Thanks MJ. I get this impression.

Man, things are complicated now with fly by wire electronics and new EPA tech like VVT. I've wrenched form old time all mechanical up to the start of the ECM software era. I don't want to take on tuning - too much.

I really like my stage II build. If it weren't for the ECM & EPA stuff, I would have considered a Stage III or IV build. Too much for me at my age. The Stage II really makes it get up and go.

 

I have a 107.
I built drag race cars and engines back in late 70-mid 80's
Now I have the itch to do this again.
within reason....
upgrade weak parts
top end work, pistons, cc heads, cam

 

M8 doesn't seem to be an engine with many internal 'weak' parts, as you say. The guts appear to be well designed. It's some of the peripheral stuff that's poor - compensator ramp plate, breather, intake manifold.

The itch these guys have is to make their motor into a bigger stock size, or beyond.

As for me, I didn't want to wait for a 114 in 2021 when sales happened to be spiking, so I took the 107 off the showroom floor. A stage II kit, plus upgrade to weak external parts has make it a 'real' Harley. Fun to ride.

 

correct,
wasn't implying internal weak parts, however, some are better.
cam , bearing, lifters, cuffs, oil pump

 

It’s easy, relatively cost effective and reliable to take a 107 to a 124 or a 114/117 to a 128. You can run very reasonable compression and can lift and get big HP and TQ numbers. I have a 128 and it’s such a pleasure to ride with a strong broad TQ curve and smooth reliable nature. It feels stock but multiplied times 1.5, I ride mostly 2 up with a tour pack and it pulls effortlessly, requiring very little work to keep it happy!

 

I sense an 'enabler' lol

I suppose there's an entire thread on upbuilds.

 

I agree. The 128 kit was nice boost, and the "rideability" (especially with a great torque cam) is just about as smooth as can be,

I am shifting to some right side power with a cam change, now, but I don't regret for a minute the last 20K with that setup.

 

Just for 'fun' (ha ha), looked at FM's kit for 107 ---> 124 @ $1,600.

Then the fine print - new exhaust, new intake, new tuner, new special tools, new etc. etc. etc. By the time it's over it's a big bill as I thought. Even doing a bunch of the mechanical myself.

 

I did exactly that, with a RS468 cam, and did it myself. Naturally because I am a blithering idiot, nothing I do goes as smoothly as it would have if a normal human being did the work. However it ended up perfect and I am MORE than happy with the end result. And it was a great personal experience doing it all myself. Wasn’t my first, but it was just as much fun as my first… There’s a thread somewhere on the build if you want some entertainment.

 

Yeah, I get it - everybody's a genius except me, and it only takes a half an hour and a couple of beers.

Of course who wouldn't be happy with the end result? That's not the point. I can't even get a GD muffler baffle removed without new special tools and calls to the OEM looking for their GD parts diagram that's not posted. Just to add a couple $24 lollipops.

JFC - and a complete upfit build is "easy"? Nah, not buying it.