Introduction
Back in 2000, I bought a 131 Cubic inch(2150cc) high output 'Harley' Evo motor, fully polished, built by the Merch Performance workshop in Canada and shipped to the UK for me. It was the best Evo of its day, and I could've bought a new Harley big twin for the cost of that one engine.
I still needed a gearbox, primary, frame, forks, wheels, bodywork and so on. It took more than two years to complete, each part being chosen because I thought it was the best option, the cost was not a consideration, it would just take longer as I saved to pay for it all. When the German drop seat frame arrived from HPU, the engine was too tall to fit, so we had to cut and raise the top tube. Paintwork was done by the best in the country, Piers Dowell, who has painted all my Harleys along with a couple of helmets, which are far too nice to actually wear lol..
When it was finally finished, within the first 100 miles, the expensive belt primary had broken, while the handling was pretty damn awful, due to the fashionable 'phat' wheels and tyres I'd fitted, a 160 x 16 front tyre is never a good idea. The primary was soon re engineered, while I spent another £2500 on new Ricks 17 inch billet and titanium wheels which improved the handling no end, it actually wanted to go around corners now, though at the cost of even less ground clearance, and it didn't have much to begin with.
I still have the Merch 131, its evolved over the years, different brakes, different seats, different exhaust, a hydraulic clutch conversion, and after snapping three belts, I switched to chain final drive, well, you get the picture.
Its been on the dyno a few times, the last being when I made a new exhaust for it. It has a Mikuni HSR 42 carb, small for such a big engine, but that was the biggest available when I placed my order back in 2000. A HSR 48mm would no doubt give a bit more top end, but at the expense of low down torque. I prefer the motor as it is, making 145 lb/ft torque and 128 bhp at the rear wheel. To put that into perspective, its making over 100 lb /ft of torque all the way through the rev range. Its too long and low to wheely under full throttle, but it'll easily break traction in first if launched hard. In the wet, the torque can spin the tyre in second and third too, so discretion is needed, then again I try not to take it out in bad weather, it takes way too many hours to clean otherwise.
The trad Harley folk hate it, ''looks too Japanese'', doesn't look right in their eyes... blah blah. I just smile and nod, and reply, I didn't build it for you...
Mid Life Update
Anyone whose built a ground up special will know they are never finished, there's always something that can be improved or updated. Now its time for some more updates of the Merch 131 which I'll detail in this thread..
Back in 2000, I bought a 131 Cubic inch(2150cc) high output 'Harley' Evo motor, fully polished, built by the Merch Performance workshop in Canada and shipped to the UK for me. It was the best Evo of its day, and I could've bought a new Harley big twin for the cost of that one engine.
I still needed a gearbox, primary, frame, forks, wheels, bodywork and so on. It took more than two years to complete, each part being chosen because I thought it was the best option, the cost was not a consideration, it would just take longer as I saved to pay for it all. When the German drop seat frame arrived from HPU, the engine was too tall to fit, so we had to cut and raise the top tube. Paintwork was done by the best in the country, Piers Dowell, who has painted all my Harleys along with a couple of helmets, which are far too nice to actually wear lol..
When it was finally finished, within the first 100 miles, the expensive belt primary had broken, while the handling was pretty damn awful, due to the fashionable 'phat' wheels and tyres I'd fitted, a 160 x 16 front tyre is never a good idea. The primary was soon re engineered, while I spent another £2500 on new Ricks 17 inch billet and titanium wheels which improved the handling no end, it actually wanted to go around corners now, though at the cost of even less ground clearance, and it didn't have much to begin with.
I still have the Merch 131, its evolved over the years, different brakes, different seats, different exhaust, a hydraulic clutch conversion, and after snapping three belts, I switched to chain final drive, well, you get the picture.
Its been on the dyno a few times, the last being when I made a new exhaust for it. It has a Mikuni HSR 42 carb, small for such a big engine, but that was the biggest available when I placed my order back in 2000. A HSR 48mm would no doubt give a bit more top end, but at the expense of low down torque. I prefer the motor as it is, making 145 lb/ft torque and 128 bhp at the rear wheel. To put that into perspective, its making over 100 lb /ft of torque all the way through the rev range. Its too long and low to wheely under full throttle, but it'll easily break traction in first if launched hard. In the wet, the torque can spin the tyre in second and third too, so discretion is needed, then again I try not to take it out in bad weather, it takes way too many hours to clean otherwise.
The trad Harley folk hate it, ''looks too Japanese'', doesn't look right in their eyes... blah blah. I just smile and nod, and reply, I didn't build it for you...
Mid Life Update
Anyone whose built a ground up special will know they are never finished, there's always something that can be improved or updated. Now its time for some more updates of the Merch 131 which I'll detail in this thread..
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