2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback Review

[Administrator]

Original Article:
2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback Review

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback Review in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

[Buzglyd]

I like it. How come no pics with the "bags and blade" off?

Also, it's interesting to note that this 103 doesn't make a lot more power than my old 80" '96 Dyna.

The only mods I had were a SE air cleaner, Slip Fit muffs and the "off road only" ignition. It was a carb model as well.

It spun the dyno at 62hp and 76 lb-ft.

What's the deal? Ethanol?

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

I like it. How come no pics with the "bags and blade" off?

What's the deal? Ethanol?

Ethanol will make MORE power, if anything. I'd say more-likely the "Dealer-Service Legal-Support Team" had more to do with it than anything. Low Power = Low Instance of Warranty-Claims due to Engine Breakage.

Also, cheaper to build such a lump if tolerances and balance can be "fudged" more (have you priced ultra-high-revving Japanese tin lately? Think of all the Profit they're eating-up with their silly Precision-Built High-Powered Engines!)

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

I like it. How come no pics with the "bags and blade" off?

Also, it's interesting to note that this 103 doesn't make a lot more power than my old 80" '96 Dyna.

The only mods I had were a SE air cleaner, Slip Fit muffs and the "off road only" ignition. It was a carb model as well.

It spun the dyno at 62hp and 76 lb-ft.

What's the deal? Ethanol?

I dunno why not much more power than your 80-incher. That's all the mods done to your bike? Or maybe your dyno tuner pulled a few tricks. We always use the SAE correx factor, which reads lower than the "STD" Dynojet option. Obviously, no one buys a Harley bcuz it puts out the most power, but I'd hope for more than what the TC103 delivers.

Ethanol, IIRC, produces less power than petrol on a lower-tuned engine, but its higher octane allows one to build a higher-compression engine, which can make more power. A higher octane doesn't deliver more power unless an engine has sophisticated knock sensors.

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

I dunno why not much more power than your 80-incher. That's all the mods done to your bike? Or maybe your dyno tuner pulled a few tricks. We always use the SAE correx factor, which reads lower than the "STD" Dynojet option. Obviously, no one buys a Harley bcuz it puts out the most power, but I'd hope for more than what the TC103 delivers.

Ethanol, IIRC, produces less power than petrol on a lower-tuned engine, but its higher octane allows one to build a higher-compression engine, which can make more power. A higher octane doesn't deliver more power unless an engine has sophisticated knock sensors.

The only thing my dyno guy did was lean the jetting a little. It had been running too rich. Stock cams.

Those numbers were pretty common for the day for an 80 incher with the EPA stripped out of it.

[guns90]

Need to do a recheck on the price. As of Aug 7, the price is now $17,559 for black and $17,999 for silver or red.

[sarnali2]

Not a bad looking bike, The last time HD tried this was with the original "convertible " model back in the Evo days. That time around they used a duel disc up front and textile expandable bags which I would prefer for their increased volume.

Looks like a decent enough bike though, none the less.

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by sarnali2

Not a bad looking bike, The last time HD tried this was with the original "convertible " model back in the Evo days. That time around they used a duel disc up front and textile expandable bags which I would prefer for their increased volume.

Looks like a decent enough bike though, none the less.

I turned my Low Rider into a convertible.

I bought the detach shield and sissy bar and had a textile T-Bag for touring.

Funny name for a set of bags these days but it worked perfectly.

[The Spaceman]

Yet another parts bin bike. That "new" front end and "special lightweight headlight" are right off the Fat Boy. The screen is a catalog part, as are the shocks.

The bags are new, so yay for that.

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

I turned my Low Rider into a convertible.

I bought the detach shield and sissy bar and had a textile T-Bag for touring.

Funny name for a set of bags these days but it worked perfectly.

I assume you had a Gadsden Flag sewn on your T Bag??.....