We've collected a number of parts for the rigid over the last few months - but one key item was missing. That's the engine. When it came time to decide on a power plant for the project, there were a couple of factors that warrented consideration. The first is of course, cold hard cash. None of us have a lot. Any way you cut it, an engine is not cheap. The second factor, of course, is engine performance. Nobody wants to make this kind of investment, no matter what the price, only to find out it the motor is a dog or doesn't hold it's own when the throttle is cracked. (When buying mail order, performance is particularly tough to judge because you never get to test the engine before you buy.) The third factor is overall quality. If you shell out a few grand for a motor - you don't want to have to do it again in 3 years. You want it to last, and you don't want it to be plagued with problems. Having a bike that spends more time in the shop then it does on the road just plain sucks.

As the number of V-Twin manufacturers increases to meet current demands, the competition to provide a high quality, big torque V-Twin that can withstand time and abuse for a reasonable price has also increased. The clear winner in this competition is you, the consumer.

For those of us who need to maximize our dollar spent, we need to really understand our requirements. What's the average biker want? A motor that's usable for the street. If you want a Nitro-Burning tire shredder, get ready to spend some serious cash. But if you basically want a hot street motor, and live on a budget, you should to look at a couple of factors. These are performance, reliability, total long term cost of ownership,and the reputation of the engine manufacturer.

For this project, a Revtech 100 CI Evo-Style motor was procured. The guys at Custom Chrome cut us a deal on it to fit our budget. Let's have a look at some of the features that convinced me that the RevTech 100 was my best choice.

First off, the Engineering and Manufacturing team at RevTech have spent thousands of hours researching, designing, building, and testing their engine design. When you buy one of these motors, you're not just buying an engine, you're buying 20 years of experience and expertise from one of the largest, most respected aftermarket american v-twin companies in the business. The company's reputation was an important in choosing to buy one of these motors because I've never so much as thrown a leg over a bike built with one of these engines.

Second - The spec sheet. Have a look at all the features this engine has.

Basic Features

ALL Chrome Covers are included. No need to add your own. Price this out when you're building your next project. You'll see the advantage of buying these as a package.

Comes with a Mikuni Carburator, Revtec Air Cleaner, Thunderheart Ignition Pickup AND Thunderheart Electronic Ingnition Module. Keep this in mind when buying a motor. The Module, Ignition System, and Carb/Aircleaner setup when purchased separately are worth at LEAST $600 retail if you have to add them separately. There's a trick feature here too - the ignition module is actually mounted right on the pickup - so mounting an external box is NOT required.

Available in 88 or 100 CI displacements, in Raw, Black Powdercoat, or Show Polished finishes on the cylinders, heads, and case.

Case

356-T6 Aluminum Case with added material in key areas for increased strength. What does this mean? Lower case flex. Why is that good? Longer bearing and shaft life. If things stay aligned, they wear less. It also means, this motor can take some punishment and that your lower end is likely to fail in an extreme condition than your average run of the mill case.

Removeable Lower Sump Plate. - This is VERY cool. It allows you to keep tabs on your motor over time by being able to inspect the lower end WITHOUT having to rip the whole motor apart. You don't get this with just any case.

Pressed and Bolted Crank Pin and Pinion Bushing Carriers. The carrier on the left is pressed in like stock. The one on the right is pressed and bolted against a machined surface for superior alignment across the case. This translates into better alignment of the bearings, lower friction, and less bearing and shaft wear.

Heads

No head gaskets! O-Rings are used for LEAK PROOF SEALS. This is an extremely important feature for retaining compression and performance over time.

Wider than stock spaced head bolts for superior strength.

D-shaped ports for high flow characteristics. If your motor ain't flowin', it ain't goin'.

Cylinders

Steel cyliner liners are perma-locked into the outer aluminum casting for the ULTIMATE in durabilty.

Larger Cooling Fin Area that Stock Evo Motors for lower engine temperatures. Lower engine temperatures means your oil retains it's integrity longer and provides better engine protection to reduce wear.

Cast Pistons in the 88" motor, Forged Pistons in the 100" CI Motor. This is something you may want to consider if you have a personal preference.

Flywheels

The halves are one piece forged and then post machined from 4340 Steel. What's that mean? They're seriously strong and accurately manufactured.

Oil Pump

The latest in oil pump technology. NEVER underestimate the importance of delivering good lubraction to your motor. In an air cooled motor, oil is also the lifeline to cooling.

Warranty

2 Year - 20,000 Mile warranty. Just make sure you fill out the card when it comes.

Shipping

Bagged and shipped in a custom built wooden crate..

Third factor - Total price - about $5600, retail. We did some internet shopping and found that you can knock about $600-$700 off if you look around a little.

We also priced comparable Black Powder Coated 100 CI motors from S&S $6300 Retail + which still require an ignition module to run (about a $200-$350 investment). If you want a TP Engineering motor, add another $500-$600 to those prices. Don't get me wrong. S&S and TP make damned good engines, but you'll pay for them. If you want a great motor that's convenient to install, and has the added benefit of a carb pre-installed and dialed in with a pre-existing ignition module, and you're on a budget to boot, you may want to have a hard look at the Revtech motor.

We'll have some details about mounting it into the frame as the project progresses.

Till next time - Digital

On to Part 3....

Back to Part 1....

Back to the Custom Chrome on Bikernet....