Don't bother wasting time trying to convince anyone. If they're content with the 103 I'm happy for them. They'll come around eventually. I've had mine for two weeks and I still am impressed by the roll on power compared to my 14 limited which was no slouch.

 

The difference in the two engines designs are different no doubt and it will be interesting what the aftermarket brings to the table and what kind of numbers the M8 will pull. Stock to stock there really is not that much to be bragging about on either cycle TC rushmore or the M8. Open em both up for some air and exhaust and your getting better. Like I said stock to stock comparison between the two seems minimal but I think the M8 has more performance potential with the extra valves. We all will see in time.

 

Fuel Moto's dyno charts:

103HO Stage 1 - 85 HP / 104 TORQUE

M8 stock - 80.87 HP / 98.58 TORQUE

If you want to buy into the hype, fine with me I really could care less. I rode one several weeks ago not impressed AND THAT'S MY OPINION! Look at the spread, going to use the that entire spread between gears? NO. It may be a great new motor or not, but right now a stock M8 not a real BIG difference performance wise. You should heed to your own comment, big mouth.

 

I rode one and I was impressed. I think the M8 is a great direction for HD. I didn't see a large enough performance difference to trade my bike, but I did like it. I hope it's a better engine. HD has continually brought out better engines since the company started, despite what the TC haters have to say. There is no reason to believe that the M8 is any different.

 

having rode one (17/RK) it certainly is much more linear and I didn't feel I had to be in a specific revolution range that I need when riding the SG. While a RK and SG have definite shock setup issues that 17/RK was so much better than the 16/RK I rented it wasn't even funny.

 

The street glide special's are painted, the base SG is chrome. Don't know why.

 

I didn't see enough increase in power to make me want to trade away my 14 but you can feel a difference. The max torque for the TC is at almost 3900 rpm while the max torque for the M8 is at around 3200. Giving the bike a better low end punch. Most guys are cruising at around 2600 to 3000 rpm so the max tq is right there. No more dropping two gears before giving it hell, at the most 1 gear or just hammer and go. That is why I believe guys are saying it has more power. Also the counter balancer ads more inertial mass to the crank so the motor shouldn't be as much like a light switch when you let off the throttle. Just my thoughts on it. I like the bikes a lot but I have done way too much to my bike to trade ..

 

I think that the people that buy the latest want to justify the cash outlay. None of my bikes are stock and i was unimpressed with the 17's. I do want people to buy them and work through the problems. Let the aftermarket develop the fixes that harley should have done. 07-08. All over again.

 

Stock bike to stock bike, the M8 is the choice. Unlike the 103, the M8 doesn't die off by 3500-4000rpm. The M8's power build is more linear. But....the M8 is more than just the motor. The suspension blows a stock 103 out of the water. I test rode an M8 RK recently and was floored by the handling. Yes, the newer motor is nicer than the 103, but the overall package of the M8 is all around better.


If you've hopped up your 103, depending on the degree of modifications, that may be a better bike, but for me, I'd take a stock M8 over a stock 103 any day of the week.