did bottom end work, 58mm intake, and SE259 Cams, and it hauls hard from 2200 to 6200 RPM, with 112Hp, 113 Tq., and holding over 100 foot pounds from 2500 RPM until the Rev. limiter kicks in. As I'm putting it in my trike eventually, I have a set of bullet-proof Axtell 117ci cylinders @ 10.5 to 1 CR, and am debating on Wood's 777 or a T-Man's 600 or 625 cams, as I want a minimum of 100 Ft Lbs by 2000 Rpm.

Thanks for trusting my opinion. A young, single-up rider might enjoy the FX springer for simply blasting around town, but a passenger and any travel's out of the question. And if you DO get a CVO 110, intall Wood's 777's or the T-Man cams I mentioned, up your compression with Cometic .020 head gaskets, add a good exhaust and A/C, and you'll have a torque-monster that's a rocket too.
Happy New;
Stoood ; )

Good Afternoon,
Hope this finds you well. I saw the pictures of your 2008 CVO Softail Springer and read the story. Congratulations on living to tell it! I was considering a 2009 model. You don't seem to have a very high opinion of the bike now, which is understandable but I was wondering, do you find it or any of it's deficiencies to be the cause of your accident? Would your recommendation be to stay away from that particular model? I would very much appreciate your insight.
Thanks,

Tad Duvall

Mr. Stoood, Do you know where I can purchase brackets to lower the front fender of my 1991 FXSTS?
Harleyboy2