Another cam question
TTS 250
Woods 408X
Red shift 552
Any advice welcomed!
The 552 offers very broad power. You feel it as soon as the clutch is let out, yet it still pulls hard up top. It's very balanced and is especially strong in the mid-range. There's no waiting for it to hit, there's no drop off higher in the rpm range, it's just got ***** from start to finish. It's without question the most complete cam I've ever ran in a Harley (and I've run a ton). The thing I noticed most is that it's ridiculously responsive at every single throttle opening and RPM point, which is exactly what I wanted. It honestly took some getting used to. I thought it was a bit much until I adjusted the throttle sensitivity tables. I took the bike to the track and ran a 10.94 first time out, best trap was just under 125 mph. It does it all. It has a bit more overlap than the average M8 cam which will result in a rougher idle. People think the S&S 475 sounds mean, this ***** all over it. If you like a quieter bike or smoother idle, I do not recommend it. From a cons perspective, the cam requires a good valve spring with a decent amount of pressure. A non-issue for a guy like me but not ideal for a guy riding 20,000 miles a year. Overall, I'm ecstatic with it (for my needs) and have no desire to change it.
The TTS250 is another really really good choice from all the data I've seen. It's another 140rwhp all day setup with the right pipe kind of deal. The idle is a bit on the softer side, probably comparable to your XE. Less overlap (comparative to 552) means smoother running down low, exhaust will have slightly less bark. The IVC is a couple/few degrees later than the 552, from what I've seen it's also extremely well balanced. The cam doesn't require a spring with a ton of pressure which is important for someone who packs on the miles or wants the most longevity possible.
I don't know anything about the 408X cam so no comments there. Hopefully the above is helpful. Either cam I mentioned will give you what you are looking for. Just depends what you're looking for beyond just the enhanced mid-range and top-end pull over the 22XE. If your lady rides with you and you want the bike to be as smooth as possible, are putting lots of miles on it annually, I'd probably lean towards the 250. If you want something that has got some attitude/personality, and are ok with the drawbacks (heavier spring pressures, less smooth in parking lot), I'd probably go 552.
Last edited by MattLS6; Oct 18, 2023 at 03:18 PM. Reason: spelling
The 552 offers very broad power. You feel it as soon as the clutch is let out, yet it still pulls hard up top. It's very balanced and is especially strong in the mid-range. There's no waiting for it to hit, there's no drop off higher in the rpm range, it's just got ***** from start to finish. It's without question the most complete cam I've ever ran in a Harley (and I've run a ton). The thing I noticed most is that it's ridiculously responsive at every single throttle opening and RPM point, which is exactly what I wanted. It honestly took some getting used to. I thought it was a bit much until I adjusted the throttle sensitivity tables. I took the bike to the track and ran a 10.94 first time out, best trap was just under 125 mph. It does it all. It has a bit more overlap than the average M8 cam which will result in a rougher idle. People think the S&S 475 sounds mean, this ***** all over it. If you like a quieter bike or smoother idle, I do not recommend it. From a cons perspective, the cam requires a good valve spring with a decent amount of pressure. A non-issue for a guy like me but not ideal for a guy riding 20,000 miles a year. Overall, I'm ecstatic with it (for my needs) and have no desire to change it.
The TTS250 is another really really good choice from all the data I've seen. It's another 140rwhp all day setup with the right pipe kind of deal. The idle is a bit on the softer side, probably comparable to your XE. Less overlap (comparative to 552) means smoother running down low, exhaust will have slightly less bark. The IVC is a couple/few degrees later than the 552, from what I've seen it's also extremely well balanced. The cam doesn't require a spring with a ton of pressure which is important for someone who packs on the miles or wants the most longevity possible.
I don't know anything about the 408X cam so no comments there. Hopefully the above is helpful. Either cam I mentioned will give you what you are looking for. Just depends what you're looking for beyond just the enhanced mid-range and top-end pull over the 22XE. If your lady rides with you and you want the bike to be as smooth as possible, are putting lots of miles on it annually, I'd probably lean towards the 250. If you want something that has got some attitude/personality, and are ok with the drawbacks (heavier spring pressures, less smooth in parking lot), I'd probably go 552.
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