It's been 5 months since the OP started this thread.
I wonder what cams he went with?

 

10.5:1? For a cruiser that seems too high to me-- jmo. I went with the 9.4:1 so I could run mid grade if I had to. I've been a wrench 50+ yrs and like to keep my street machines real reliable-- and I don't need compression releases.race?-- go for it--- again, jmho

 

I have the SE 204 cams. Awesome! I now have that hotrod lope and it pulls hard from idle all the way to redline!!! I installed the cams myself, pretty easy job.

 

I'm bringing this thread back to life as I'm deciding on a cam this week for my 96" 2010 Road King and would like to hear what the forum has to say. Currently have a Fuel Moto 2-1-2, 4" Jackpots, Ness Inverted Big Sucker, and a PC-V with Fuel Moto map. Bike runs well, but I'm looking for more midrange.

I ride solo 99% of the time, mostly up and down the Pacific Coast Highway and out in the canyons. I do not do any long distance riding loaded up with gear and the wife, nor am I an 'around town bar hopper.' We have some of the best coastal roads in the world out here, and that is where I spend my time. I do have to deal with a lot of stoplights/stop and go as I live in San Francisco, stock cam hasn't been an issue with regards to bottom end. One could argue that my Road King is on the lighter side for touring bikes, but that's probably a stretch.

I was dead set on the Wood 222 cam, but eventually got through to Bobby Wood, explained my setup and riding style, and he recommended the 555.

I understand that if I eventually go with the FM 107 kit down the road then the 555 is the easy choice, as this cam is a good match to the big bore kit while the 222 is not.

I am more concerned about the 555 performing in my bike for the time being, is it too much of a compromise with a stock 96? The 555 has a lot more duration than the little 222. But the 222 falls off pretty quickly, whereas the 555 doesn't. I do tend to run out 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear on the backroads. I am NOT the guy who rides a touring bike on the fwy for long distances at 65-75mph, nor do I really care much about MPG. I am not really certain of my rpm range (no tach), but I'm probably spinning it to 4500-5500 b/c I can feel it fall off pretty dramatically at the top of those gears. That's probably why Bobby said to go with the 555. But If I never do the 107 kit, does the 555 still make sense for my riding style?

I would appreciate any feedback from those of you who may have 555s in a 96. I've pored over the dyno graphs and the 222 is the clear winner for a stock 96, but dyno graphs aren't everything and I'm more concerned with big midrange than super low end or top end.

 

I went with SE 203 cams.

 

im a big woods cam fan. know Bobby personally and have used his advice many times on various builds. He was my go to guy on my 120R and has not steered me wrong on cam choice, ever.

if he said 555, i would install the 555. the guy has forgotten more about cams that i or most people will ever learn in their lifetimes.

that being said, the 204 and the 48 are popular cams for the 96. all work very well. by the way the 222 and the 48 are similar, just not the same.

its a choice, bit of thought, the 222 and 555 cost the same. if you ever think you will go 103 or 107. do not pay x 2. get the 555 as it will work in either configuration.

 

You're asking our advice over Bobby Wood's? Really?

I'd go with what he said!

Personally I am not an expert but it is all based on your riding style which I am sure he took into consideration. For example, I have a 2013 Limited 103 and my Indy put S&S 510 cams in it. The bike is awesome but it's best for someone that pushes close to the rev limiter and I don't. Mid to high end torque and HP. When talking to my Indy about this when he later rebuilt my Road King from a 96 to a 103, he put the SE204 cams in it. Low to mid range torque. Much better for my riding style which is a preference for low to mid range torque for a guy that rarely shifts near the limiter and hates to down shift just to go a little.

Good luck with your decision. So many choices.

 

Of course really I value Wood's input, he took the time to call me back to talk about my bike and my riding style, it was really nice to chat with him. I told him that I like to twist the throttle on the back roads....

The research has been fun, and I'm really tempted to just do the 107 upgrade with the cams right now, but since I don't ride many miles per year, I'm going to drag it out and enjoy the cam upgrade for awhile before I upgrade the jugs and possibly heads.

Unless I'm mistaken, there's no need to open the cam chest for the big bore kit if I'm not changing cams, correct?

 

Again, I'm no expert. I do all my routine maintenance my self but I don't touch the inside of the motor. I have an indy that does fantastic work and is reasonably priced and has an awesome set of the proper tools that I don't. I don't think you HAVE to open the cam chest but..... be prepared to open a lot of other things if you go to a 107. When my indy rebuilt my 96 to a 103 ( I wanted reliability over Hp that a 107 would offer ), the first ride he took it on, he smoked the clutch. You should open the cam chest and verify run out on your crank and that it's still straight. Mine wasn't. It is now. I'm not sure what comes in the kits but if not, you'll need the heads machined for compression releases, the wiring harness and someone to turn them on in the ecm. The big bore kits seem like a simple bolt on upgrade but be prepared for it to lead to more than just replacing jugs and pistons.

 

I went with Andrews 48 with Woods lifters, if you use adjustable push rods it's a pretty easy job. After tune I'm at 95 HP and 105 Tq. What I wanted out of a cam was to open throttle in 6th gear at 70 mph and pass that pick up truck hauling scrap metal in front of me with little effort. The 48 does just that.