Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine - Better performance - Need advice

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 03:24 PM
  #1  
THNDR's Avatar
THNDR
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Exeter, NH
Default Engine - Better performance - Need advice

Hey guys - I want your honest opinions (of course, that's why I am here). I live close to R&R Cycles in Manchester, NH and I have heard great things about these guys and their engine work. head work and machining. My Harley dealer is telling me that I should go with a Screamin Eagle 103" kit with different cams, etc. With R&R, I would go with a Stage 4 kit. They are both similar in price, just don't know if I should stay with all Harley parts/service, or go to someone else (R&R). The guys at R&R have done engine work and machining on some hot bikes, and they have a good reputation (from what I have heard anyways). I have also heard that Screamin Eagle is good, but you pay a lot for little gains. My Harley dealer is telling me they just did a bike not long ago, set up like mine, and they got 112hp & 112lbs of torqueout of it with the mods they are recomending to me.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these choices???
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 05:15 PM
  #2  
tarheelrdr's Avatar
tarheelrdr
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

See if they can show you a dyno sheet and see how flat the torgue curve is. Peak hp and tq. is very misleading to alot of people. Anybody can "produce" any kind of # . Headquarters and some of ther others take in consideration how you ride and what you ride. I would talk to your Indy, they probably know what will work for your situation.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 05:19 PM
  #3  
dawg's Avatar
dawg
Seasoned HDF Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,409
Likes: 3,948
From: Vermont
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

R&R is a good shop. Reggie gave me a tour and I picked his brain for quite awhile. What dealer are you talking about Manchester or Heritage? Why not buy the kit from Reggie and do the work yourself?
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 05:26 PM
  #4  
maineultraclassic's Avatar
maineultraclassic
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 5
From: Biddeford, Maine
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

I would pick aftermarket over SE ...............much better stuff/performance with the aftermarket.

Go with R&R...........they are a great shop with great people.

Steve
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 06:25 PM
  #5  
THNDR's Avatar
THNDR
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Exeter, NH
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

Can anyone tell me how their bikes are holding up after some miles? How many miles have you put on after upgrades? R&R or Screamin Eagle?Are you happy with the engine mods? Was there a huge difference?
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 10:16 PM
  #6  
BadPiggy's Avatar
BadPiggy
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

ORIGINAL: mbsix2

Hey guys - I want your honest opinions (of course, that's why I am here). I live close to R&R Cycles in Manchester, NH and I have heard great things about these guys and their engine work. head work and machining. My Harley dealer is telling me that I should go with a Screamin Eagle 103" kit with different cams, etc. With R&R, I would go with a Stage 4 kit. They are both similar in price, just don't know if I should stay with all Harley parts/service, or go to someone else (R&R). The guys at R&R have done engine work and machining on some hot bikes, and they have a good reputation (from what I have heard anyways). I have also heard that Screamin Eagle is good, but you pay a lot for little gains. My Harley dealer is telling me they just did a bike not long ago, set up like mine, and they got 112hp & 112lbs of torqueout of it with the mods they are recomending to me.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these choices???
Your dealer is feeding you a line of BS. As for "I'll still have harley parts"...if you use R&R, you'll STILL have Harley parts! They won't be "worked" by HD. Do you think the drag racers in AHDRA are using strictly Harley worked parts? How about NASCAR, strictly Ford/Dodge/Chevy/Toyota parts? These people use the castings and then add their magic. Now, if you think the SE magic is better than R&R or HQ's magic, then go with the SE. You place a SE head beside a R&R head and be the judge.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 10:22 PM
  #7  
Harleypingman's Avatar
Harleypingman
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

I have the SE Parts Catalog and it is loaded with dyno sheets for the various SE builds (using a variety of SE heads, cylinders, pistons, etc. Harley-recommended combinations) and none of them have a torque curve that compares with what you will get with an HQ build. And if you happen to have a HD dealer who really knows performance engine building you are a rarity since they are as common as hen's teeth.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 10:31 PM
  #8  
PhilM's Avatar
PhilM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

Between the two, I would go with R&R in a heartbeat.

I personally like HeadQuarters, but I have also worked with some really nice stuff form R&R. Not to mention some really bad stuff from S/E....
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2008 | 12:58 AM
  #9  
pop1's Avatar
pop1
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 5
From: Chicago, IL.
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

You answered your own question. Big money for small gains. I have friends that own the SE bikes and they get spanked by the 88 inchers with about 2000 grand in engine upgrades. If the shop is reputable I would go there.
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2008 | 08:14 PM
  #10  
Dalton's Avatar
Dalton
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Default RE: Engine - Better performance - Need advice

I too have gone with HQ and am completely satisfied, but your choice between R&R and HD parts is a no brainer, go with R&R.I have seen some of their work and it is well done.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bobby5
Exhaust System Topics
17
Jun 23, 2014 01:41 PM
Super Dave
Touring Models
63
Apr 6, 2010 12:25 PM
cptdenny
General Harley Davidson Chat
11
Dec 9, 2009 11:51 PM
ZeroFiveFour
Northeast
5
Oct 17, 2009 07:45 AM
SeanS
Sportster Models
30
Mar 26, 2008 03:01 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:41 AM.