S&S Cycle is a Wisconsin company that started in 1958 selling lightweight pushrods for Harley-Davidson engines and grew into one of the best-known names in V-twin performance parts. Today it is known for its Super E and Super G carburetors, complete long-block engines, cams and valvetrain parts, big-bore cylinder kits, air cleaners and exhaust. Riders choose it because the parts are built for tuning and upgrading, and because the catalog reaches from Panheads and Shovelheads to current Milwaukee-Eight bikes.

MotoKong has more than 1,200 S&S parts in stock, all gathered on the S&S Cycle brand page and spread across the motorcycle parts catalog. Below is where the brand came from, what it actually sells, what owners run into when they install it, and how to tell whether it suits your bike.

Where Did S&S Cycle Come From?

According to Rider magazine's coverage of the company's 60th anniversary, S&S was established in 1958 by George J. Smith. Its first product was a lightweight aluminum solid-lifter pushrod kit for Knuckleheads and Panheads, made in the basement of his home in Blue Island, Illinois. Smith was already tuning and racing his own Harley, including drag racing and Bonneville runs, and the parts grew out of that.

The shop moved to Viola, Wisconsin, in 1969, and a second facility opened in La Crosse in 2004. In that same Rider feature, the company said that apart from raw castings and chroming, its parts are made and finished in-house at its two plants. The carburetor that made the name was the Super series; Rider calls it the most popular aftermarket carb ever made, and the Super E and Super G were approaching a million units sold when that story ran in 2018.

What Does S&S Cycle Actually Make?

The brand is wider than most riders expect. Carburetors are what many people think of first, but engine and valvetrain parts are the largest part of what MotoKong carries from S&S.

In the engines and engine parts category alone there are hundreds of S&S items, and the carburetor section and the exhaust and emission systems category hold the rest of the best-known lines.

Why Do Riders Choose S&S Over Other Brands?

There are four reasons that come up again and again, and each one is something you can check rather than a slogan.

It is built around tuning. An S&S carburetor is made to be adjusted. A published S&S carburetor tuning guide lists the main jet, intermediate jet, mixture screw, throttle stop and accelerator pump as the things an owner can set, and it points out that the enricher knob is not a choke. For someone who wants to dial in a modified engine, that is the point.

The line reaches across eras. You can buy a Super E carburetor for an older bike and a Quickee pushrod kit for Milwaukee-Eight engines from the same company. Few brands cover both.

It does whole engines, not just bolt-ons. The T124 long block for touring and Dyna models is a complete engine, and S&S's own product page for its T111 long block lists a two-year warranty.

Racing is part of the history. The Grand National mufflers, for example, come from the company's flat-track racing mufflers, per the same Rider feature. You can see that heritage in products like the Grand National slip-on mufflers in black, sold as a 50-state version.

What Do Owners Run Into When They Install S&S Parts?

The honest answer is that the installs are manageable but not plug-and-play. FixMyHog documented a 1987 Sportster that had sat for five years and whose stock Bendix carburetor the owner had never gotten running right. The shop offered to rebuild it or replace it, and he went with a new S&S Super E/G kit. The author says the kit includes the correct manifold, arrives pre-jetted close to where it needs to be, and does not require setting the float height. It still needed mixture, accelerator pump and idle adjustments, then a final pump adjustment and a hot-idle setting after a test ride. One reader comment under that article describes a 1980 FXS with a Super G that runs hot and lean and pings on takeoff, which is what a carb that has not been dialed in looks like.

The same guide adds a few practical cautions. These carbs have no built-in filter, so it recommends an inline one. A stock Harley throttle cable does not work with an S&S carburetor. The accelerator pump adjustment is often mistaken for an idle adjustment, which can foul plugs. And the enricher should be switched off once the engine starts. None of that is hard, but it is the reason S&S suits people who like to wrench or who have a shop that tunes.

Is S&S Right for Your Bike?

Match the brand to what you are trying to do:

That last row matters. S&S's own page for its T111 long block carries a disclaimer that it is not legal for sale or use on EPA-controlled motor vehicles, and it says T-series engines are not compatible with Softail models. Product pages differ, so the label on the specific part is what counts. If you are weighing exhaust options specifically, our guide to slip-on vs. full exhaust systems covers how the two approaches differ.

How Do You Pick the Right S&S Part?

Start with your bike, not the part. Enter the year and model in the Ride Finder on MotoKong, then look at the engine family (Panhead, Shovelhead, Evolution, Twin Cam or Milwaukee-Eight) and whether the bike is carbureted or fuel-injected, since a carburetor kit only makes sense on a carbureted engine. Then read the product page for the label (49-state, 50-state or race only), what is included in the kit, and whether a tune is recommended. When a part list needs a second opinion, our team can check fitment before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions About S&S Cycle

Where is S&S Cycle based?

The company is in Wisconsin. It moved its main operation to Viola in 1969 and opened a second facility in La Crosse in 2004. It started in Blue Island, Illinois, in 1958.

Are S&S carburetors hard to tune?

They are built to be adjusted, so tuning is part of owning one. Kits often arrive pre-jetted close to the right setting, but owners still adjust mixture, the accelerator pump and idle, and some bikes need jet changes after other modifications.

Are S&S parts street legal?

It depends on the part. Some listings are labeled 49-state or 50-state, others are race only, and S&S's own pages for some engines carry a disclaimer that they are not legal for sale or use on EPA-controlled vehicles. Check the label on the listing and your local rules.

Do S&S T-series long block engines fit Softail models?

S&S's T111 page states that T-series engines are not compatible with Softail models, and that engine is listed for 2007 to 2016 touring bikes except Twin-Cooled models. Other long blocks have their own fitment, so read the listing for your bike.

How long is the warranty on an S&S long block?

S&S's product page for its T111 long block lists a two-year warranty. Check the listing for the specific engine you are buying, since warranty terms can vary by product.

Is S&S a good brand?

It has a long record with Harley owners and builders, a racing background, and parts that are made for tuning, so for many riders the answer is yes. It is a better fit for someone upgrading or rebuilding than for someone who wants a part that needs no adjustment.

How do I know an S&S part fits my Harley?

Use the Ride Finder with your year and model, then confirm the engine family and fuel system on the product page. If you are not sure, ask before ordering.