103" cam pick: SE255 - SE254 -SE204
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: Netherlands
103" cam pick: SE255 - SE254 -SE204
This is what I want:
better all round cams!
My 2010 Ultra Limited 103" with cr and oil cooler standard and V&H twin slash ovals and K&N filter and software remap needs servicing and i was planning to have the cams changed as well. My intention is to get better performance in regular use. In my daily praxis that is from about 1800 to a max of sometimes 4500 and most of the time 3500
As it is under warranty there's no option but SE.
My dealer's advice is the 254. I asked for the 255, but he was not very happy with the high lift of the 255.
To be honest, i'm not a mechanic and i have not the slightest clue what he is talking about.
From what i've read in here the 254 moves up the torque a couple of hundred rpm's, that would not be much of a problem for me. Just want to be shure that there's still something left at around 2000-2500 rpm.
He had no experience with the SE204 because he could not get them?????
Reading this forum makes my choice even harder, now there's more questions than answers.....
seems to me that I can't go wrong with the 255, but the 254 should be fine as well and there are some very positive reviews on the 204
choices.......
better all round cams!
My 2010 Ultra Limited 103" with cr and oil cooler standard and V&H twin slash ovals and K&N filter and software remap needs servicing and i was planning to have the cams changed as well. My intention is to get better performance in regular use. In my daily praxis that is from about 1800 to a max of sometimes 4500 and most of the time 3500
As it is under warranty there's no option but SE.
My dealer's advice is the 254. I asked for the 255, but he was not very happy with the high lift of the 255.
To be honest, i'm not a mechanic and i have not the slightest clue what he is talking about.
From what i've read in here the 254 moves up the torque a couple of hundred rpm's, that would not be much of a problem for me. Just want to be shure that there's still something left at around 2000-2500 rpm.
He had no experience with the SE204 because he could not get them?????
Reading this forum makes my choice even harder, now there's more questions than answers.....
seems to me that I can't go wrong with the 255, but the 254 should be fine as well and there are some very positive reviews on the 204
choices.......
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 997
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte, N.C.
I like my 255's but If i could do it again I would go with 254e. These came out a month after i did my cams I like the way the numbers look for the 254e when paired up with the 96. I think the 103ci may need a little more cam than that. If you looking for a mild all around cam go with the 255 if you want hp in the higher rpm range go with the 204's. If however you do go with the 204 cam you will need to raise the compression a bit. So my vote is for the 255's
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Northern California
Cams
I have a 2011 RKC. At the 1,000 service I installed the following...
Reinhart True Duals, A Big Sucker, SE 204's and had it tuned with my Screamin' Eagle Pro Super Tuner (part #32109-88) that I bought. The tuner is very expensive at $459.99. But, it is the last one that you will ever buy for that Bike and produced nothing short of phenomenal results.
I spent an incrediable amount of time researching this, asking questions, etc. The best thing that you can do, it suck up as much info as you can on the subject. There are tons and tons of threads here to read. It's like beer. One person loves Bud...one person loves Heinkein. They're both beers....
Most of my ridding is two up. I came very close to putting the SE 255's on. I decided that they were a little to mild (for me). The cam lope with the SE 204's and the Reinhart's is awesome.
After 3+ hours on the Dyno, my numbers are very respectible for a two stage build. Max power = 91.98 Max Torque = 106.46.
The bike is a DREAM. It puts a smile on my face everytime I ride it, and I've been ridding motorcycles since I was 14. I'll be 60 in December.
Go with the SE 204's.....you'll love em. Good luck.
Reinhart True Duals, A Big Sucker, SE 204's and had it tuned with my Screamin' Eagle Pro Super Tuner (part #32109-88) that I bought. The tuner is very expensive at $459.99. But, it is the last one that you will ever buy for that Bike and produced nothing short of phenomenal results.
I spent an incrediable amount of time researching this, asking questions, etc. The best thing that you can do, it suck up as much info as you can on the subject. There are tons and tons of threads here to read. It's like beer. One person loves Bud...one person loves Heinkein. They're both beers....
Most of my ridding is two up. I came very close to putting the SE 255's on. I decided that they were a little to mild (for me). The cam lope with the SE 204's and the Reinhart's is awesome.
