cam shootouts
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Missouri
cam shootouts
so in searching for cams I have watched or read numerous cam shootouts, from writeups from fuelmoto to videos like moonshine Harley.
it seems to me, that unless you are chasing numbers and pretty charts, there isn't a nickel's bit of difference in the more popular bolt in cams out there for a 107 stage II.
even the timing of peak torque between the "power" cams and the "torque" seem minimal for the average guy.
am I missing something?
it seems to me, that unless you are chasing numbers and pretty charts, there isn't a nickel's bit of difference in the more popular bolt in cams out there for a 107 stage II.
even the timing of peak torque between the "power" cams and the "torque" seem minimal for the average guy.
am I missing something?
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The peak numbers are very similar but where some differences show up is how early or later the torque is made in the RPM range. Some bring the torque on instantly and fall off sooner and others come on a little later but carry out further. Comes down to how you ride and where you want your power and torque at.
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From: OH
Pretty much what quick said. The exception being that if you are going to increase displacement, compression or do head work some make that transition better than others.
M8's are fickle beast with the exhaust as well. You can put in a cam that puts the power down early on normally and put too open of an exhaust on it and the low end disappears.
M8's are fickle beast with the exhaust as well. You can put in a cam that puts the power down early on normally and put too open of an exhaust on it and the low end disappears.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 240
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From: Missouri
The peak numbers are very similar but where some differences show up is how early or later the torque is made in the RPM range. Some bring the torque on instantly and fall off sooner and others come on a little later but carry out further. Comes down to how you ride and where you want your power and torque at.
you can't ride at 2000rpms, and most of us don't live our lives at +5000rpms.
take for instance the S&S 475 vs a 22xe. the 475 is more of a power cam, the 22xe being a torque cam. In real life riding, and not racing or trying to squeeze every last drop out of the motor, most of use would never see the differences.
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it seems to be very little difference (number-wise) when the torque comes on... and falls off.
you can't ride at 2000rpms, and most of us don't live our lives at +5000rpms.
take for instance the S&S 475 vs a 22xe. the 475 is more of a power cam, the 22xe being a torque cam. In real life riding, and not racing or trying to squeeze every last drop out of the motor, most of use would never see the differences.
you can't ride at 2000rpms, and most of us don't live our lives at +5000rpms.
take for instance the S&S 475 vs a 22xe. the 475 is more of a power cam, the 22xe being a torque cam. In real life riding, and not racing or trying to squeeze every last drop out of the motor, most of use would never see the differences.
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I'm running the 475, have had it in my 117 and now my 128, if you look at some charts at specific rpms some cams may be around 10 ft lbs different at certain points, again it's all how you ride. Also if sound is important some cams are smooth while other will provide a lopey idle.
Unless they come out with anything new that's comparable to the 475, I'll be putting that in my new bike next year as well.
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That's why I chose the 475 in my last bike...the sound. The numbers were there for the most part, I think it fell second or thirds for making the most tq/hp in the original M8 cam shootout from fm, but the aggressive lope in combination with the pretty good numbers is what sold me.
Unless they come out with anything new that's comparable to the 475, I'll be putting that in my new bike next year as well.
Unless they come out with anything new that's comparable to the 475, I'll be putting that in my new bike next year as well.
I've been perfectly happy with HD's TQ cam in my 114, turned an already stump pulling motor into a freight train. Works great for me and all the power and torque is right where I want it. Sure I could get slightly more power out of an aftermarket cam but it quickly just turns into a numbers game with people just chasing arbitrary figures.