Harley question about performance...?

Question

I recently took a test ride at the local Harley dealer on a used 1999 Ultra Classic. My present bike is a Kawasaki Voyager, so I'm used to quite a bit of snap, good acceleration and good top end. The Harley had good acceleration in all gears and I thought, "Wow, this is a big improvement over the old Harleys." Then it just seemed to run out of steam. I held it WFO for a mile and a half on the freeway and the best it would do was an indicated 88 mph. This model was even fuel injected. Is this normal? And if so, is it fair to the consumer to sell a bike like this, that's going to need modification to be able to get out of its own way? I'm not trying to anger Harley owners, the fact I even took the test ride shows I'm interested, but are factory Harleys really this lame? Thanks K ;o)

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a lot of people answering that have never ridden the bikes in question. Used motorcycles are a lot like used cars, they run according to how they have been taken care of in the past. You don't want to go to an older model, with a Harley newer is better. My 2004 Sportster has the rubber mounted engine (pre 2004 sportsters are all solid mount) like the big bikes that allows it to run very smooth except at idle where it shakes like a Harley is supposed to. I personally have had this bike, with the only modifications of performance exhaust and rejetted carbuated, 1200cc bike up to 113 mph with a windshield and after 22000 miles has never vibrated anything loose. I also have a 2002 FLHTCUI, Ultra Classic 88cid fuel injected bike that will run over 100 mph anytime I ask it too, that runs so smooth at highway speeds my wife goes to sleep on the passenger seat. The 2000 and up softails have been counterbalanced to eliminate the "shake" even at idle. The 2006 models come stock with a 96cid engine and a 6 speed tranny. Harley Davidson has come a long way in the past 20 years. If you want a Harley for speed look at the V-Rods, 130mph+ right out of the crate. Test ride more than one Harley before making your decision. Most dealers have several demos where you can ride a new bike or they will let you test ride any used bike.

Answer 2

I'd say that thats plenty fast, but you right its not. I have ridden late 90's fuel in jected big Harleys and was not impressed w/the power(but they arent race bikes). I ride a buell cyclone (140 mph no problem) but if you want a big fast harley buy a used carberated one (less rev limiting and speed limiting) my dad has a 2001 Heritage Softail Classic with the 95 cube stage2 screaming eagle motor easily does 130 and runs a quick 0-60. so maybe you just rode the wrong bike (dont give up on harleys just find the right one "ride safe bro" and keep it under one hundred;)

Answer 3

but are factory Harleys really this lame?

Yep, pretty much so...

While a factory stock HD Ultra Classic should be able to (barely) reach 100 MPH at top end, the used bike that you rode may have been re-jeted and re-tuned for more bottom end torque and acceleration, which would hurt the top end. There's lots of amateur mechanics out there who think they know how to tune up a bike, but only end up hurting overall performance and fuel mileage. Those excessively loud pipes that Harley riders seem to be so much in love with can also end up hurting top end performance.

Answer 4

Forget the answer about staying within epa standards, you're already illegal with pipes, race tuner and air cleaner. You can't just swap out a part here and there and get anywhere. We do a 95 inch upgrade on 88's with head work, boring, pistons and rods, cams... honest 95 horse and 104 ftpds tourque (we have 2 dynos). Cost around 3800.

Answer 5

an 88 cubic inch harley bagger should do at least 100 my guess would be it is mapped incorrectly some people take there performance parts off before trading in. in this case it would be running to rich. there are many performance upgrades it can easily be bumped up to a 95 inch. also if it has over 30k on it it would be a good idea to replace the cam chain tensioners and while your in there you could put new performance cams in screamin eagle 203 & 204's work well in otherwise stock bikes. all this brings you back to the fuel injection a 99 bagger comes with magnettii injection system which isnt great. if you can afford it i would save a few more dollars and get an 03 or later which has a delphi system works tons better and less problems. ride a few more ultra classics before buying there should be quite a few examples some should already have 95 inch engines already in them your local dealer should be more than willing to show you more examples. get rid of that jap crap and find a good harley you wont be sorry

Answer 6

I too had interest in Harleys few years ago, and test rode their sporster 1200. Power was decent in low RPM, but dirt sloooow at highway speed! If you're coming from anything other than another Harley (or Harley-esque foreign bike that has no power), you will be disappointed.

Another thing I noticed right away was its v-i-b-r-a-t-i-o-n. Then I read in a magazine article that thing would often shake loose its headlights after few thousand miles! I too wondered how a company could sell such defective machine. But that's how it is. I felt ashamed that a bike made in my country is so bad. I felt that government shouldn't have bailed out Harley in the 80's and let another company do a better job (eg. Eric Buell).

I now consider Harleys "Geriatric bikes", suitable for 75 years and older crowd. So if Harley consumers are expecting low power to putter around their retirement community, it is perfectly ok to sell them such bikes.

Answer 7

Does anyone actually buy a Harley for it's performance? I know I didn't. But yeah 88 top speed sounds pretty damn slow.

Answer 8

I'm truely not sure your question deserves the time it's going to take to answer it.

I've be riding an FLHTC for several years, 61K highway miles in the past 4 years alone. Mine seems to want to cruse at about 80 and let me tell you I've had it over 100 with myself (220lbs) my wife (150 lbs) and I would guess about 75 lbs of clothing and other crap tied onto it at sustained speed over 100.

I'd say that if mine can do better than 100 with better than 445 lbs on it that it needs no "modification to be able to get out of its own way"

Answer 9

It was used, so it probably wasn't factory. Sounds like it has a problem, or you didn't shift. Mine isn't as heavy, but it will do an easy 70 in third (out of 6). It NEVER sees WOT. too fast.

Answer 10

there is a word for u, and that word is 'troll', and an amatuer one at that. u have no clue what u are talking about. an ultra classic is 1 of hd's heaviest bikes, its designed for touring on interstates, and isnt designed or built to go from 0-60 in 3 seconds. only squids are interested in just straight line speed. go back to ur rice grinder, it's highly obvious u dont deserve to be associated with the class of a harley u rice riding panzy