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Ok I have a 2000 FXDWD with Screaming Eagle 2 conversion 95" and it has never given me any problems. I keep hearing the M8 is better then the Twin Cams motors especially the 2007-2009 versions. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge or opinion. I have been looking for a 2009 Softtail Springer w/ 110 Twin Cam. I just don't like the looks of the new bikes or the M8 motors. Can anyone talk about it.
Better is relative. What do you want from a motorcycle? If you put down lots of miles a year, maybe go with the new model with the M8. If you just cruise around on the Springer and it appeals to you, go with that. Lots of happy Twin Cam owners out there. Check out and post in the M8 section for better feedback.
hth
TCs have a pretty good rep post '07 and the jury is still out on the M8s.
I have two of each and while the M8s sure make more power bone stock than a modded TC; I actually trust my TCs more ... at least for now.
You need to have been following along longer here on the Twin Cool and now the M8. I am surprised there not thousands of them lying by the road side along with all the TCs already there. No EVO, Knuckle and Pans there however. It was to oil slick around them to get enough traction to get to the highway for them.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 17, 2020 at 05:13 PM.
'00 Twin Cam features the left side Timken crankshaft support that was removed in '03 models due to expense of manufacture. Warranty crankshaft run out .003" or less on '99 to '02 engines.
'08 Twincams with a junk (2 year supplier,) crankshafts were allowed up to .012" runout (teeth rattling vibration,) before HD would honor any warranty on it. (You couldn't give me one.)
My personal 95" '00 TC is pushing 170,000 miles and I still haven't split the cases nor had to add oil during my 5,000 miles services. Damn motor is bulletproof in that regard. Only weak spot? Cam chain tensioners and I took care of that with gear drive cams back at 82,000 miles many years ago,
M8's had early issues (cooling / primary?) but I believe they've been addressed for the most part.
Stiggy, was the '08 model year the only year for the "bad" cranks? Were all of them bad? From the same supplier?
I have two TCs, a '08 and a '10 - both have been great, save for the compensator on the '10 - which has been taken care of with the SE part that the MoCo started using as stock in '11.
Either one will treat you right. Proper maintenance is the key. I had an 05 with zero issues. An 08 that was trouble free except the compensator, my 11 was a mess but it was a stage 4 gone bad. New owber has it back to stock. Loves it. My 16 was the best of them all. Eveb though I had a lifter fail. Loved that bike. My wife had the quietest twin cam i ever heard. Ran awesome zero issues. I have a 19 RGS and a 19 Freewheeler and between them they have been trouble free except for the transfer on my RGS. Her Freewheeler came with the vent. No issues.
You'll have your twin cam haters and your M8 haters. Both are great.
I'd stay Rushmore years on the twin cams. And if its pre 07 be careful if the cam chain adjusters.
M8s sure make more power bone stock than a modded TC
That's a very bold statement which would attract a lot of attention if more of us TC gear heads were reading the posts on this forum. Not long before I sold my "modded TC", a 2002 FLHT running an all bore 107" motor embarrassed an acquaintance who challenged me on his new M8 running the 114" motor; it was not even a contest. So your above statement should be edited to read "some modded TCs".
I've been in a position when I've had to make a choice between both engines. Decided for a Twin Cam. Yes, it would be nice to have more power from M8 but taking into account time the TC was an the market and the issues it had (all ironed out), then looking at M8 being on the market for maybe 2 years and having some issues ( and one can only wonder what else will appear in the next few years). I knew about the complaints with the TC crankshafts well the M8 is having also cold pressed cranks and only God knows if they're any better. I also took into consideration complaints how Harley was trying to save money on the design of TC (cam chains and shoes),well....from my view only a dreamer could think that when Harley was saving money for manufacturing in
the past,, NOW something changed suddenly and they decided to do things PROPERLY. I simply found a Twin Cam a better bet.
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Twin Cam vs M8
