Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
Just curious on who uses the Vance and Hines fuel pack and who uses the Power Commander ?
Let me no your thoughts as to how it performs and any problems or hints on set up s.
I,m putting on some Big Shot Staggereds on my 2007 Low Rider after the 1000 mile check up .
So I,d like to no your opinion as what the best way to go .
Power Commander is $100. more so Trying to find out if I realy need it or not .
I plan on adding the stage 1 filter and pipes NOTHING else .
I only want a better sounding exhaust , Not so much for performance , Bot I want the bike to run with no problems also .
Also not planning on dynoing .
Just your opinion and experiances would be great .. Thanks ...
In case your wandering I have read many posts on this but I,m looking for an honest oppinion .
Let me no your thoughts as to how it performs and any problems or hints on set up s.
I,m putting on some Big Shot Staggereds on my 2007 Low Rider after the 1000 mile check up .
So I,d like to no your opinion as what the best way to go .
Power Commander is $100. more so Trying to find out if I realy need it or not .
I plan on adding the stage 1 filter and pipes NOTHING else .
I only want a better sounding exhaust , Not so much for performance , Bot I want the bike to run with no problems also .
Also not planning on dynoing .
Just your opinion and experiances would be great .. Thanks ...
In case your wandering I have read many posts on this but I,m looking for an honest oppinion .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
Since no one else replied, I'll take a shot.
If you're serious about not doing any further upgrades (and no dyno tuning), the Fuel Pack should be fine. I'm sure V&H has settings to match your application.
If you go any further with the mods, or decide to dyno the bike for best performance, then the Power Commander or a similar tuner will be needed.
I went with the PC lll and a dyno tune because I wanted my AFR set to about 13:1 so the bike would run cooler in the Arizona heat.
If you're serious about not doing any further upgrades (and no dyno tuning), the Fuel Pack should be fine. I'm sure V&H has settings to match your application.
If you go any further with the mods, or decide to dyno the bike for best performance, then the Power Commander or a similar tuner will be needed.
I went with the PC lll and a dyno tune because I wanted my AFR set to about 13:1 so the bike would run cooler in the Arizona heat.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
I have the FuelPak, Joe is right, you have no idea what the modes are for other than settign them to the recommended mappings they give you. But thats ok because I'm happy with mine on my 07' Low Rider. I wouldn't buy it from a dealer though, I got mine off ebay for over $100 less! Was still brand new though so don't worry about getting someone elses problem child.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
I was also in the same boat your in. i didnt want anything else except a better sounding exhaust and the performance is just extra. but i went with the PCIII anyway. i am always looking to alter something on my bike. mostly for curb appeal, but what happens when i run out of visual things to change out??? after that many thousands of miles i know my engine will need some kind of work be it bottom end or top end. if the engine isout i might as welll beef it up a bit. then i would have to buy something more than a fuel pack... PCIII or a SERT. so i decided i might as well do it right the first time.
not saying that the fuel pack is a bad way to go, but that is how i justified it. plus if you buy a PCIII from fuelmotousa.com they will send you maps for free as youmake changes and what not.
also i know from reading a few other guys post that they have changed pipes 3 or 4 times... and the fuel pack does not cover every pipe made today... but with a PCIII the adjustments are endless.
not saying that the fuel pack is a bad way to go, but that is how i justified it. plus if you buy a PCIII from fuelmotousa.com they will send you maps for free as youmake changes and what not.
also i know from reading a few other guys post that they have changed pipes 3 or 4 times... and the fuel pack does not cover every pipe made today... but with a PCIII the adjustments are endless.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
I sort of can't believe I'm responding to this thread and participating, yet again, in what will probably become another multiple page tuner argument and fuelpak bashing session. But, what the hell, that's what this forum is for right? 
