I have owned my 2007 R K for a while now its comfortable looks great but I have been dissappointed with power and 5th & 6th gear performance, and passing power in lower gears. My cruise control would pop off from to much cable pull in 6th going 75 up hills, and lose 4 to 5 mph before it did. I just did a stage one with Jamies help at Fuel Moto, (great service by the way). I put on 3 1/2" jackpot slip ons, Arlen Ness Big Sucker A/C, and fuel moto tuner by dyno jet. All this was a very easy install about three hours and I took my time. First off power in 5th & 6th is there now. The bike will pull a pretty steep hill at 70 mph in 6th losing 1 mph with cruise on and the cruise does not pop off. 6th even has some pull from 2300 rpm, had none before. Someone will pobably chime in why 6th 70 up hill? I wanted to see what it would do. 5th a lot more power even from low rpms. Passing power in 3rd and 4th is awsome now. Dont get me wrong the stage one did not turn it in to a power house but it is much better and well worth it feels more like a Motorcycle, and I consider this a bargain at about $650. Fyi Added a 10 Jagg low mount cooler also, oil temps have gone from 280 deg on an 80 degree day to 235 deg at $330 I consider this money well spent also. I think it was the combination of the stage one and the cooler that has reduced overall engine temps a lot with the bike being a lot more comfortable to ride in the heat. Any questions let me know.

 

You're right, stage one on a 96 makes decent power, I'm running SE air cleaner, SERT and a pair of stock mufflers from an '11 103. I could get a little more power with louder exhaust but only at the very top end, the 103/catalyst pipe mufflers flow better than my '09 96" stockers. Power upgrades are endless and you really have to analyze how much you will actually use as opposed to want for bragging rights. Also, a stage one bike will have the same longevity as a stocker.