[godot]

I am considering installing a set of Jerry Branch heads. Does anyone have any experience with them? All pros/cons, recommendations are appreciated.

LR

[Seahag]

I bought the Branch headwork and piston last winter and they have made a remarkable improvement on my bike. There polishing job is first rate and the combustion chamber looked like a mirror. That being said I've read many posts and articles that lead me to believe I could've had equal or better results for much less money elsewhere.

Short Block Charlie at www.motorcyclemachine.com has a couple different head porting option. The scotsman is for increased flow and velocity for stock to mildly modified motors and if you want all out performance they have the "Vortec" head package. The "Scotsman" is about $250.00 if I remember right and the "Vortec" is about $600.00 a set. I've also read many, many good things about Dewey's custom head jobs at http://www.deweyspegs.com/ He's also supposed to be very reasonable for superb work.

I'm not trying to steer you away from Branch as I believe they do a great job...but in my thinking these other outfits will provide atleast equal performance at a better price...and for me, since I'm not trying to max HP for racing, but rather just wanted to free up the restrictions in the stock heads; I think all of these companies will do you justice. If I would have known of these other companies though I would have chosen them over Branch simply for the atleast $250.00 savings...which would have likely meant I could've sprung for a new set of gear drive cams. Unfortunately my learning curve is slightly behind my lust for more power and I couldn't wait to do more research.

[godot]

Thank you for the input. I will research these companies. I can get the Branch heads for $800.00, with a trade-in. Compare to $250.00, it is a big difference. I have gotten in trouble before, going the least expensive route. As the old saying goes, "I got what I paid for." But I will "kick the tires" really well this time.

LR

[Seahag]

Did they lower the price at Branch? I paid $840.00 + all shipping of course. Then bought the matching pistons at 10.5:1 compression ratio. I've had some detonation at that compression when riding above 90 degrees...so if you go with an another porter see if you can set the heads up between 10-10.25:1. Should be a little more tolerant of Octane variences that way.

[godot]

The shop that will be working on it gets them a little cheaper. I am not planning to change the pistons. Rather, I am going with the thin gasket set which should yield about a 9.0:1 compression.

[Seahag]

Stock twin cam ratio is 9.0:1 are you sure you didn't mean 10.0:1?

[godot]

I have an EVO, not TC.