Top Speed M8
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 467
Likes: 154
From: New Mexico
'18 Heritage Softail 114 with torque cam and SE tuner, everything else stock. easily hits the Speed Limiter, indicates about110-114. I suspect that the ECU controls the throttle butterfly rather than a spark cut off or fuel cut off like most rev limiters operate. Once ran about 4 miles at the speed limiter, smooth, stable and comfortable. I suspect that with out the speed limiter, 125 is reasonable to expect. HD's even the newest ones are not really designed frame and suspension wise for speeds much above 110 or so. On the other hand my BMW K1600GT would easily cruise stable and solid as a rock at 140-150 on the GPS on my many trips between Caliente and Tonopah Nevada. Averaged once just over 120 MPH on the 212 miles between the two towns. Would max out at 161 on the GPS.
The newest HD's are really excellent at what they are designed for. My FLHCS is really a great motorcycle as good as any made by anyone but now it happens to be a HD.
The newest HD's are really excellent at what they are designed for. My FLHCS is really a great motorcycle as good as any made by anyone but now it happens to be a HD.
Last edited by Another Old Timer; Jun 28, 2018 at 01:43 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 315
Likes: 76
From: Westland Mi
'18 Heritage Softail 114 with torque cam and SE tuner, everything else stock. easily hits the Speed Limiter, indicates about110-114. I suspect that the ECU controls the throttle butterfly rather than a spark cut off or fuel cut off like most rev limiters operate. Once ran about 4 miles at the speed limiter, smooth, stable and comfortable. I suspect that with out the speed limiter, 125 is reasonable to expect. HD's even the newest ones are not really designed frame and suspension wise for speeds much above 110 or so. On the other hand my BMW K1600GT would easily cruise stable and solid as a rock at 140-150 on the GPS on my many trips between Caliente and Tonopah Nevada. Averaged once just over 120 MPH on the 212 miles between the two towns. Would max out at 161 on the GPS.
The newest HD's are really excellent at what they are designed for. My FLHCS is really a great motorcycle as good as any made by anyone but now it happens to be a HD.
The newest HD's are really excellent at what they are designed for. My FLHCS is really a great motorcycle as good as any made by anyone but now it happens to be a HD.
Last edited by StevieRay59; Jun 28, 2018 at 08:32 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 566
From: Indiana
If you think that's outdated makes me wonder what you think you're paying for, cause it ain't technology. Enjoy your Harley for what it is. I do. I love riding my Harley. They knock it out of the park building a comfortable, attractive bike. American icon. Two wheels is two wheels. You feel no more free than that 16 year old kid who just scored his first bike (99% chance its a metric) and thinks he's the coolest kid on earth (we were all there once). But calling a metric outdated? Overweight slug? Mmmmmkay.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 566
From: Indiana
This is a pic of the profile of s Concours 14 rear tire. That last 1/2" and less gets exponentially less grippy rolling the girl over! 
Its nothing for me to have her leaned over and my shoes begin dragging if I don't have them squared up on the pegs. Makes ya pucker a bit when you feel the toes of your shoes grinding asphalt!
Its nothing for me to have her leaned over and my shoes begin dragging if I don't have them squared up on the pegs. Makes ya pucker a bit when you feel the toes of your shoes grinding asphalt!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 128
Don't all M8's have a built in rev limiter that restricts you from going over 4500 rpm because it will empty out your transmission case into the primary case?
I thought everybody knew about that at this late stage of the game. Well, all the riders know about it but apparently not all of the dealers shops know about it as some of them still insist it is either impossible or they have never seen or heard of it.
I thought everybody knew about that at this late stage of the game. Well, all the riders know about it but apparently not all of the dealers shops know about it as some of them still insist it is either impossible or they have never seen or heard of it.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
Don't all M8's have a built in rev limiter that restricts you from going over 4500 rpm because it will empty out your transmission case into the primary case?
I thought everybody knew about that at this late stage of the game. Well, all the riders know about it but apparently not all of the dealers shops know about it as some of them still insist it is either impossible or they have never seen or heard of it.
I thought everybody knew about that at this late stage of the game. Well, all the riders know about it but apparently not all of the dealers shops know about it as some of them still insist it is either impossible or they have never seen or heard of it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,252
Likes: 3,135
From: Texas
Assuming that it is intended seriously, the answer is of course not. First, no M8 has a rev limiter at 4500; stock bikes have it set to 5500 and Stage II/III/IV bikes have it set to 6400.
Second, the oil transfer issue only affects Touring bikes, there are tens of thousands of M8 Softails out there (perhaps as many as 100,000) and as far as I know, not a single one has reported oil transfer.
As for the Touring bikes: some do it, some don't. I don't think we know what percentage of Touring bikes are affected.