T-Sport: First Two Years

The Motor

This was the reason for buying this bike. Although many are more than content with their Harleys as they come from the factory, I can safely say that I am not one of them. It isn't that I like to ride fast (and ironically I don't), or that I want to race (avoid that as well), it's the intoxication of raw power that speaks to me and says what motorcycles are all about. It's the ability to pass anything you want, when you want.

I tried to achieve that type of power with my Electra Glide with some success, but quite frankly its bat wing fairing aerodynamics and the additional pork it carried conspired against me. Ultimately, it couldn't handle the power it did produce, at least not without significant investment in heavier duty drive train components.

I wish I knew exactly what all the bits that were used in building this motor were, but the end result shows that they do work well together. The Dyno Jet 150 recorded 102 actual Hp, and 105 ft/lbs. of torque of which almost 90% was available by 2000 rpm. The following is a list of the modifications as best as I know:

• TC 1550 High Compression Kit from HeadQuarters

Note: Some parts from this kit may have been substituted with equivalent SE components, but I am not sure which.

• SE Performance Ignition System (ignition module & coil)
• SE Air Cleaner & Air Breather Kit
• Dynojet Thunderslide kit
• SE Clutch Spring
• SE II+ Slip Fit Mufflers modified (internal tangs flattened)

What I can be sure about is the resulting performance. This bike moves. It is also does it very loud. The tangs in the mufflers had been flattened down for even a freer flow of exhaust. This engine is completely civil when you want it to be, but really comes alive the higher the revs climb. It likes to rev so much that hitting its limiter becomes an all too easy thing to do. The power just keeps on coming. But it never scares you. The power comes on in a very linear fashion, with only a mild kick at around 4000 rpm where peak torque is achieved.

It didn't take long for me to get used to the power delivery, and I frequently think if I had maybe 10 more ponies, then it would be just right. Whom I kidding? I'd always want more. But for an air cooled street Harley, it does alright. The only ongoing issue I have is with pinging. I generally use ESSO gasoline with 91 octane and have tired to tune the bike to run well with that fuel. When I travel, I find that 91 octane is usually the best that is available when it is time to refill. Higher octane sources are relatively rare, especially out of the cities.