Thread: Getting power out of a harley

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Yep... had a cb750k2 at one stage with the ole 4-1 chasing horsepower. Then I made the mistake of test riding an rz350ypvs and had to have it . What a machine that was , more go than the big fours and could throw it around like a pushbike.
I often regret not keeping some of my bikes simply for investment value. The prices of the older jappa's nowadays are huge if you can find them. And to think of the abuse we used to give them.

I owned a few 2stroke road bikes. RD400, RZ250, RZ350 and then the RG500. Imagine the RZ350 with 40 more HP. That's what the RG was like. I saw a mint RG500 gamma (like the one I had) sell for USD30K a while ago. Sold mine for NZD3500

Originally Posted by stevodog

that would be a step down in power

WASH YOUR BLOODY MOUTH OUT.

The fearsum 'shree point shree' is a capable beast which will propel any mooring chain at a ridiculous pace straight to the bottom of Davy Jones' locker.


I had a black one in my VK wagon, manual with an exhaust. sounded great. but did lack a bit of power and the timing gears stripped off of it.
That was the only problem it ever had though.
Except the thrust face on the crank wore off.

I still liked it though. A straight six just sounds good.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Yep... had a cb750k2 at one stage with the ole 4-1 chasing horsepower. Then I made the mistake of test riding an rz350ypvs and had to have it . What a machine that was , more go than the big fours and could throw it around like a pushbike.
I often regret not keeping some of my bikes simply for investment value. The prices of the older jappa's nowadays are huge if you can find them. And to think of the abuse we used to give them.

Those RZ 350s' were very light and flickable alright. In 1977, the KZ1000 I raced could quite easily be embarrassed in the corners by RD350/400s'. In my case, it was never a financial option to keep a bike before buying the next. Still hurts though when you think of the value nowadays as you say, but hell, we had fun. Remember all the standard sets of pipes we'd throw off after a few hundred k's, the shortened mudguards, bars and seats?

Jesus I opened a can of worms here! I'm well aware of the pros and cons of most if not all bikes mentioned. I've done the jappa thing, even raced an rg150 at Manfield for a while in my earlier days as well as bucket racing as a kid. For no reason other than personal preference I enjoy the sporty. Was really gauging to see if anyone else had done cams right out to trask turbos in order to get more power. I'm certainly aware it can be a bottomless pit but hey, were only here once... theres a reason Harley's are still being sold, some of us seem to like them..

Originally Posted by 40mm

WASH YOUR BLOODY MOUTH OUT.

The fearsum 'shree point shree' is a capable beast which will propel any mooring chain at a ridiculous pace straight to the bottom of Davy Jones' locker.


I had a black one in my VK wagon, manual with an exhaust. sounded great. but did lack a bit of power and the timing gears stripped off of it.
That was the only problem it ever had though.
Except the thrust face on the crank wore off.

I still liked it though. A straight six just sounds good.

My Honda 6 never sheered anything off that i can recall. A 6-1 pipe also made it sound better good... until it dropped a few valves.

Originally Posted by Shearer

I owned a few 2stroke road bikes. RD400, RZ250, RZ350 and then the RG500. Imagine the RZ350 with 40 more HP. That's what the RG was like. I saw a mint RG500 gamma (like the one I had) sell for USD30K a while ago. Sold mine for NZD3500

Yeah I could imagine what that would be like. Was offered a completely rebuilt rz500 a few years back and was tempted as an investment but you just know after owning modern bikes with all the fruit like the r6 and crossplane r1 fitted with full systems, computer tweaks and top shelf suspension the oldies just wouldn't be like you remember them being. Can't compete with modern machinery . It was a beautiful resto though and I was given the pleasure of riding it several times after doing work on it for him but couldn't bring myself to open it up.

Originally Posted by cameronjackwhite

Jesus I opened a can of worms here! I'm well aware of the pros and cons of most if not all bikes mentioned. I've done the jappa thing, even raced an rg150 at Manfield for a while in my earlier days as well as bucket racing as a kid. For no reason other than personal preference I enjoy the sporty. Was really gauging to see if anyone else had done cams right out to trask turbos in order to get more power. I'm certainly aware it can be a bottomless pit but hey, were only here once... theres a reason Harley's are still being sold, some of us seem to like them..

Yip, it's all your fault!

Originally Posted by outlander

My Honda 6 never sheered anything off that i can recall. A 6-1 pipe also made it sound better good... until it dropped a few valves.

Still not a straight six so it does not count.

The missus had a short wheel base Datsun 1200 ute. was a minta.
I wanted to put a Honda s2000 motor in it.
Everyone had done the rotary, sr20 and v8 conversions already so I thought that Honda motor would be a beasty one.

Originally Posted by cameronjackwhite

Jesus I opened a can of worms here! I'm well aware of the pros and cons of most if not all bikes mentioned. I've done the jappa thing, even raced an rg150 at Manfield for a while in my earlier days as well as bucket racing as a kid. For no reason other than personal preference I enjoy the sporty. Was really gauging to see if anyone else had done cams right out to trask turbos in order to get more power. I'm certainly aware it can be a bottomless pit but hey, were only here once... theres a reason Harley's are still being sold, some of us seem to like them..

I don't think anyone is knocking your choice of bike mate. Just maybe questioning the worth of what you want to do to it and the possibility of spending vast sums of money for only minimal gain.
The rest of the waffle is just us reminiscing about the way it used to be...
That said I don't think I would own another Harley unless I took up boating and needed an anchor....

Kidding guys.... don't get your Harley branded undies in a twist.

@cameronjackwhite.... Have you ever ridden a ducati diavel?... I think that could potentially be the bike for you going by what you would like to achieve on your Harley. Before you start spending big time on the Sportster I recommend you take one for a ride. I think that bike would tick all of your boxes and a few others you haven't even thought of...
Just a suggestion...

Originally Posted by Ftx325

@cameronjackwhite.... Have you ever ridden a ducati diavel?... I think that could potentially be the bike for you going by what you would like to achieve on your Harley. Before you start spending big time on the Sportster I recommend you take one for a ride. I think that bike would tick all of your boxes and a few others you haven't even thought of...
Just a suggestion...

Never ridden one, they certainly look interesting and worth a look

One in at Filco at the moment I think. Modern take on the MT-01.

Originally Posted by rewa

Back in the day, one went past me, on its back wheel. and I was speeding at the time (open road). They killed a lot of people back then, no wonder you felt alive

That particular ride I was heading to the beach to catch up with some mates surfing. Went to overtake a car on the Manawatu river bridge at the end of Fitzherbert ave and was already doing 70mph and another car was coming the other way. Hit both car's wing mirrors at the precise same time as I screamed between them. Was on an endorphine high for the next 20 min, as it sunk in I had escaped death by mm

How some of us survived our teens I'll never know

My one was between Bunnythorpe and PN, really shitty piece of road and at night....something in the Manawatu water maybe

I remember the H1 Kwaka - what a welcome to fierce two stroke powerbands!! Ripper of a machine to ride but not much in the way of handling and bugger all miles down the road before you ran out of juice. You enjoyed feeling alive when you got off it - mainly because you still were!!! Plenty were not!

Great to see all the old bike hoons of decades ago coming out of the woodwork... I want to hear more about the Honda 650s from the 80s and the Enfield Himalayan please...

And Cam - have alot of fun with that Harley, but that's great advice to go play with some already tuned alternatives eg the Ducati..