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Need Speed

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by joluvkt02, Aug 14, 2007.

  1. joluvkt02

    joluvkt02 New Member

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    I recently bought a XL1200R. I've put drag exhaust, thunderslide jet kit, and high-flow air kit. But now I want more. I was wondering if anyone had some advice or even part numbers of a great cam + head combination that I can use to get more high end horsepower. I am thinking about getting a zippers 88" kit as well. It's a little pricey though. Any advice is welcome. Thanks

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  2. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    are you running any type of baffles in the new drag pipes? if not get some in there it will help out a bit on the power band
  3. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    ya ever think about a hyabusa??? lol lol sorry, had to say it!
    if all your wanting is wot, then dont worry with the baffels. ya got to remember one thing...speed =$$$$$$ ya got to figure how much ya want to spend, then check out the different packages available. you also need to figure how dependable you want your bike. the more you do, the less dependable it will become (not nessisarilly unridable, but you will need to work on it a LOT more). you will also need to figure what your final goal is...to be the fastest bike on top end?? 0 to 60?? 1/4 mile?? 1/8th mile?? depending on what you want to do with the bike is going to play a major role in how you are going to build it..you cant start throwing things at it cause ya seen it in a magazine and some guy said it works. it takes a bit of time and thinking about what you want, before ya ever spend the first penny.......hope this helps....have fun!!!:)
  4. Texas Road Glide

    Texas Road Glide New Member

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    hmmmmmmmm.......my little 1200 custom screams!!!!!
    and all it has is a stage II screamin eagle set up.......
    the little bike does great smokey burouts, pulls the front wheel up through 3 gears......to me fast is top end.....what will the bike do.....mine is not fast in those terms..... 0 to 100 mph.....its very quick, puts a smile on your face as your pulling away from ALL the other riders..... all though i probabbly should really get a tach, looking down at the ground hanging head in shame.
    the other thing is, i only way 140 lbs....
    my little piglet, does 35 in first,then second is about 65, third about 85.....100 in fourth.....no telling what fifth gear does my speedo only goes to a 120mph..........not much more than tha i am sure....
    but when i am riding with buddies, i have noticed, that when they are shifting into 3rd gear, i am just shifting into 2nd.....werd i know....
    now to the question i am asking?? what do you want the bike to do, that it is not doin now?????
    from there i am sure, you will receive a bunch of replys......


    TRG
  5. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    Speed

    Speed starts with $$$$ If I was you I would take off the drag pipes and put a thunder header two in to one and then I put a S&S carb . You also need Dyna Ignition you want to trun at least 7000 rpms. And if you are still looking for a little more take your heads of and have them reworked. You don't need to buy new heads Harley heads are just fine with a little work done to them take a little off them to up you comp- a little not to much maybe 9 1/2 to 1 and you will be just fine. Good hot crane cams work great just get the ones for off road use .Then you better hang on
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2007
  6. tim

    tim New Member

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    hi guys ,
    i have a question ,will the stock Harley heads for the 883/1200 support 7000 RPM's without any head work, such as heavier valve springs?
    Tim
  7. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    Heads

    Harley heads will take 7000 RPMS .But if the heads have alot of miles on them I would do a valve job and replace the valve springs. And make sure the valve springs are shimed
  8. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    Parts

    I really find it funny that alot of guys think you need to trun to after market parts to make there HARLEY fast. HARLEY sells any thing you need for speed if you go about it the right way.I have built some fast harleys in my time. Iam talking sportsters that will trun 8000 rpms witch most guys say you can't twist a sportster 8000 rpms cause they will blow up. Thats just bull sh#t hell my 95 FLHT 1340 I twist 7000 rpms .After market parts are fine when you want a seat our bolt on stuff .I do say that its hard to beat a S&S carb.You know there like a good old holly carb they are good for wide open. But for the most part stock harley lifters or push rods oil pump pistons rods heads harley has it going on .You just don't need the $big dollar after market parts to get speed. I just like to keep it all Harley .But thats just me
  9. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    Dang, ridehard95, weren't you just griping about Harley quality in the other thread? Got to smile about it all..........:)
  10. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    Think before you speak

    What I was saying is the newer they get the more they are hungly and hard to do any thing with . You can't put this on you can't put that on if you do you have to go to Harley so they can put it on there PC and program your bike to expect the changes you want to do. I hate anything that you can't just do your self. What I was trying to get across was its a Big money game with them. I own a 95 and would not own anything newer .I would not trade my bike for a 2008 THEY ARE JUNK .And for one thing I was talking about making power .The new sh#t you pretty much got what you got .And I stand by that. But Hay don't worry they got all kinds of bolt on stuff. Cup holders / Cell phone holders / GPS system/ So you no where your going .They got chrome parts for the sides and top and bottom . As far as building a hot rod out of a new harley just by a rice rocket. O ya I for got they got remote Start to so you can warm it up in cold weather while you sit in your warm house
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2007
  11. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    Remote start, eh? That just don't make much sense to me....but it also means it will probably have a remote shut-off. Hmmmm, makes ya wonder.

