I am thinking about buying a 2012 with the new "103" engine. Give me some feedback on how you like it. Is it strong, torque good etc. I am looking at a streetglide.

Hey glider.
Looking to find out about the "103" too. Anyone out there please give some feedback!

As a new owner of a 2012 Street Glide with the 103, I would say GO for it!! I love the 103. It has plenty of torque and I haven't made any upgrades yet. I live in the mountains of Washington and have to climb a pass in any direction I go. I can climb a steep grade hill that draws the semis down to 35mph in 6th gear 70mh on cruise control, no downshifting. And I still have enough to pass if I need it. The only kinda negative is that it does not like to go slow in town (25mph). The bikes I ride with that have 88's or 96's have to downshift to climb the same hills. It does run a little hotter but not an issue. Get the 103 and let's ride!

I'm looking forward to getting mine. It's exactly the engine I need for this phase of my life.

Two things. My wife just retired and we now have more time to putz around, take day trips, and go farther away from home. The added torque would be great here for wandering around any road we might find.

Secondly, I'm not sure I need Betty's brute speed and operating costs anymore. She's a young man's bike. Sure, I enjoy her to death when I take her out, the problem for me is that word 'death.' While I was never much of a banzai drag racer, I don't think I've used the old "downshift pour on the goals" power she has in over two years. In fact, I don't really remember when that last time was.

I'm looking seriously at a 2012 Fat Boy. Flatter handlebars. enough fuel, wider seat and a more "real world" motor. The 103-inch engine comes at the right time for me.

Thanks for the info. This might be the bike that harley hates! The one that you don't have to mess with it's good from the start!

I agree. We've gotten sidetracked on this "bigger motor more horsepower" treadmill, and I think it's making the bikes worse, not better. I guess I learned that the hard way, myself.

I can never wring all of the BHP out of Betty, and yet I need to buy premium gasoline. I read where one engine supplier (either JIMS or S&S) makes a version of their 120-inch motor that runs on pump gas. That's a very good idea. I think that MoCo is headed tp that same page, but I also think that building an engine with over 100 inches is kind of an ego trip. After all, a figure of '96' does not have three digits.

However, the 103 is a 'torquer,' not a 'winder.' Most of us pass slow farmers more than we do three-digit speeds or drag-race. And the Electra Glide-ish models that MoCo builds are better served with slower turning engines. That's torque not raw BHP. I actually had to seek out slow to mid-range cams for Betty. Many folks were simply instally the 211 without researching the 203 or the 204.

I'm looking for the performance advertised by MoCo. I'd enjoy the 103 inch Fat Boy for all of these reasons. More than 90% of my driving involving a big-twin is just wandering around on the highways. My life has changed, so the bike has to reflect that change, as well. I would still welcome that detuned 120 inch engine, but once again, MoCo's 120 is marked "race."

i love my '03 Ultra. I don't think i need a bigger motor. I have 1550cc's on this thing and it runs great. the seat fits just right and i have the music dialed in so i can always hear it and jam out if i want. I am thinking new paint and grips and i should be good to go... I always liked the Electric Blue, perhaps with some very light smoked flames...

I've had my 2011 Ultra Limited with the 103" motor for 14 months and 12,000 miles. The only modifications I did were the SE Street Performance mufflers, Stage 1 intake kit (with the software download), and Vance & Hines Dresser Duals headers (great sound and eliminates the cat converter). This bike is GREAT and I love it. The torque is impressive. Puttin' around the desert mountain country in the Texas Big Bend country recently, I was running in 6th gear at 40-50 MPH all day long with no problems. Fuel mileage on the interstate running 75 MPH is about 38 to 40 MPG. Headwinds and/or riding 2-up pulls the mileage down to 33-34 or so, but I can live with that.

Here's my experience with mileage between a 103" motor and a 96" motor: Riding 2-up, my bike takes exactly 1/2 tank of gas to go from my dealer to my house (100 miles). The same trip on a loaner '10 Street Glide with the 96" motor took about 1/8 of a tank less gas (between 1/2 and 3/4 on the gauge). I wish the mileage was better but I didn't buy this bike for mileage, I bought it for long distance riding, and I have plenty of range between fuel stops. So, I'm very happy with the 103" motor.

Harley knows that if the motor is good enough (which it never is) we will still buy chrome!!! Oooh Shiny!

Just how shiny did you make it?