Grover
Have you ever heard the term "Devil's Advocate" ? Sometimes I do that and take a strong opinion one way to get folks to take strong opinions other ways and get really into a subject. Instead of just saying rah rah this or that they get into why they are rah rah this or that. The debate that ensues is of much greater value to all in that respect. I certainly would agree that the cam chain system is the Achilles Heal of the twin cam motor configuration. Still,from what I read on this site one can reasonably expect to get at least 20,000 miles out of the motor before it goes AND as I have found out 1st hand the dealer will warranty it. I have some friends with gear drive cams and they are not all that enamored with them. At the end of the day IMHO I'll stick with factory parts. Yes I have a Baker trans. Truly wish it was an H-D but it came with the bike. Still, the trans and motor do not share common parts that have to work together in carefully orchestrated synchronization.Bear in mind that I was running stroked Evo's before anyone made complete motors other than H-D. I remember how me and my bros threw a party when S&S finally offered a complete motor. One of the hardest things back on those days was figuring which parts worked with which. To me it's still a guessing game based on people thinking that if I buy the top rated cam, the top rated pistons, the top rated heads, the top rated rods, the top rated oil pump, I'll have the best motor. As someone who spends his days dealing with the upkeep of of some of the most technilogically advance military hardware in the history of mankind, I simply do not agree that you can mix parts like that. I do however respect, solicate, and honestly appreciate the opinions of fellow bikers like yourself.
Big B