120R mileage and reliability
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
Donnie Peterson did some articles a number of years ago on rear cylinder oil leaks on 103's and 110's. If I remember right the leaks were due to very high heat combined with the cylinder liner actually shifting causing the head gasket to leak. I don't know if that is the case on the 120, but no doubt heat plays a factor.
I think the 120R is not the best engine to put in a full fairing-ed touring bike that gets used in traffic. The engine is meant more for racing than for touring. But to each his own.
I think the 120R is not the best engine to put in a full fairing-ed touring bike that gets used in traffic. The engine is meant more for racing than for touring. But to each his own.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 885
Likes: 14
From: SoCal
I believe if you do not have the crank welded and do even a little hot-******* you will have issues......Great motor for the price but still needs some massaging to be reliable and make max power. Time will tell.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 885
Likes: 14
From: SoCal
We shall see.......Guess if it has **** or wheels it will give you problems anyway!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Everyone keeps saying that you have to do more to them than install as out of the crate but so far mine is still a very happy hot rod. I am not very nice to it and it just keeps running like a clock.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 885
Likes: 14
From: SoCal
Awesome! How many miles on it? Can you post a dyno sheet? I think the 120R is a great value!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 64
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From: NJ
Not the case since I do more than a little more than hot *******. But then again I am not at max horse power which can be in the 180hp zone.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 885
Likes: 14
From: SoCal
Been there, done that on my 05. On my first 98" build the wheels shifted. What made matters worse was I was running geared cams. Pretty much destroyed the entire motor. I had Dark Horse true and plug my next crank, install Timken bearings and it ran gears for the last 4 years as quiet or quieter than chains.
I'm now in the middle of building a 120r from the bottom end up. The Timken cases have been sent out for boring for the larger cylinders and the crank is being plugged/welded/trued. After my first experience I'll never trust a stock crank again.
Rick
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I'm now in the middle of building a 120r from the bottom end up. The Timken cases have been sent out for boring for the larger cylinders and the crank is being plugged/welded/trued. After my first experience I'll never trust a stock crank again.
Rick
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
I did have to put a tire on the dyna mid season. The tire had less than 2000 miles on it when the 120R was installed and didn't last four months. I am not a put it against the post and burnout guy, just toasted the tire from hot rodding.