Turbos and Supercharges all the same and then again not.

[NightStar]

I think this should make an interesting discussion.

For those who are considering turbo first wait until your two year warranty is up. Harley cannot warranty the engine with a turbo added, not that the engine of a vrod will suffer. There are 3 turbos (actually one is a supercharger) that I know on the market, all cost the same and perform the same, 160 hp, but all look completely different. As far as I know they are all good products.

Firstly, Trask turbo made apparently in Arizona. Haven't heard any complaints about the product. It works, but personally I hate the pipes. Also there were some fitting problems, (can be overcome) on the mid control bikes, and reach extensions on the forward controls. Air pod points forward and sticks out from the right side and is quite noticeable. If you like it noticed then ok.

Second. There is the aerocharger, (boostisgood) that seems to fit the vrod like a glove. I had to look twice to see the install. This product fits any configuration of pipes and mid controls. That in itself interests me since I like the current pipes, but may eventually put on super trapps 2:2 in black. There is a inter-cooler that goes in the airbox. The point is I can use any exhaust set up I like.

Thirdly there is the the Sprintex supercharger, although not a turbo, performs the same HP increase. This is an Australian product that was brought out several years ago and had some problems. It was and apparently still is sold by V&H as well as some other company. It has returned to the market, new and improved, and the bugs have finally been worked out, at least I haven't heard any current problems. This unit fits entirely in the airbox and is completely hidden.

So all three options give you 160+ hp supposedly at the wheel. When I think about what would I do with that much HP, outside of racing. The basic bike does 135 or so (141 with tail wind) and modded will do up to 148-151. The speedo doesn't go up much higher. and adding another 40hp would push the bike into the 170-185 range.

The max that the limiter can be raised to is 10000 and I think safely as high as 10500 so that can possibly limit the max speed beyond 190

If money were no object, (the price is all the same basically) would I really want one of these and then again why?

[Buzz Kanter]

To many the motto is "there is no success better than excess."

[DesertSpeed]

Maybe if I were building a second bike. We actually bought our bike in spite of the speed potential. In our quest to find the right bike, we couldn't find any other cruiser better suited to riding double mostly around Phoenix and in Arizona in genral. Now we're tearing up Georgia with it. I don't have gobs of money to throw at the bike. I'll stay away from things that go bump at the worst possible moment.

[NightStar]

The question is how fast is fast. The vrod is fast, no doubt about it. With a headwind and over 100 mph its like riding into a Force 5 Hurricane. And yet turbos sell. No I can see putting a super charger on a Softail or Roadking, just to get some speed out of it, and most of the riders do. But for a Hyabusa that does 190, how fast do you really want to go and at what point does it become a death wish.

[rjrivero]

You may as well be asking "Why Modify a bike?"

The answer becomes, because I can. The answer will be different for each person asking themselves the question.

My bike, my tastes, my desires, are reflected in my V-Rod. Yours are reflected in your Bike.

My scoot stirs my soul. I love to ride it, and wrench it, and tweak it, and at times, show it off. I'm sure yours does for you too.

Remember that feeling you got when you were a kid? You look at a bike or car and you get the "OH, WOW!!" feeling?

Alot of the turbos are put on bikes that will NEVER be pushed to it's top speed, or lauch hard off a tree. Alot of the bikes will never be run to it's full potential. Custom painted bikes don't necessarily have to be entered into a bikeshow. It just has to give it's owner that "Oh, WOW" feeling all over again.

Thats why I do it.

Midwest Thunder III is my next chance to get some of that feeling, and to give some of it too. By the end of that weekend, my face will be sore from the big ole grin on my face......."Oh, WOW!!"

If a TURBO or a SuperCharger does that for you, then GO FOR IT.

[JCourneyaP]

Turbo is the safe way to go.... I still believe a bottle of Nitros would be more economical. The set up is alot cheaper then turbo system and can be mostly hidden if you so choose. Even the bottle. If you dont go Ape Sh!t with it you will not burn your valves or pistons. Its as safe as the next.

[rjrivero]

One more thing:

The Sprintex Supercharger doesn't get anywhere close to 160 HP. In fact, if you have a Big Bore kit, 1440 or 1550 put into a Revo Motor that puts out 160 HP naturally aspirated, and put the Sprintex unit on it, you will reach a whopping 145HP. The Supercharger design just doesn't flow enough for those bigger motors. It can't cram enough air to get you more than 145 HP or so.

There is also the RCC turbo kit for the V-Rod. You'll want to consider that kit along with the Aerocharger and the Trask Turbo kit.

Best of luck.

RJ

[DesertSpeed]

Originally Posted by rjrivero

You may as well be asking "Why Modify a bike?"

The answer becomes, because I can. The answer will be different for each person asking themselves the question.

I'm not saying I don't mod my bike. I just don't need any more speed. The K&N added enough more HP. Our mods are geared more to having my favorite person along for the ride.
If I had the money to have a bike just for showing off, hell ya, put all the cool stuff on it and take off the uncool.

[rjrivero]

Originally Posted by DesertSpeed

I'm not saying I don't mod my bike. I just don't need any more speed. The K&N added enough more HP. Our mods are geared more to having my favorite person along for the ride.
If I had the money to have a bike just for showing off, hell ya, put all the cool stuff on it and take off the uncool.

Cody,

That's the whole point. Mods that you make to your scoot may not make much sense to someone else. Engine mods are pretty much the same as any mods. You may not want them, but someone else will. Viva la differance.

[DesertSpeed]

RJ,
Got a line on a ragged S-10? I've got a 305 and tranny out of a '79 Cutlass, that now has a 350 from a '69 Camaro tied to a Blalock TH-400. I figure a glass T-bucket and red oak flatbed with Mickey T Specials on 5 spoke Cragers and 38 spoke front skinnys should do it up right. I never said I couldn't mod!
Yes, it will be flamed out in 50s style old skool flames. I'm thinking probably little red wagon red base color and call it Western Flyer after the wagon I had as kid that came from western Auto. (That wagon probably had a couple hundred miles on it from being pulled by a Shetland!)