Greetings all. I've been hanging around this forum for a few weeks now...even posted a few comments. What a great forum for Harley owners. Thought I'd share a picture of my soon to be new ride. Put a deposit down on a new Road King last week at Ill. HD. in Berwyn, IL. It's a 2005 Road King in Black Cherry. I wanted black (like my '99 RKC)...but once I saw this color in the sun, it was all over...had to have it.

I have a question for the board. I'm still trying to decide on what motor work to do. Ill HD has (3) 1550 upgrade kits. Stage 1 is 1550 with stock cams. Stage 2 is 1550 kit with SE 203 cams and Stage 3 is 1550 kit with SE 211 cams and their own porting work. I plan to use V&H slip ons with the stock header. Stage one is good for close to 80hp, stage 2 90 and stage 3 100hp. I'm not sure what to do...my intial thought is go for it...get the 100hp kit. However, I think it moves the power too far up into the rev range. Stage 2 may be the way to go with the power square in the middle of the band...but then again I had a 1550 stage 1 on my 1999 RK Classic and it was a good runner as well. What to do??? Anybody have experience with the 203 vs. 211 cams?

I'm open to advise from others who have gone to a 1550 with cams and head work...etc. Thanks all!
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I talked to my Ultra buddie that has the 1550 with the 203A cams and he says that if you go with the 211 cams then you are going to need to get the heads either ported to flow or replace them with the matching heads for the 211 cams. I think for the street, if you are not going to race your RK and I hope you don't, then save the expense of the heads and the labor with them, and just go stage 2 with the 203 cams. You won't complain and your wallet will like you much better for it. Put the money into more bling bling for your new ride.



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i dont know about the motor but that color is AWSOME!!

 

Thx luvmyflhtcui,

You are correct...the 211 stage 3 comes with head porting...not sure I want that? That kit also programs the motor for a little higher rev range. Again putting the power on the high end.

I am not a big "bling bling" guy[sm=signs006.gif]...I like the stock look of the bike[sm=signs007.gif]. I'm more of a gear head....and get more excited over the motor work. However I dont want to change the characteristics of the engine too much by shifting the power band. Talking with a few guys in my area that are "in the know" on HD engines...the 203 cams are the cams the Motor Company should have put in the engines from the factory...I think Stage 2 is the way to go for me. Again...thanks for the input. It's great to be part of this forum. [sm=groupwave.gif]

 

Thanks Mike [sm=youreright.gif]...I really wanted black...but this color really caught my eye when they rolled it outside into the sun...it just sparkles. When it is a little over cast outside it almost looks black. Done deal! [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

Nice bike! I just bought a standard in the same color. What I have been hearing is that the twin cam heads do not flow as well as the evo heads. I cannot imagine going to a big bore without some porting. The right man behind the die grinder can give you better airflow at lower cam lift and not make power at a higher rpm. I know the evo valves will work in the twin cams and there is some easy flow to be picked up just below the valve seat. I would sit down with the serviceman and technician doing the work and tell them what your riding style is and see what they have to say.

 

I went with the basic Stage II big bore upgrade; no heads. Dont want to be leader of the pack; just enough juice to help with passing, etc cause I usually ride 2up.

Mike

 

Rubberduck,

I think the Stage 2 would be fine for you. I think the dealer has elevated the hp on these though. Stock 95 cu is running around 80 hp on dyno. I'm not sure how much more you will get with the stage 2.

I would (and Mike will agree) replace the stock header with true duals. If you go with V&H you can use any slip ons you want. If you go with Rinehart you'll have those cool black tips and great sound that so many of us love......

RINEHARTS RULE


Help me out here Mike.


Terry

 

Thx JDean...

I agree...my dealer ports the stock heads with their 100hp SE211 BB kit. They use a different piston in addition to gain a higher compression ratio as well. I felt this changed the "stock" charicteristics of the motor...which wasnt what I wanted. So I pulled the trigger on the SE 203 BB kit instead. I think i will be happy with that. Thanks for the reply.

 

Terry,

I agree...the Rineharts are nice...maybe someday. However i have the V&H slip-ons off my old RKC and want to use them so i dont feel like I am breaking the bank. The BB 203 kit costs enough already. So that is what I decided...going with the SE203 BB kit. Should get 80+ and 90+ Ft lbs. The dealer showed me a few dyno sheets of other SE203 BB kits he installed and they were getting 84+hp and 93+ ft. lbs at the rear wheel...good enough for me. Thanks for the reply.