255 vs 254e in a 96"?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 1
From: Superior, WI
Yeah, that's actually one of the first cases I've personally read about TDs making more low end torque than a 2/1/2 certified by a dyno. Pretty sweet though.
Given the HD choices listed, I'd look into the 204 or 254. 204 is a proven cam in the 96", 254 give a little more oomph higher up. Hard to find info on 254's due to them being such a relatively new cam.
TW555 are great cams, but the OP was specifically asking about 254 vs 255. Warranty concerns I'm guessing? Nothing wrong with that at all. Analyze how you ride. If you find yourself above 4,000 RPMs a fair amount of time, the 254 will be better. If you hardly ever venture that high in the RPMs, the 255s will put a smile on your face every time.
Given the HD choices listed, I'd look into the 204 or 254. 204 is a proven cam in the 96", 254 give a little more oomph higher up. Hard to find info on 254's due to them being such a relatively new cam.
TW555 are great cams, but the OP was specifically asking about 254 vs 255. Warranty concerns I'm guessing? Nothing wrong with that at all. Analyze how you ride. If you find yourself above 4,000 RPMs a fair amount of time, the 254 will be better. If you hardly ever venture that high in the RPMs, the 255s will put a smile on your face every time.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
If you find yourself above 4,000 RPMs a fair amount of time, the 254 will be better. If you hardly ever venture that high in the RPMs, the 255s will put a smile on your face every time.
I'll once again dispute the notion that 255's "run out of steam" after 4000 rpm (or whatever), which isn't the sensation I get riding my bike or reflected in any dyno chart I've seen. TQ peaks at around 3200 and HP around 5000, slowly falling off above that. They definitely don't pull as hard as most performance cams above about 4000 rpm, but they aren't designed to be quarter-mile burners. They're designed to pass trucks in 5th gear with luggage and a passenger on board.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 11, 2011 at 04:17 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Yeah, that's actually one of the first cases I've personally read about TDs making more low end torque than a 2/1/2 certified by a dyno. Pretty sweet though.
Given the HD choices listed, I'd look into the 204 or 254. 204 is a proven cam in the 96", 254 give a little more oomph higher up. Hard to find info on 254's due to them being such a relatively new cam.
TW555 are great cams, but the OP was specifically asking about 254 vs 255. Warranty concerns I'm guessing? Nothing wrong with that at all. Analyze how you ride. If you find yourself above 4,000 RPMs a fair amount of time, the 254 will be better. If you hardly ever venture that high in the RPMs, the 255s will put a smile on your face every time.
Given the HD choices listed, I'd look into the 204 or 254. 204 is a proven cam in the 96", 254 give a little more oomph higher up. Hard to find info on 254's due to them being such a relatively new cam.
TW555 are great cams, but the OP was specifically asking about 254 vs 255. Warranty concerns I'm guessing? Nothing wrong with that at all. Analyze how you ride. If you find yourself above 4,000 RPMs a fair amount of time, the 254 will be better. If you hardly ever venture that high in the RPMs, the 255s will put a smile on your face every time.
As far as riding style. Its pretty much cruising, back and forth to work, and racing a buddy now and then. So I do want something that will pull a little in the upper rpm's.
Again, I would like to match the power of my old 95" Road King. It made 10 hp & 8 ft lbs more then my 96" stage 1. Both bikes had Rinehart true duals (different design on new bike) I think the Road King had a 203 cam. It really worked good for my riding style.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 11
From: Southern Nevada (Pahrump)
Buy a set of 255s & give them a try. They can be bought in new condition for $100-$150 off this forum from various members. Then a cam install kit, adjustable push-rods, & cam bearings for about $200 from FuelMoto & your good to go. It will cost you all of that just for cams alone & there's tons of people out there that are happy with the SE 255 cams.
Do what you want but I've got my cams sitting on my dresser & will be installing them next month along with my new exhaust. For the type of riding you do I can't imagine you wouldn't be happy with them. PM iclick, he sounds pretty happy to me....
Do what you want but I've got my cams sitting on my dresser & will be installing them next month along with my new exhaust. For the type of riding you do I can't imagine you wouldn't be happy with them. PM iclick, he sounds pretty happy to me....
Last edited by klaybus; Nov 11, 2011 at 06:53 PM. Reason: typo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Then a cam install kit, adjustable push-rods, & cam bearings for about $200 from FuelMoto & your good to go.
. FM's kit is $50 at last check. My cam job was $285, but I bought the HD kit for about $75 (on-line, but more now) before FM offered theirs. That also included the Beatty bearing kit at $100. If you have all the necessary tools I really think you can do this job for ~$200 given some patience waiting for the right deal on Ebay. That's a great performance bargain for the money.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 11, 2011 at 08:18 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 1
From: Superior, WI
iClick continues to make good points. Everyone always say the 255s "die" at 4,000 rpm, but it is still making more HP than stock or with a Stage I. They just make less HP than TQ (and man do they make good low torque) so the dyno graph can be a little decieving. 255s are fun cams. 254s make a smidge more top end. Both will make your bike more fun to ride.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
Got a buddy up the street right now wishin he had a better cam than the SE 255 that came in his bike.
If you ran a Woods 555 cam it would be so much funner than a EPA 255 cam. And it wouldn't run out of power and you askin yourself, man if I just had a little more.
As much work as puttin a cam in is. I'd put a little more aggressive cam in. Replace the bearings and lifters if you have over 10,000 on them.
Anything worth doing is worth doing right.
If you ran a Woods 555 cam it would be so much funner than a EPA 255 cam. And it wouldn't run out of power and you askin yourself, man if I just had a little more.
As much work as puttin a cam in is. I'd put a little more aggressive cam in. Replace the bearings and lifters if you have over 10,000 on them.
Anything worth doing is worth doing right.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
Exhaust ain't keepin the cam down, its the 255 cam itself runnin out of power. EPA
Another reason to go with Woods 555 cam. Ask Jamie if which cam performs the best. He dyno's them.
Another reason to go with Woods 555 cam. Ask Jamie if which cam performs the best. He dyno's them.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 4
From: Arizona
I think the exhaust is keeping everything down above 4k rpm. A Fatcat or the like, would really wake that up above 4k without hurting the low end.
No matter what, I bet it feels good leaving a stop sign.
No matter what, I bet it feels good leaving a stop sign.
