Milwaukee Eight (M8) 2017 and up M8 Air and Liquid Cooled discussion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

More compression

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2025 | 07:46 PM
  #1  
Donnie Brasco's Avatar
Donnie Brasco
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 73
Likes: 15
From: Virginia
Default More compression

So after having the 124 on my street bob for about a year I'm looking for a little more power. Thinking about +1 heads and a bigger cam but it seems my 10.75 compression is severely limiting my options. Am I thinking right that all I need is some higher compression pistons to achieve what I'm wanting?
 
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 03:09 AM
  #2  
Slingshot383's Avatar
Slingshot383
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 641
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
Default

More compression is good, to a point, you don't want so much compression that all you can run is race fuel. 11.2 - 11.75 would be your safe range.
 
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 07:50 AM
  #3  
rigidthumper's Avatar
rigidthumper
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 8,485
From: Bates County MO
Default

Ported heads and increased compression tend to build the upper RPM HP, but only if you have supporting pieces (bigger cam/springs, better AC + intake/TB/injectors+ pipes).
What's the current combo?
 
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 08:00 PM
  #4  
Donnie Brasco's Avatar
Donnie Brasco
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 73
Likes: 15
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by rigidthumper
Ported heads and increased compression tend to build the upper RPM HP, but only if you have supporting pieces (bigger cam/springs, better AC + intake/TB/injectors+ pipes).
What's the current combo?
S&S 475, 62mm throttle body, 7.1 injectors, Arlen ness big sucker, V&H pro pipe
 
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 10:32 PM
  #5  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

M8? Your wanting to blow that rear head gasket regular bumping the compression with the inches you have already.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2025 | 10:16 AM
  #6  
mjwebb's Avatar
mjwebb
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,621
Likes: 11,353
From: State of Confusion
Default

Originally Posted by Donnie Brasco
S&S 475, 62mm throttle body, 7.1 injectors, Arlen ness big sucker, V&H pro pipe
you have a built 124 in a softail that's 200 lbs lighter than the touring models and it doesn't have enough power for you? just curious what you do with it besides replace the rear tire monthly
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2025 | 11:27 AM
  #7  
Steve Cole's Avatar
Steve Cole
HD EFI Guru
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 4,718
Default

Originally Posted by Donnie Brasco
So after having the 124 on my street bob for about a year I'm looking for a little more power. Thinking about +1 heads and a bigger cam but it seems my 10.75 compression is severely limiting my options. Am I thinking right that all I need is some higher compression pistons to achieve what I'm wanting?
Do you really know what your compression is? The HD engine has loose tolerances and due to that, the stock compression will vary +/-0.5. So while you may have an advertised 10.75 it may be 10.25 or 11.25 and anywhere in-between. The only way to really know what you have is to take it apart and measure your parts and then make the proper decision for your new parts. I can tell you that people on the east coast can run with compression ratio's up in the 12.4:1 and it works, but try that out west in So. CA. during the summer months and your **** out of luck. You will have a bike that doesn't want to run below 2500 RPM and it pings anytime your riding around town.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2025 | 08:24 PM
  #8  
Donnie Brasco's Avatar
Donnie Brasco
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 73
Likes: 15
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Steve Cole
Do you really know what your compression is? The HD engine has loose tolerances and due to that, the stock compression will vary +/-0.5. So while you may have an advertised 10.75 it may be 10.25 or 11.25 and anywhere in-between. The only way to really know what you have is to take it apart and measure your parts and then make the proper decision for your new parts. I can tell you that people on the east coast can run with compression ratio's up in the 12.4:1 and it works, but try that out west in So. CA. during the summer months and your **** out of luck. You will have a bike that doesn't want to run below 2500 RPM and it pings anytime your riding around town.
I haven't asked but shouldn't my builder know my compression?
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 10, 2025 | 10:02 AM
  #9  
Bigt001's Avatar
Bigt001
Cruiser
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 161
Likes: 92
From: Connecticut
Default

Originally Posted by Donnie Brasco
I haven't asked but shouldn't my builder know my compression?
A lot of so call "builders" are no more than plain assemblers. To know what your true compression rate is you need to measure how far your piston is short of the top of the cylinder bore and the exact size of the cylinder head combustion chamber then do the math.
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2025 | 10:49 AM
  #10  
Steve Cole's Avatar
Steve Cole
HD EFI Guru
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 4,718
Default

Originally Posted by Donnie Brasco
I haven't asked but shouldn't my builder know my compression?
I hate to say it but most are just changing parts as they do not want to spend the time it takes to measure all the parts and find out.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:50 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE