Do you want to upgrade your Harley-Davidson bike with the Screamin’ Eagle, but don’t know what it is? Don’t worry, by the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll know all about it.
Screamin’ Eagle refers to Harley-Davidson’s performance division, offering high-performance parts and upgrades such as air intakes, exhausts, and engine components designed to boost power and performance.
In this article, you’ll get to know all about Harley-Davidson bikes, what is a Screamin’ Eagle, the basics of Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kits, and more. Stick around to know all the answers that you’re looking for.
What is a Screamin’ Eagle for Harley-Davidson bikes?
If you’ve ever said “no” to more horsepower and torque, chances are that you’re riding some average bike. If you were riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, you would be enthralled with the powerful performance and tremendous torque that these beats have to offer. Since the start, Harley-Davidson riders have discovered freedom in the satisfying feeling of exceptional powertrain performance. It is only natural that the addicting rush of adrenaline has many Harley-Davidson riders craving more.
While there’s definitely no shortage of aftermarket upgrade options, most of them will end up voiding the existing manufacturer’s warranty. It ends up forcing you to sacrifice your peace of mind for a bit extra oomph behind the throttle. So, what exactly does a speed-hungry Harley-Davidson addict have to do to get the extra throttle and power?
Thankfully, Harley-Davidson cares a lot about such bikers. Harley-Davidson has a strong understanding of who its customers are and what they want. This is why the brand has developed a generous line of Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts. These Performance Stage Kits will not interfere with your factory powertrain warranty. In fact, you’ll even be able to upgrade your new Harley-Davidson bike before it leaves for the dealership. Moreover, you can roll the Screamin’ Eagle Upgrade kit into the existing loan agreement. The Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kits will take your Harley-Davidson bike’s performance to a whole new level. Your bike will be able to enjoy increased acceleration and improved passing power in comparison to stock bikes.
However, the best part about all of it will be the flawless compatibility between your bike’s engine and the Screamin’ Eagle Parts. As both of them were developed together by Harley-Davidson, there won’t be any hassle convincing your aftermarket parts to play nice with the engine. But there are still a couple of important questions to consider. How much power do you need in your Harley-Davidson bike? Which Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kit should you go for?
The basics of Screamin’ Eagle Performance Kits
Here are the basics of everything that you’ll be getting with your Screamin’ Eagle Performance Kit.
The upgrade will be ideal for a Harley-Davidson rider if you’re trying to enhance the performance of your Harley-Davidson bike. Not just that, but you’ll also be enhancing the overall sound and look of your Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Moreover, you’ll be building the foundation for any future Screamin’ Eagle upgrade possibilities. The kit will allow you to easily choose a cam that best suits your driving style.
Torque kit option
Get up to a 15% increase in the overall performance of your bike in the low-to-mid-RPM range. You’ll be able to feel a crisp, responsive throttle and more bang for your buck when accelerating. It’ll be ideal for you when passing slower vehicles without downshifting.
Power kit option
Get up to a 25% increase in the overall performance in the mid-to-upper-RPM range. You’ll be able to pump up the adrenaline with a burst of speed as you’re heading for the redline.
With the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Kit, get satisfyingly large engine displacement and increased power throughout the RPM range. Your engine will be able to swallow more air and fuel while having a higher compression piston for squeezing it into an explosive formula for power. More specifically, you’ll get up to a 35% increase in performance as compared to stock bikes. Meanwhile, you’ll also get downshift-free passing power right when needed and super-quick acceleration from stoplight to freeway speed.
The higher tier of the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kit is what really puts the cherry on top. With the Screamin’ Eagle Kit, you’re essentially looking at high-flow cylinder heads and the premium name among all throttle bodies. You’ll max out the displacement, compression, and flow, which will allow you to enjoy the highest level of Harley-Davidson freedom. It is probably the best Harley-Davidson bike performance upgrade available.
Different stages of Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kits
Who doesn’t want to own a powerful custom motorcycle or to add some custom seasoning to their Harley-Davidson bike’s performance? With the custom performance stage kits from Screamin’ Eagle, you’ll get to experience a more responsive powertrain from your Harley-Davidson bike’s engine. Which biker isn’t a fan of the classic Harley-Davidson engine rumble that everyone loves and is used to? Harley-Davidson is a company that hears its customers, and it has provided a powerful lineup of stag kits. These kits come through the Screamin’ Eagle performance platform for both performance and sound. These Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kits offer powerful and reliable motor configurations that’ll definitely push you back into your seat.
The engineers at Harley-Davidson have spent a lot of time, effort, and money on the R&D of these products. They’re sure to work perfectly when you’re created on the Harley-Davidson Milwaukee 8 stock platform. You’ll get to witness massive improvements in torque, horsepower, and increased sound. All this will be done while keeping your pocket safe as your bike will stay under the Harley-Davidson factory warranty. Remember, this will only work if the kit is installed at a Harley-Davidson dealership. Before you decide to get these performance kits installed, it’ll be important to know the different stages of the kit. Let’s dive in and know about the different stages, and you’ll be able to decide which option is best for you.
