What would you build

[iclick]

Originally Posted by DoomBuggy

- Touring bike, looking for best performance in the low to mid power band 2k-3500rpm
- Cooler ride for both passenger and rider
- Reliability - but assume no warrenty
- Mileage - must stay in the 40s or better
- 96" displacement - no big bores engine stays in frame
- Head work and cams allowed
- $2,000 to $2,500 budget TOTAL including tuning

The problem with cams is that increasing duration will require a compression increase to maintain low-end TQ. I have not seen a cam yet that provides TQ levels up to stock below 3500 rpms. To work with what's already there, you might try the Fuel Moto Power Package first, as even if it doesn't go far enough for you the hardware can still be used with further upgrades.

Link to Power Package

Check out the dyno chart of an otherwise stock TC96, which shows a very smooth TQ curve free of peaks, about equal to a 2-into-1 system; holds maximum TQ from 3000-3700 rpms; and maintains above-90TQ between 2700-4300 rpms. This is achieved with only a muffler change (or baffles only if you already have Rush, Wild Pigs, or some types of SE mufflers), PCIII with FM map, and AC. It costs $689 shipped, and what's in the package are items you'll need anyway for any performance upgrades.

If you are looking to transform your bike into a HP king this won't give it to you, but will provide HP and TQ about as high as you can get with a stock motor, even compared to 2-into-1 systems which cost much more. I have this combo and it is very impressive, taking a cam change off the table for me at least for the time being.

Some tweaking of the PCIII map has risen gas mileage up to stock levels without any performance penalty or causing cooling issues.

[Harleypingman]

Originally Posted by DoomBuggy

So I am curious, we have quite a few folks on the board who have presented themselves as being very knowledgeable about the 96" engine, what would you build, and why, with the following parameters / goals to guide you.

- Touring bike, looking for best performance in the low to mid power band 2k-3500rpm
- Cooler ride for both passenger and rider
- Reliability - but assume no warrenty
- Mileage - must stay in the 40s or better
- 96" displacement - no big bores engine stays in frame
- Head work and cams allowed
- $2,000 to $2,500 budget TOTAL including tuning

I believe that this represents the goals most "average" riders would have. The budget is probably at the top of what I would be able to spend over a winter. And of course this make one huge assumption, that a qualified tuner can be found in the area where each of us live.

Anyone................

Given the rpm range you specified, I'd suggest you consider a cam only swap and a good 2-into-1 or slip-ons. An early intake close leads to more low end torque and the earliest intake close is probably the Andrews 21 at 30* followed by Head-Quarters HQ 500 @ 36*. You can use the BigBoyz Cam comparator to look at cam specs:

http://www.bigboyzcycles.com/tccams.htm

I have the chain drive/pre-07 version of the HQ 500, HQ-0034 cams in my otherwise stock 88, Rinehart TD's, and SE a/c and the cams really "wake up" the 88 from 2500 up to 4K or thereabouts. And I ride with guys who have done the street ported 95" or SE 95 BB kits and they are either not as fast or perhaps barely faster than my 88 from 2K to 5K doing roll on acceleration runs even though their peak numbers from dynos are higher.

Good luck with your research and project.