Counter Balanced Engine : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

wjsmithjr · 05-27-2009, 07:37 AM

Anybody ever wonder why Harley doesn't put the counter balanced engine in the touring models. I like my Heritage at a redlight much better than my new bagger.

djmiller · 05-27-2009, 07:56 AM

My friends ask me the same question. I had a 06 Heritage & traded it for the 09 Ultra Classic. I don't mind the shaking at a stop but I love the smooth ride at highway speed.

Chart · 05-27-2009, 08:34 AM

05 Heritage traded for an 07 Road King. Loved everything about the Heritage, everything, except the high frequency vibration that you finally notice about 3 hours into a tour. That became very tiring on long trips. Well, that and the 5 speed transmission. Both of these were problems mostly only on the interstates.

route66paul · 05-27-2009, 08:36 AM

The reason for the counter balancing is because they are hard mounted. The other models have rubber mounts, and the engine smoothes out with some RPM.

TXCHOP · 05-27-2009, 09:27 AM

I dont know why, but i am sure glad that they didnt!

route66paul · 05-27-2009, 02:38 PM

To get a v-twin to run smooth, you have to balance the crank so that it will run smooth at a certain RPM range. Hard mounted motors are smooth at idle and not really smooth at cruising. When the motor gets rubber mounted, you can set it to be smooth at cruise, but it jumps around at idle.

Eleft36 · 05-27-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by route66paul

To get a v-twin to run smooth, you have to balance the crank so that it will run smooth at a certain RPM range. Hard mounted motors are smooth at idle and not really smooth at cruising. When the motor gets rubber mounted, you can set it to be smooth at cruise, but it jumps around at idle.

Hard mounted motors are smooth at idle and not really smooth at cruising.

Allow me to quibble, mine is vibration-less.

Al

springer 03 · 05-27-2009, 09:55 PM

Why not rubber mount a counter balanced motor and have the best of both? My softail idles and rides without vibration until 75 or 80. My street glide smooths out after getting moving and is nice and steady until decel and idle.

01fxdx · 05-28-2009, 05:33 AM

rolling thunder chassis makes a bagger frame designed fo the b motor for those of you ready to really get custom!!

05ChromeUltra · 05-28-2009, 04:18 PM

I road Gold Wings for years...that's smooth. My '05 Ultra shakes and snorts when at a light, and I Love It..!!! Scares the "Boogie Man" away...!!!

screaminrdking · 05-29-2009, 01:54 PM

My Screamin Eagle Road King was ideling at a friends shop the other day.
A guy and his younger son came in to fill a tire with air, when the son says to me why does your bike vibrate so much. Before I could reply the father said boy thats not vibrating, it's breathing. Couldnt have explained it better

05ChromeUltra · 05-29-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screaminrdking

My Screamin Eagle Road King was ideling at a friends shop the other day.
A guy and his younger son came in to fill a tire with air, when the son says to me why does your bike vibrate so much. Before I could reply the father said boy thats not vibrating, it's breathing. Couldnt have explained it better

Damn Straight..!!!

facn8me · 05-29-2009, 02:51 PM

My 96b with 6 speed is smooth as glass from idle to 85 ish. Never been faster on it as I see no reason. 7700 miles total and 850 miles last weekend and have never noticed any vibration at any speed for any reason. Some like shakers and some don't. That's why we are given choices. One good thing about the rubber mounted engines is ya get to check every bolt on the bike more often as it slips my mind most times cause everything isn't shakin all the time.

SFTL-1 · 05-29-2009, 03:02 PM

I can only guess that they don't use the "B" motor across all lines (except v-rod) because of the traditionalists wanting the Harley vibration. If they were to use the "B" motor on the touring bikes they could solid mount the motor, use it as a structural part of the frame which would allow them the lighten up the very heavy frame they currently use. The touring models also offer better stopping power due to their dual rotor front brake setup and this could cause havoc with the counter balance system if the rear wheel is locked up without the clutch engaged, but this is all just speculation on my part

dickey · 05-29-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springer 03

Why not rubber mount a counter balanced motor and have the best of both? My softail idles and rides without vibration until 75 or 80. My street glide smooths out after getting moving and is nice and steady until decel and idle.

The reason The Moco didn't rubber mount the B motor in the Softail was because they couldn't keep "the look" with the rubber mount system, because you need extra clearance between the motor & the frame to allow for movement. They wanted the motor to be "tight" looking within the frame, without too much clearance. Makes for a better "chopper" look.