Shovelhead sound
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 1,283
From: Texas Hill Country
I can remember standing in a parking lot and hearing some approaching motorcycles.
I'd stop what I was doing, just to listen to them pull into the lot.
Today all you hear is 15 different stereos blaring long after the motors are shut down.
Getting us ready for electric bikes I guess.
I'd stop what I was doing, just to listen to them pull into the lot.
Today all you hear is 15 different stereos blaring long after the motors are shut down.
Getting us ready for electric bikes I guess.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
as far as sound goes, ironheads rule. Fill your washing machine with marbles and put it on spin cycle. Thats about as close as you'll get to an ironhead. They sound just a little different with a single fire spark setup.
carl
carl
That thump-a- tee- thump sound is why the shovel is still so treasured by us old timers. A big part is due to the dual fire plugs. It is the last of the classic Harley sound. It is also the cause of tremendous vibration making the mirrors virtually useless and any speed over about 65 an exercise in holding on for dear life.
Progress, Porsche, and modern design have made Harleys sewing machine smooth. I'm not knocking the modern machines by any means. I am on my second Road King now.
Having said that, I decided to ride my old shovel in the Memorial day Parade yesterday. I figure that at my age riding my old girl might be getting difficult to do.
I was right. I put in about 400 miles yesterday, and she kicked my A-S-S. Part of the reason is that the old shovel requires all your senses all the time. There is no such thing as letting your mind wander on the highway and enjoy the sights. You are constantly attuned to the sound of the motor and for any inconsistencies in the ride. You have to plan to stop. The old banana calipers just don't work like the new brakes. And turns can be wobbly at best.
I was thankful to get home yesterday. I patted the old girls tanks and thanked her for going out one more time. I was exhausted. My back and wrists hurt and the old shovel needs maintenance before the next outing.
Progress, Porsche, and modern design have made Harleys sewing machine smooth. I'm not knocking the modern machines by any means. I am on my second Road King now.
Having said that, I decided to ride my old shovel in the Memorial day Parade yesterday. I figure that at my age riding my old girl might be getting difficult to do.
I was right. I put in about 400 miles yesterday, and she kicked my A-S-S. Part of the reason is that the old shovel requires all your senses all the time. There is no such thing as letting your mind wander on the highway and enjoy the sights. You are constantly attuned to the sound of the motor and for any inconsistencies in the ride. You have to plan to stop. The old banana calipers just don't work like the new brakes. And turns can be wobbly at best.
I was thankful to get home yesterday. I patted the old girls tanks and thanked her for going out one more time. I was exhausted. My back and wrists hurt and the old shovel needs maintenance before the next outing.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,607
Likes: 3,375
From: Cental, MI
In order of Best Sounding H-D... All Iron Made comes first...so a Knuck is First... then an Ironhead.. then the Shovel... which Can be bested by an Evo with Iron Cylinders (expensive but worth it if Racing) especially with the addition of Compression... Low compression is why a Panhead just cant get on the Map...IMO, add compression...Pans can Compete...Not much difference at all in Iron Cylinder, Aluminum head Harleys... efficiency and compression tell the Tale...