air cleaner
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
No specific goal really, just wanting to upgrade from the factory one that's on there, I'm a fairly new rider only had my bike for a year, just now getting around to upgrading some of the stuff on it and wanted to get the opinions of some more experienced riders on what y'all have had good luck with.
S&S makes good stuff. Hard to go wrong there.
DK Customs also has a strong following here. Good bang for the buck.
RSD (Roland Sands Design) is quality and really pretty, but pricey.
Arlen Ness is slightly lower quality than RSD but still nice (and pricy).
You may also want to look at Lowbrow Customs, Biltwell, Dime City Cycles, Revival Cycles, & Rocket Bob's. Those are my go-to's for misc. parts and accessories.
Of course, J&P and Revzilla are always good for stuff too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 273
From: Minnesota
Like one guy said if it's for looks do what ever you want.
If your long goal is upgrading performance as well as looks, then some thought and planning pay's off.
Here's the gig;
Stock Harleys are made to comply with EPA emission standards, and to do so the air flow through the engine is somewhat restricted. They do this by using the Air Cleaner and Exhaust systems,, and have the Engine Control Module(ECM) controlling how much fuel the injectors squirt to get the proper air/fuel mixture for the engine to run,, get it?
(I won't get into the O2 sensors, but they are part of the game too)
So what guy's will do as they "upgrade" the engine components is change to a less restrictive Air Cleaners and Exhaust to improve the air flow,, (adding different cams, increasing compression etc,,). When you change the air flow a lot you need to tell the ECM to the change has happened so it squirts more gas maintaining the air/fuel ratio(AFR),, it all can get very confusing for new folks.
However, changing just the air cleaner won't change the AFR enough, because the exhaust is still restrictive enough so the ECM can read and adjust the AFR,, if you change just the exhaust,, it's the same, the air cleaner is still restrictive. Change'm both for added performance and you have to start changing the way the ECM thinks.
All of this can end up costing $1,000's.
Spend some time reading down here;
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/ignit...-injection-55/
And when you can start watching the classified section,, you can get stuff for 1/2 the cost of new because guy's are upgrading all the time.
So if you just want looks do whatever you want,, but if you want more performance a plan is good.
If your long goal is upgrading performance as well as looks, then some thought and planning pay's off.
Here's the gig;
Stock Harleys are made to comply with EPA emission standards, and to do so the air flow through the engine is somewhat restricted. They do this by using the Air Cleaner and Exhaust systems,, and have the Engine Control Module(ECM) controlling how much fuel the injectors squirt to get the proper air/fuel mixture for the engine to run,, get it?
(I won't get into the O2 sensors, but they are part of the game too)
So what guy's will do as they "upgrade" the engine components is change to a less restrictive Air Cleaners and Exhaust to improve the air flow,, (adding different cams, increasing compression etc,,). When you change the air flow a lot you need to tell the ECM to the change has happened so it squirts more gas maintaining the air/fuel ratio(AFR),, it all can get very confusing for new folks.
However, changing just the air cleaner won't change the AFR enough, because the exhaust is still restrictive enough so the ECM can read and adjust the AFR,, if you change just the exhaust,, it's the same, the air cleaner is still restrictive. Change'm both for added performance and you have to start changing the way the ECM thinks.
All of this can end up costing $1,000's.
Spend some time reading down here;
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/ignit...-injection-55/
And when you can start watching the classified section,, you can get stuff for 1/2 the cost of new because guy's are upgrading all the time.
So if you just want looks do whatever you want,, but if you want more performance a plan is good.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7,709
Likes: 7,850
From: New York
I can't point to any one change as "the" change which increased my '14 Ultra's torque and horsepower by 10%, but the simultaneous changes were: 1) Arlen Ness "Super Sucker" air cleaner; 2) Power Commander V, and 3) Dyno tune and fuel enrichment across the entire RPM range.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
A proper tuner and tune is critical at all stages with EFI. My understanding is that the bikes ship running quite lean for EPA reasons. That hurts power.
Factory intakes and exhausts are often less than ideal for flow and cool air in an effort to help reduce noise.
Factory intakes and exhausts are often less than ideal for flow and cool air in an effort to help reduce noise.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 105
Likes: 6
From: Lynchburg Va.
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