Just dropped my RK off at the dealers for a stage 3 & they gave me a 2017 Fat Boy with V&H short shots. What a POS in comparison to the M8's & gutless too. I forgot how bad the twinkles were, glad home is only 12 miles away ! The pipes sound awful, vibration is unreal & the heat on such a short journey was crazy !
I won't be riding it again until i pick my bike back up.

So glad I own an M8 now.

 

Poor Guy....Do you need a safe space?

 

amen to that Paul..we just returned from a 1000 mile trip with friends..sitting next to 2 of them at stop lights with their water cooled Rushmore 103's the noises coming off those engines made me cringe...couldn't ever go back to a TC after spending a year and 14000 miles on my 107 M8..can't wait to hear your report on your engine upgrade and hope it's a trouble free one that will put thousands of miles of smiles on your face!!

 

I'm looking forward to when the dealer will be done replacing my M8 engine

 

I'm so glad that you're happy with your M8 RK! Other than the inevitable chase for more power, what would be the need for a stage 3 upgrade if it already holds no comparison to all the previous, gutless twinkies that a lot of us other owners ride?

Now, mind you I'm not saying that the M8 isn't a marvelous step forward, but, comparing a ride home on a modified 2017 Fat Boy to a new Road King isn't a fair comparison. While I have also "upgraded" over the years, I can still reminisce about the Evolution Sporty I owned and the twin cam Road King I once owned!

I can only hope that you can withstand the ride back to the dealer long enough so that you may experience the added power of your M8 stage 3 upgrade!

 

 

While I'm also glad I own an M 8, I sold my '07 Streetglide to buy it, but I kept my old '02 Fat Boy. I have way too much money in it to not ride it out, but that's not the reason I love that bike as much as my '17 RGS. With the motor work and six speed tranny (I had a six speed when you only got 5 speeds in new Harleys) it's fast, way faster than my '17 Road Glide Special. It's been trouble free for over 15 years, and that's with a Mikuni carb, .590 lift cams, 10.5 to 1 compression etc. It's always been my second bike so it only has 60,000 trouble free miles. There's nothing wrong with the old Twin Cams with double Timkin bearings in the low end and a gear drive conversion. I love the sound of my D&D Fat Cat 2 into 1. It also runs noticeably cooler than my new bike. I've checked it with my Fluke IR temp gun. Baggers feel hot in traffic on hot days. The old Fatty feels cooler.

My new, in March, RGS already has 7600 miles and only a fairing vent refusing to stay open has been a problem. I love the M 8 but it's a totally different riding experience than a hot-rodded twin cam. It's fantastic on the road. Lots of low end power right where a bagger runs, and very comfortable. No need to downshift when a twin cam would definitely need more revs to pull the same situation. I love the low end torque! It handles mountain roads amazingly well, and is the best riding Harley I have ever ridden. The new suspension is a big improvement. The only drawback is it's heavy. I hate backing this thing up. I can do it fine, but compared to my Fat Boy it's a hassle. So around town, zipping through traffic, or for short Sunday rides my nimble little Fat Boy get the nod. If I'm going more than 100 miles it stays home and my RGS takes me happily and comfortably to my destination.

 

Love my cammed dyno-ed paid for 09 & I can keep up with you stocker M8's too.
FWIW a stage , 114 M8 w/a 2-1 pipe is only putting out 80/100.
Seen it the other day on a dyno.
Really like their low down deep sound though, bad ***.

 

Enjoy your Stage 3, I hear they're really sump-thing special!

 

My first Harley was a twinkie (103 HO). honestly, it is a lot less bike than the M8. I swapped with my buddy on his twinkie and could absolutely could not wait to get back on my M8. the heat alone is a huge difference.