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During my 2021 Street Glide service at my HD dealership two weeks ago, the technician told me he did a firmware update. It did make my bike run smoother, finding neutral became easier and gear change is now much more seamless. Was this indeed because of the software update or was it because the engine and transmission oil were replaced with new. Btw, it was for the 15K mile service.
Last edited by Rendezvous; Jul 5, 2025 at 08:18 AM.
During my 2021 Street Glide service at my HD dealership two weeks ago, the technician told me he did a firmware update. It did make my bike run smoother, finding neutral became easier and gear change is now much more seamless. Was this indeed because of the software update or was it because the engine and transmission oil were replaced with new. Btw, it was for the 15K mile service.
Likely an updated ECM map combined with psychology 😉
Was it a software update for the radio ? Or the ecm.
Did not specify. But most likely an ecm software update. But whatever it is, it did improve engine and transmission performance on my 21 Street Glide. Just sharing my positive experience so readers of this post be aware that new update is available, and if my experience is right, beneficial.
Since y'all mentioned smoother shifting I'll chime in that I was impressed with the difference in shifting and finding neutral on my 2023 Ultra Limited by installing the Thrashin' shifter arm. I think it basically does the same thing as the Kraus EZ shift but in my opinion looks better and just swaps out an existing part instead of adding parts to the shift linkage.
This 114 has been the toughest bike I've ever owned to get into neutral. It smoothed out a good bit by about 5000 miles but was still a little finicky. The Thrashin' shifter arm fixed that and definitely made changing gears noticeably smoother.
I don't believe an ECM update affected the transmission or clutch....
New fluids, and/or a possible clutch adjustment during the service would be much more likely....
Yep, no electronics in these transmissions. Apart from "am I in neutral?" there's not conversation between the tranny and the ECM. Fresh fluid and a clutch adjustment is what the OP felt.
Finding N is all about the adjustment, and the foot on the lever - on a properly functioning, stock clutch. Most new bikes often suck from the dealer. Not until the 1k service is N a reality.
Kind of unrelated, but I had a bitch of a time with a Rekluse clutch on my King. Until I put so little slack on the adjustment (I'm talking less than a quarter turn out) neutral was only a fantasy while stopped. While rolling, no prob. But at a stop, forget it.
I couldn't get comfortable with only 1/4 turn out, so I dumped the Rekluse for a Carbonite clutch and voila, slides into N like greased lightning. Every time.
I couldn't get comfortable with only 1/4 turn out, so I dumped the Rekluse for a Carbonite clutch and voila, slides into N like greased lightning. Every time.
I suspect the cut of the gears in the tranny may have something to do with ease of shifting and finding neutral as well. In 2013 I put a Baker overdrive six speed transmission in my 2003 FXDWG. To this day it shifts better than a brand new Harley does and finding nuetral was never a problem from day one. After riding my 23 Ultra for a while (just playing with a new toy sort of) when I get back on that Wide Glide I almost rip the shift lever off because you don't have to actually move the shift lever through its entire range, you just give it a little nudge and it jumps into the next gear.
Mchad I notice on my 23 as well that the clutch just doesn't feel right unless the cable is adjusted to zero slack to where the engagement is out towards the end of the lever travel. I hate that. On my 2010 Ultra I could leave a little slack so that the clutches on all three bikes felt the same. I wonder if the two piece clutch cables on these new bikes get sloppy at the junction if they aren't kept tight. Clutch engagement was very jerky until I removed the slack like it was when I got the bike new.
Thanks for the mention of the Carbonite kit. I doubt if I'll ever be able to afford a high HP motor, but any info is good to have. Fortunately for my stage two 114 just the addition of the Thrashin' shift lever cleaned up shifting and neutral pretty good. I can even slide into neutral coming down from second which I could never do with the stock setup.
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