Stage 1 – Intake and exhaust
This is the entry-level kit for Harley-Davidson riders who only want to get a slight taste of the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kit. The Stage 1 kit will slightly improve the performance and sound of your Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The stock components might be good enough, but they don’t cut it if you want a powerful performance. This kit will include a Screamin’ Eagle exhaust, Screamin’ Eagle Stage 1 Air Breather, and tuning for accommodating the increased airflow.
The Stage 1 Kit is the most inexpensive option that you can go for. It’s the building block from which all the other kits build. Every subsequent Stage Kit will have a Stage 1 Kit built into it. This happens, as for increasing the power, you’ll need to increase airflow in and out of the engine. This kit alone is capable of increasing the horsepower and torque of your Harley-Davidson bike by up to 10%.
The final price will vary depending on the exhaust and air cleaner options you’re going for. You’ll need to visit your local Harley-Davidson dealership to get more details.
Stage II – Stage I + Cam Upgrade
The Stage II kit comes bundled on top of the Stage 1 Kit. It’ll just add a higher lift and duration cam alongside the adjustable push rods to your bike. This is a slightly bigger bite of the dish compared to what Stage 1 Kit was. This upgrade will be all about increasing the torque and horsepower of the engine without actually increasing the available displacement.
Cams will do a couple of things inside the engine. They’ll increase the lift of the valves, which means that the valves open to a greater degree compared to stock. They even increase the duration of the lift. This means that although the valve opens to a greater degree, it’s also left open for a longer duration. Choosing a cam will depend on your riding style. The styles of cam usually fall under two main categories –
- Power 462 Cam
They’re crafted for light riders who are looking to power all the way through to redline.
- Torque 447 Cam
These are perfect for riders who’re looking for the best power at cruising speeds
With the Power Cam, the Harley-Davidson driver will be able to enjoy up to a 30% increase in horsepower. Moreover, there’s also a 10% increase in torque present in the mid to upper RPM range. The biker needs to keep the engine rotating at a fairly high rate for feeling the power.
The torque cam gets you up to a 15% increase in power in the low to mid-RPM range. This is in comparison to the mid to high RPM range of the power cam. At cruising speed, at low RPMs, you just need to twist the throttle. The bike will automatically deliver stunning performance via the cam without needing to downshift to reach higher RPMs. You’ll have to contact your local Harley-Davidson dealership if you’re looking for more details about installation.
Stage III – Stage I + Big Bore Cylinders, Cam, and Pistons
Now you’re approaching the high-end part of these kits. The Stage III kit is designed for riders who are looking for more power delivered through increased engine displacement. This will increase the power throughout the entire RPM range.
This one comes with either 128CI or 131CI cylinders having a domed high compression piston with a 498 cam. This cam is more radical than the two cam options in the Stage II kit. This is why the Stage III kit doesn’t actually include a Stage II section. It’ll bypass that stage by directly going bigger all around. The performance increase will be approx. 35% in the mid to upper RPM range. Meanwhile, it’ll still maintain a lot of roll-on throttle for passing up other vehicles at highway speeds. It’ll even make the distinct Harley-Davidson rumble more noticeable due to an increase in the airflow of the engine. You’ll need to contact a Harley-Davidson dealership to get more details about installing the Stage III kit.
Stage IV – Stage III + Heads, Cam, Throttle Body, Lifters, and High-Performance Clutch Components
This is easily the best and most powerful upgrade that you can do to your Harley-Davidson bike. The Stage IV kit comes built for the Harley-Davidson riders who are looking for the best overall performance available. Moreover, you’ll be able to get that without voiding the Harley-Davidson factory warranty if it’s installed at a Harley-Davidson dealership.
This performance kit has everything that the Stage III kit offers. Meanwhile, it also addresses the top-end of the engine and other modifications for making the transition to such power much more seamless. A Stage IV kit offers CNC ported cylinder heads and a larger bore 64 mm throttle body. In this setup, the Milwaukee-Eight demands a more radical cam than the Stage II and III kits, a 518 cam. The top end and cam setup increase the volume and velocity of air and fuel going into the engine. It’ll then maximize the power available on a larger displacement Milwaukee-Eight engine.
For harnessing all the power, Harley-Davidson bikes also feature clutch components and high-performance lifters. This way, your bike’s engine stays bulletproof even with an increase in power. The increase in power will be around 25% in torque. There will also be up to a 50% increase in horsepower in mid to high-range RPMs. You’ll have a powerful race bike that isn’t just street legal, but also remains under the Harley-Davidson factory warranty. All that you have to do is get the kit installed at a Harley-Davidson dealership. For more information, you can always visit or contact your local Harley-Davidson dealership.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about Harley-Davidson bikes, what is a Screamin’ Eagle, the basics of Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Performance Stage Kits, and more. A Screamin’ Eagle is a series of Performance Stage Kits from Harley-Davidson that takes your bike to the next level. You’ll get tremendous performance, increased acceleration, and improved passing power compared to stock Harley-Davidson bikes. These Performance Stage Kits will not interfere with your factory powertrain warranty. In fact, you’ll even be able to upgrade your new Harley-Davidson bike before it leaves for the dealership.