To big bore or not to big bore?
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
To big bore or not to big bore?
Hello, I have finished all the appearance/suspension mods on my 2020 Road Glide Limited and now it's time to start deciding on the engine upgrades. I plan on making some long (1,000 miles +) trips in the near future with this bike so reliability is my # 1 concern. I was going to just put a cam, stage 1 intake, exhaust, dyno tune and be done with it but I've been looking/thinking about a big bore kit. I'm looking at the S&S and FM 128 kits and would appreciate your opinions on installing one or just sticking with a good stage 2 setup. Thanks!
Last edited by lhgdale; Apr 22, 2020 at 03:37 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 333
From: Upper Providence Pa
Well I for one am running the Fuel Moto big bore and have to say, the smiles never end. Yes you will see gains from a a stage ll upgrade, but like many once you step into that arena you will wish for more. I don’t hesitate to ride my build for endless miles, 1000 mile trip would not even be an issue. The folks at Fuel Moto will certainly be willing to discuss your options and all and then make a decision. I know I wasted money on a Stage lll 117 kit from HD that had nothing but issues, the Fuel Moto build has been trouble free and this build provided a super quiet top end, even quieter than from the factory.
Good luck with your decisions.
Good luck with your decisions.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
Well I for one am running the Fuel Moto big bore and have to say, the smiles never end. Yes you will see gains from a a stage ll upgrade, but like many once you step into that arena you will wish for more. I dont hesitate to ride my build for endless miles, 1000 mile trip would not even be an issue. The folks at Fuel Moto will certainly be willing to discuss your options and all and then make a decision. I know I wasted money on a Stage lll 117 kit from HD that had nothing but issues, the Fuel Moto build has been trouble free and this build provided a super quiet top end, even quieter than from the factory.
Good luck with your decisions.
Good luck with your decisions.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,621
Likes: 11,353
From: State of Confusion
probably start with the basics
what is it you want or need performance wise and how much are you willing to spend?
are you an adrenaline junkie that craves high rpm arm stretching acceleration or just more grunt power for two up loaded down long trips?
do you care at all about fuel consumption?
with the 114 I an intake, exhaust, cam and proper dyno tune is all most 'need' and beyond that is 'want' and willing to spend a lot more for extra excitement..you already state reliability is Priority #1 so in general the less you muck around with tearing the engine apart the better your chances of experiencing potentially fewer problems. of course there's plenty of folks here that got it right, are ecstatic with the results, felt it was worth every penny, etc., but if you spent much time here you'd find quite a few that have had all kinds of problems that cost time and money that takes away from piling on miles instead..think about it, how often do you hear about stock bikes with leaks, nosies, poor running, improper fitment of parts, etc, etc. ..not recommending one way or the other just think the whole thing through I guess
what is it you want or need performance wise and how much are you willing to spend?
are you an adrenaline junkie that craves high rpm arm stretching acceleration or just more grunt power for two up loaded down long trips?
do you care at all about fuel consumption?
with the 114 I an intake, exhaust, cam and proper dyno tune is all most 'need' and beyond that is 'want' and willing to spend a lot more for extra excitement..you already state reliability is Priority #1 so in general the less you muck around with tearing the engine apart the better your chances of experiencing potentially fewer problems. of course there's plenty of folks here that got it right, are ecstatic with the results, felt it was worth every penny, etc., but if you spent much time here you'd find quite a few that have had all kinds of problems that cost time and money that takes away from piling on miles instead..think about it, how often do you hear about stock bikes with leaks, nosies, poor running, improper fitment of parts, etc, etc. ..not recommending one way or the other just think the whole thing through I guess
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 121
From: Potomac, Md.
IHGdale, I went form a 107 "Stage 1"...to a 107 with Woods 22X cam (huge difference) and then to the 114" (Jugs and pistons from Harley) and am more than satisfied and will leave it there. Having done "all" that, If I were starting with a 114", Knowing what I know now, I would "de-cat it". Leave the stock mufflers on it or get CVO's (which is what I have) and cam it. There are at least 12 cams that have been tested by $tonecold and Fuelmoto,. One of them is surely going to meet your needs. Good luck, CSM-h
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 626
Likes: 109
From: New York
If you already have big bore on the brain, you wont be happy with anything less. The choice then becomes warranty vs not on your power train. Some have had good luck, but I also wasted money on a stage 4 and had nothing but problems. Pulled it out and went aftermarket with a 124 kit and havent looked back. There are some really awesome kits out there. I went my own way with a mix between my stage 4 heads and Revolution Performance cylinders, Wood wm-408 cam and used my warranty to have Harley rebuild it for me. In my opinion, I think Fuelmoto is top class! Having the type of knowledgeable customer service that they provide eases the stress when going out of warranty because they stand behind their products. I think endless smiles as someone else stated pretty much sums it up! I would advise you to choose a tuner that is supported by a good local shop. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Last edited by Vision; Apr 22, 2020 at 05:40 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 211
From: Manila, Philippines
Ask FM, they can advise which cams work with their big bore kits so you can upgrade the cams and jugs later. This would be their mild big bore and not cost so much as you keep the stock heads. Just make sure to upgrade the oil pump when in there. The heads and bigger throttle body will more than double the cost.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 497
Well I for one am running the Fuel Moto big bore and have to say, the smiles never end. Yes you will see gains from a a stage ll upgrade, but like many once you step into that arena you will wish for more. I dont hesitate to ride my build for endless miles, 1000 mile trip would not even be an issue. The folks at Fuel Moto will certainly be willing to discuss your options and all and then make a decision. I know I wasted money on a Stage lll 117 kit from HD that had nothing but issues, the Fuel Moto build has been trouble free and this build provided a super quiet top end, even quieter than from the factory.
Good luck with your decisions.
Good luck with your decisions.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 2,361
Endless options, I just bought a 107 and I’m very happy with it, in my opinion it’s a nice engine right out of the box, the only thing I noticed is that it is under camed, it just flattens out when trying to pass a vehicle in sixth gear. Not sure if I’ll do anything to it, I’ll ride it as is through the season and probably just change the cam, and if I get the need for speed, I’ll just jump on the Evo.