Motorcycledaily has had a chance to sample the new Harleys with the Twin Cam 96 engines, and they like them. When you couple the new motor with the 6 speed transmission, it adds up to more than you would have expected-
Harley-Davidson’s smartest move, at least in my opinion, was the change from the old five-speed trans to the new six-speed. The increased torque of the new TC96 powerplant, combined with the better gear ratios of the Cruise Drive trans, makes itself felt immediately by way of vastly improved roll-on acceleration. The difference from the old TC88 feels much more significant than you would expect from a displacement increase of only 134cc – clearly, much of the new-found accelerative ability is a result of better gearing in the new six-speed.
Still, the six-speed can’t take all the credit – the TC96 definitely comes with a healthy helping of torque. All the TC96 powered machines, particularly the lighter Dyna and Softail versions, were extremely flexible, allowing the rider to spend long periods of time without changing gears. Whether you’re cruising through the canyons without ever leaving third gear, or accelerating from 65mph to 80mph on the highway without leaving sixth, you’ll definitely appreciate the job H-D’s designers did on this new powerplant.
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