Looking for Opinions...motor size vs tranny

[Captainnoncents]

I'm new to Harley's...and trikes. I'm looking at two 2007 Harley trikes. One has the 96 motor with a 6-speed tranny. The other has the 103 motor with a 5-speed tranny. Both are comparably priced and equipped, with around 20K mileage. I will be riding mostly two-up with my wife, at highway (65mph) and interstate (75mph) speeds. Which trike would you choose? Is there a significant difference in power between the two? Any sage advice is appreciated...

 

[rhino 2]

I'm new to Harley's...and trikes. I'm looking at two 2007 Harley trikes. One has the 96 motor with a 6-speed tranny. The other has the 103 motor with a 5-speed tranny. Both are comparably priced and equipped, with around 20K mileage. I will be riding mostly two-up with my wife, at highway (65mph) and interstate (75mph) speeds. Which trike would you choose? Is there a significant difference in power between the two? Any sage advice is appreciated...

I had a 2011 Triglide with the 103 and 6th speed…That was enough for me…

Just a side note I didn’t know the 2017 had the 103..? But like my wife always tells me..Bob You’re probably wrong ..

 

[ultrafxr]

These are obviously conversions since Harley did not make a factory trike until model year 2009. What were they before conversion? Touring models hopefully. I am pretty certain the 2007 model year touring bikes (non-CVO which had the 110") all had the 6 speed tranny and the 96" engine. So I think the '2007' with the 103" and 5 speed is an earlier model. The 6 speed was first introduced in the Dyna line in 2006 and then the touring models in 2007. In the 2007 and 2008 model year 6 speed trannies first gear was actually higher than it was on the 5 speed and this caused some difficulty in starting off from a stop - especially when two up, loaded, etc. Make sure the tranny sprocket has been changed to a 30-tooth (which is what comes on the factory Harley trikes) from the 'standard' 32-tooth sprocket that came on the touring bikes. This will lower the gear ratio and make it much more pleasant.

2007 was a major model year for tightened EPA restrictions and lots of folks complained about the excessive heat on them - the CVO 110" engines especially but the 96" engines also. Both the 96 and the 103 have the 'stroker' crank with the 103 having larger jugs. The 103 was a solid engine most especially the Screamin' Eagle version which was in the 2006 CVO touring models.

 

[ultrafxr]

I had a 2011 Triglide with the 103 and 6th speed…That was enough for me…

Just a side note I didn’t know the 2017 had the 103..? But like my wife always tells me..Bob You’re probably wrong ..

Don't think you are wrong Bob. The 2007 touring models (non-CVO) had the 96" engine.

 

[Notgrownup]

Something’s not adding up… but I would want that 6th speed. You can always add cams in the 96” with a tuner and it will act like a 103.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

If I'm not mistaken all touring models came with a six speed in 2007. With that said I would go with the six speed and always add SE 255 cams later.

 

[Jack Klarich]

IMO choose the 6 speed, the 5 speed is good, but the final drive 6 will lower the cruise RPM

 

[Captainnoncents]

I forgot to mention that the 103ci/5-speed was modified...the 96ci/6-speed is more stock. My take on the replies is to go with the 96ci/6-speed. I'm coming from a Kawasaki VN2000...a beast with tons of power (125ci). I'm a little concerned about the interstate/highway performance of a 96ci motor...especially in a trike.

 

[Notgrownup]

It’s a aftermarket trike either way. I’d go with 6 speed. They probably have a different gear in it from triking it. It will be fine as long as you don’t tow much.

 

[rhino 2]

I forgot to mention that the 103ci/5-speed was modified...the 96ci/6-speed is more stock. My take on the replies is to go with the 96ci/6-speed. I'm coming from a Kawasaki VN2000...a beast with tons of power (125ci). I'm a little concerned about the interstate/highway performance of a 96ci motor...especially in a trike.

Going from a 2000 to a 1573 which weighs more and has the profile of a out house..?..You might want to take a serious test ride..

 

[Notgrownup]

Like ^^^^ he said…don’t expect the same power

 

[Captainnoncents]

Going from a 2000 to a 1573 which weighs more and has the profile of a out house..?..You might want to take a serious test ride..

I'd love to have a similar bike for a day of serious riding...the problem is how? Sellers are generally okay with a short "around the block"...I need to take it for a ride on I-10 with my wife. And I'm not expecting the same performance as the 2000...I just want a comfortable ride that isn't wheezing up an interstate incline and can pass a semi reasonably well in spite of a headwind.

 

[Notgrownup]

I'd love to have a similar bike for a day of serious riding...the problem is how? Sellers are generally okay with a short "around the block"...I need to take it for a ride on I-10 with my wife. And I'm not expecting the same performance as the 2000...I just want a comfortable ride that isn't wheezing up an interstate incline and can pass a semi reasonably well in spite of a headwind.

What is the trike conversion brand?

 

[Captainnoncents]

I didn't ask the conversion brand. Here's a photo of the 6-speed.

 

[ultrafxr]

That is a good looking unit. I'm not familiar with the conversion brands but I'm sure someone on the forum will recognize it.

As long as the tranny sprocket has been changed to the 30 tooth I think it would be fine. Won't pull as strong as a 103, 107 or the newer 114 but it should perform acceptably. You can always throw a few $$ at it for upgrades if they've not been done already.

 

[Captainnoncents]

The other side...

 

[Notgrownup]

It’s a Motor Trike .

 

[Jack Klarich]

I didn't ask the conversion brand. Here's a photo of the 6-speed.

Looks like it has a Pingel electric shifter installed

 

[Captainnoncents]

It’s a Motor Trike or a Hannigan.

Are those decent conversion kits? And do you know what the little shifter knob thingy is on the second photo? It's got a black knob in the lower engine area. It also has a Pingle electric shifter...which I'm not crazy about.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Are those decent conversion kits? And do you know what the little shifter knob thingy is on the second photo? It's got a black knob in the lower engine area. It also has a Pingle electric shifter...which I'm not crazy about.

RS on the tranny is a mechanical reverse, a BIG plus, no hassles with reverse any more