Depende on how much you and your wife weigh.

 

SHhhh.........Don't tell my Evo it's not suitable. It doesn't know any better and has been doing cross country two up for 18 years.

In all fairness, it has .050" shaved heads, EV-27, performance lifters and pushrods, 25 lb. valve springs, SE ignition, modified CV carb, and an oil cooler. With this set-up, the best improvement was the cooler. Never feels like it has to work hard, and passes a truck very quickly without needing to downshift (stock 5-speed). You would likely spend even more to get a new bike to perform as well.

 

After 30K plus miles with a 2007 96", 6 speed, engine completely stock, I can't remember ever wishing I had more power. All my riding is 2 up, a lot of it loaded with gear. I can set the cruise around 80 and no issues.

 

there's nothing wrong with an evo. If I ever buy another harley big twin, it's what I'll try to find

 

I love my 98. That being said I thought the motor all stock was a turd. With some small improvements which you likely would do on any bike you should be happy. Adding a cam, air cleaner, exhaust can help quite a bit. Only problem is I would only look at a 98 if I could help it because of it having the newest frame 98-08. Really slims the selection down though.

 

The EVO loves single fire ignition, .030 off the heads, jet the carb, free flow exhaust and an Andrews cam. Mostly bullet proof and plenty of power. Should easily run with a 96.

 

Wife and I ride mostly in the county and some state Hi-ways. Usually ride 55-65mph and for 15k miles didn't use 6th gear much and if we did fuel mileage suffered. Engine alway felt like she was laboring and fuel mileage suffered, 37-39mpg.

She got 40-42 in 5th gear at 55 so mostly used 5th gear.

Then at 15k put in a set of 26H's, they make a big difference, She'll now ride at 60mph easy with plenty of passing power without downshifting (2up) and gets 42-45mpg all day long..

I am pretty sure a set of cam in an Evo would do the same.

A friend of mine has a 99Evo FB with cams and I have rode with him, not since I did my cams but he used to pull slowly away from me when I was just a 96 with stg1.

do head work, cams and some good pipes and I'd think a Evo would do the same to my bike now even with my cams.

Thinking there's only 2-3 hundred in rpms between a 5 vs 6 speed tranny at 65mph.

 

i like my evo more than my the twin cam i had. it sounds great and it is a bit less in pwr but not all that much. heck it might even just be in my head.

 

Evos are good motors, but I prefer a TC96 for touring because it has more power and a 6-speed trans.