After 3+ hours on the Dyno, my numbers are very respectible for a two stage build. Max power = 91.98 Max Torque = 106.46.
The bike is a DREAM. It puts a smile on my face everytime I ride it, and I've been ridding motorcycles since I was 14. I'll be 60 in December.
Go with the SE 204's.....you'll love em. Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Lot's of stage II 103's running around (Flat top pistons and SE 255 cams). As far as the "high lift of the SE 255" the biggest issue centers around high cranking compression but since you already have compression releases that shouldn't be an issue.
I have the SE 255 cams and they deliver killer torque down low. When I cruise at 3200 rpm in 5th gear I am running 75 miles an hour. Some will chime in about the SE 255 torque curve falling off a little between 4000 and 4500, but the horsepower is still rising at that point so I don't notice any loss of performance. The bike will pull hard right up until it hits the rev limiter if I choose.
Other cams may make a little more torque later on but the SE 255's pull hard low where a touring weight bike needs it. The Harley catalog says the SE 254 would pull ahead of a like bike cammed with SE 255's in a drag race but I don't drag race my bagger, I use my dyna with the SE 120R for that...
I have the SE 255 cams and they deliver killer torque down low. When I cruise at 3200 rpm in 5th gear I am running 75 miles an hour. Some will chime in about the SE 255 torque curve falling off a little between 4000 and 4500, but the horsepower is still rising at that point so I don't notice any loss of performance. The bike will pull hard right up until it hits the rev limiter if I choose.
Other cams may make a little more torque later on but the SE 255's pull hard low where a touring weight bike needs it. The Harley catalog says the SE 254 would pull ahead of a like bike cammed with SE 255's in a drag race but I don't drag race my bagger, I use my dyna with the SE 120R for that...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 5
if your dealer installs your cams befor you took delivery of the bike then they would be covered by the warranty. if u install them after the fact they wont cover u under warrnaty if the cams should fail the rest of the bike they will cover unless they can prove the cams made that part fail as well. i would do the woods cams or any other then th screamin eagles.there some great aftermarket cams out there for what your looking for.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
The 254e cams would be my choice.
On my 103 with 10.5:1 compresion
I am runing the 259e cams because
they were made for the EFI bikes. Also
the time that both valves are open
at the same time is shorter
On my 103 with 10.5:1 compresion
I am runing the 259e cams because
they were made for the EFI bikes. Also
the time that both valves are open
at the same time is shorter
I have a 103 and lately have been thinking cams as well..I am leaning heavy toward the woods 555 because of what I have read about it..It looks like a nice setup for a BOLT ON CAM..
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
The 254E would be my pick today. When I installed the 255s the 254E was not out yet. If you do a little more work to the motor the 204 is a good pick. I have researched this to death. IMO I would stay away from the 555 unless you like hotrodding around. It makes great numbers but comes on just a hair too late for a lot of touring guys. You have to ride up around 2800 to 3k RPMs to get into the cams at all and it makes for a bit of shifting. The 254E is fine tuning of the 255s and everybody I can find that is running them is happy.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
My 2010 Ultra Limited 103" with cr and oil cooler standard and V&H twin slash ovals and K&N filter and software remap needs servicing and i was planning to have the cams changed as well. My intention is to get better performance in regular use. In my daily praxis that is from about 1800 to a max of sometimes 4500 and most of the time 3500. My dealer's advice is the 254. I asked for the 255, but he was not very happy with the high lift of the 255.
Just want to be shure that there's still something left at around 2000-2500 rpm.
Your mechanic's trepidation about the .556 lift of the 255 cams is unfounded, as they are perfectly suited for a stock environment. The stock beehive valve springs can handle even more lift than this reliably. I have them in my 96" and there are no adverse side-effects except increased exhaust noise, so be prepared for that with the 255's and probably any other performance cams. "Loud" in this case isn't translated as increased top-end noise, as they are very quiet in that department.
I know several folks who have Stage II upgrades, which is essentially what you'd have after the addition of 255 cams, and none of them are having problems with hot cranking or detonation.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Do you know of any dyno charts we could look at? I've never seen one.