    Imagine doing a "remote start" not knowing kids left a plastic trash bag next to your pipes, or when your lady parked too close to your ride. How handy would it be to have a melted, smoking mess on your ride, or to have dented the crap out of her car?

    But to each, their own. I'll through a leg over before I ever start mine.
  12. SK

    SK New Member

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    Remote start is kinda weird. Make sure you didn't leave it in gear or you'll watch it launch itself..unless HD has finally gone the way of Japanese bikes and it won't start if in gear.

    I'd like a remote start for my truck in Las Vegas. Get that AC going before I walk out into the 110 degree heat (140 degrees inside the cab)..that'd be cool. Or the opposite while I'm up here in Colorado in the Winter time..get that heat going (or just park it in the damn garage at night ;) ).
  13. AFNurse

    AFNurse Moderator Staff Member

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    one thing I would hate with a remote start is not remembering to put the bike into neutral in a moment of brain fart......hit that remote start button...then watch your bike do all sorts of tricks before it hits the ground!
  14. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    now that would be a kodak moment!!!!!!!!:D
  15. maxpower_hd

    maxpower_hd Active Member

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    I don't really like the new ones either. They are nice and all but like Ridehard said, they are getting harder and harder to do things yourself. I have a 1999 Fatboy. The last of the EVO and that suits me just fine.

    My buddy has a 1955 Hardtail with a 1983 Shovel. He can take it apart and put it together blindfolded. He's built it himself and has had it since around 1982. Very nice bike that turns a lot of heads. I would add electric start though..........and maybe a hand clutch and foot shifter too.

    Another buddy has a brand spakin new 2007 Road King. Beautiful bike. No remote start. In fact it has a proximaty key. I sat on it while he was inside one day and turned the key to see if the light came on. Sure enough it was unlocked. He came out and I gave him a hard time about leaving it unlocked. He told me to start it and it wouldn't even turn over. He came closer and told me to try it again and it fired up. The comment from my Hardtail buddy..........."How the EFF do you figure THAT out when it breaks?"
  16. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    Evo

    you got that right. I Think the EVO is Harleys biggest enprovment in the past 20 years very Reliable and still easy to fool with in your own back yard. It seams like they get something right and now they got to mess with it .I will Keep my EVO to or go back to a shovel head
  17. joluvkt02

    joluvkt02 New Member

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    90 plus Horsepower

    Right now my main goal is 90 or more horsepower. The bike comes stock with 79. So I only need a 15% increase to get 90 horseys. I think a good cam and head combination with do the trick. I like the idea of having my heads ported and bulking up the valve springs, now I just need some advice on a cam that will give me good power from 2500-6000
  18. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    What Is your goal

    Do you want to go from 0 to 80 real quick. Or are you looking for high top end. Because you can't have both.You can make it so it rips your a#s of the seat when you come out of the hole .Or you can make it so you get about 140 to 150 top end .What do you want. Just remeber you can die at 30 miles an hour and sportsters are known for speed wobble at high speed.You should think about a shock dam- for your front end. Any way you go be safe speed can kill.I have lost a few good friends over the past 33 years .There is a point of no return. And one more thing getting 15 hp can coast $$$. You say only 15 hp but its not as easy as it sounds. Cam and heads and carb is the heart of it all . the top end is where you get power. you can port your heads but do not polish them that is just a old wise tail. The only thing you should polish is the intake
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2007
  19. kenfuzed

    kenfuzed Administrator Staff Member

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    Like the others have been saying, all depends on what exactly you are trying to achieve. If $$$ is no object then throw on some hi-compression heads (or buell heads) and pistons to give you around a 10.5:1 comp ratio. Then change out your cams to a set of N6's from Andrews. Now dump the drag pipes and get yourself a set of 2 into 1 Thunderheaders.

    Sure, its lopes like crap at idle and has the gas mileage of a '59 Edsel, but you'll likely have picked up that 15% in HP!

    Thats not meant to sound completely sarcastic, but my point is that there's alot more to speed and rideability than big HP numbers. Figure out what you would like (smoke off the line or break-neck high speed) and it will be easier to figure out. One thing I would change regardless is the drag pipes, but thats just me :p
  20. ridehard95

    ridehard95 New Member

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    You are right on the money TAKE THE DRAG PIPES OFF thunder header is the way to go even if you don't do any to it.And if he runs 10.5:1 comp he better run some racing fuel and a high torque starter.With out the racing fuel the piston will melt in no time at all .And with out the high torque starter he will have to push it to get it to start .Its all about $$$$$$

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