Built-in / Normal M8 Vibration
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 978
Likes: 423
From: UK
Nope. Had 114 and now 107. Cant say I've noticed it and I dont willingly do discomfort.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 320
Likes: 47
From: Twin Lakes, WI
I originally had 1600 miles on the FLFBS when I bought it. It was very tight. Now that its up to 3100, I do notice its breaking in and the vibes are a bit less noticeable. Theyre evening out. Im getting used to them somewhat.
By the way, this thing is a beast! Someone had paid for a lot of accessories and mods and then gave it up. I knew it had the intake and SE slip ons. Maybe it has the SE cam too, I dont know. It rips. I cant get to the top of the power. Very comfortable and light Handles great Really a fun bike. love the fat rear tire.
By the way, this thing is a beast! Someone had paid for a lot of accessories and mods and then gave it up. I knew it had the intake and SE slip ons. Maybe it has the SE cam too, I dont know. It rips. I cant get to the top of the power. Very comfortable and light Handles great Really a fun bike. love the fat rear tire.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 170
From: Wisconsin
Engineering vibration is hard to imagine.Apparently the engineers never rode in the 60's,when You couldn't see out of the mirrors,because they shook so much.You couldn't ride 100 miles without something cracking or falling off. I bought a 2017 because it had less vibration than a twin cam.If a 2021 had no vibration ,I would buy that. I considered a Gold wing because of no vibration,except they are almost as ugly as Indian.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 439
From: florida
Buzzing vibration bad. The Harley shake good.
Moco has lost its way balancing the entire line up.
Catering to the aging “soft” sensitive boomers, and that’s a fact right outta the company playbook
Moco has lost its way balancing the entire line up.
Catering to the aging “soft” sensitive boomers, and that’s a fact right outta the company playbook
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
Compared to the Evo Heritage Special I rode for 223,000 miles, my '19 Heritage is smooth as all get out. It's all relative I guess.
Then again, even "identical" bikes can vary, depending on production tolerances. Over the 25 years I had my previous bike, it had three different motors. All three had different amounts of vibration-the original motor being the smoothest (mechanics at the dealership use to remark on how smooth it ran). The third motor shook the worst.
Then again, even "identical" bikes can vary, depending on production tolerances. Over the 25 years I had my previous bike, it had three different motors. All three had different amounts of vibration-the original motor being the smoothest (mechanics at the dealership use to remark on how smooth it ran). The third motor shook the worst.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 33
From: Central California Coast
Finally, someone else has noticed the vibrations. I have searched this forum looking for comments about M8 vibrations.
I traded a 103 twin cam Road King I had for nine years for a 2020 Street Glide with the 107 M8 last November. I have 1,000 miles on it now, riding when weather and conditions allow. There is definitely more overall vibration with the M8 than the twin cam. The twin cam would convulse like a paint shaker at idle, but any running speed greater than 2K RPM and it was smooth. The M8 vibrates less at idle, but the vibration is more offensive than the twin cam idle. The M8 vibrations seem to vary with rev range. It's especially bad at about 2,500 RPM. I also feel the vibrations through the floorboards, especially when accelerating. Ironically, I think it's the counterbalancer that's causing the vibrations.
I traded a 103 twin cam Road King I had for nine years for a 2020 Street Glide with the 107 M8 last November. I have 1,000 miles on it now, riding when weather and conditions allow. There is definitely more overall vibration with the M8 than the twin cam. The twin cam would convulse like a paint shaker at idle, but any running speed greater than 2K RPM and it was smooth. The M8 vibrates less at idle, but the vibration is more offensive than the twin cam idle. The M8 vibrations seem to vary with rev range. It's especially bad at about 2,500 RPM. I also feel the vibrations through the floorboards, especially when accelerating. Ironically, I think it's the counterbalancer that's causing the vibrations.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 710
Likes: 7
From: Colorado
I have a 2011 Road King Police stage II and I worked for two years at HD dealer in Northern Va, starting in mid 2016. So when the M8 came out and we rode them, I noticed that the vibration on all of them were more than the old King A motor at 50 mph and above. M8 is a pussycat at the stop light, but nags you when you go down the road.....I thought it was a step back in a way. But throttle curve calibration is real aggressive on an M8, so that when you give it the first 1/4 turn, it is about like the twin cam at 1/3 of a turn. At WOT, they even out, but the M8 is not linear through the throttle grip angle, as the twin cam is.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Port Charlotte, FL
I went into my local Harley dealer with the idea that may be some of what I perceived as being vibration might be attributable to wheel balance. The wrench rode the bike and dismissed the idea of it being either a balance or engine vibration problem.
He thinks that I shift too soon that I am not keeping the bike in the power band and that the engine is lugging as a result. I tend to shift about 2600 RPM. He wants me to shift no earlier than
3000 RPM.He says sixth gear is for 80 miles an hour. Well Im trying his technique Im not sure I agree with him. He wants me mostly in fourth gear unless Im on the highway.
He thinks that I shift too soon that I am not keeping the bike in the power band and that the engine is lugging as a result. I tend to shift about 2600 RPM. He wants me to shift no earlier than
3000 RPM.He says sixth gear is for 80 miles an hour. Well Im trying his technique Im not sure I agree with him. He wants me mostly in fourth gear unless Im on the highway.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 116
From: USA
No Vibes
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
Old thread but....my experience includes owning or riding several M-8's both 107 and 114. Both in Softail and Touring frames. Both with Stock, Stage 1, and Stage 2. I found the Stock 107 in the Touring frame is smoother at all rpms than the Softails with the same engine. That's expected due to rubber vs rigid mounting. Even with dual counterbalancers the Softails get more buzzy with rpm, the 107's less so than the 114's. Adding Stage 1 adds noise but no vibration. Adding Stage 2 adds vibration I assume due to improved cam timing, fuel/ignition mapping, and possibly some piston weight (but that was questioned here before).
In my experience is the 107's are smoother than the 114's in the Softails. That's from riding both within minutes back and forth over the same course and rpm's. In the Touring line I could detect little difference worth noting.
In my experience is the 107's are smoother than the 114's in the Softails. That's from riding both within minutes back and forth over the same course and rpm's. In the Touring line I could detect little difference worth noting.