The following is just my opinion. I'm not trying to sway you one way or another. I have the fuelpak and am happy with it. However, I have no dyno numbers to know how my bike is really running with it. I just know it was sh!tty before the fuelpak and noticeably better and cooler after installing it. With that said, some have posted that they have not had as good results with it and wished they had done something different. One thing is for sure, with fuelpak, you've got what you've got and you cannot go and get it tuned on. V&H's may help you tweak a setting or two over the phone if something seems off, but that's about it. The fuelpak settings are dyno tuned on each bike with each supported set of pipes/mufflers with a Screamin Eagle Stage 1 a/c. They publish the codes for the configurations they support and that's what you use.
In my opinion, if you don't plan on going past stage 1 and never intend to have the bike dyno-tuned, PCIII is sort of overkill. On the other hand, you do still have that ability later on or if the "canned map" isn't to your liking where you don't really with the fuelpak.
Once I get my bike dyno-checked, if the numbers aren't where they should be, I will not hesitate to do what is needed to get them in check. I expect, though, based on how the bike is running, I'm fine.
The following is just my opinion. I'm not trying to sway you one way or another. I have the fuelpak and am happy with it. However, I have no dyno numbers to know how my bike is really running with it. I just know it was sh!tty before the fuelpak and noticeably better and cooler after installing it. With that said, some have posted that they have not had as good results with it and wished they had done something different. One thing is for sure, with fuelpak, you've got what you've got and you cannot go and get it tuned on. V&H's may help you tweak a setting or two over the phone if something seems off, but that's about it. The fuelpak settings are dyno tuned on each bike with each supported set of pipes/mufflers with a Screamin Eagle Stage 1 a/c. They publish the codes for the configurations they support and that's what you use.
In my opinion, if you don't plan on going past stage 1 and never intend to have the bike dyno-tuned, PCIII is sort of overkill. On the other hand, you do still have that ability later on or if the "canned map" isn't to your liking where you don't really with the fuelpak.
Once I get my bike dyno-checked, if the numbers aren't where they should be, I will not hesitate to do what is needed to get them in check. I expect, though, based on how the bike is running, I'm fine.
Novice
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
Not a frequent poster here, so forgive my thoughts on this, and I have read the other debate threads quite a bit.
I am a non mechanical rider. In other words, if I grab a tool, people usually run for cover..
I have 3 Stealers around me...within like a 70 mile radius. I am on good terms with 2 service managers and I have asked the same question to them.
The consensus was, if there is ever a chance you may want other than V&H exhaust then you really should just go with the PCIII. It just gives greater flexibility.
I understand that you can find the fuelpak for around 2 bills. I just bought a PCIII from fuelmoto.com(sp?) and paid $290 shipped.
To me, it comes to simple math. Spend an extra 50-75 bucks and have greater flexibility for my many whims that will come in the future....or go with what is good for "right now"?
You know my choice.
I struggled mightily on whether to get either ones or just "run the risk" that you hear folks debating. So inthe end, I decided to listen to a buddy of mine: "Is $300 worth removing all doubt?"
For the $300 I put in the PCIII, I know beyond any doubt that if my bike burns up, HD will warranty it. I look at it as a necessary evil like insurance..
Good luck to you. Hell, good luck to us all, we need it with THIS hobby!
I am a non mechanical rider. In other words, if I grab a tool, people usually run for cover..
I have 3 Stealers around me...within like a 70 mile radius. I am on good terms with 2 service managers and I have asked the same question to them.
The consensus was, if there is ever a chance you may want other than V&H exhaust then you really should just go with the PCIII. It just gives greater flexibility.
I understand that you can find the fuelpak for around 2 bills. I just bought a PCIII from fuelmoto.com(sp?) and paid $290 shipped.
To me, it comes to simple math. Spend an extra 50-75 bucks and have greater flexibility for my many whims that will come in the future....or go with what is good for "right now"?
You know my choice.
I struggled mightily on whether to get either ones or just "run the risk" that you hear folks debating. So inthe end, I decided to listen to a buddy of mine: "Is $300 worth removing all doubt?"
For the $300 I put in the PCIII, I know beyond any doubt that if my bike burns up, HD will warranty it. I look at it as a necessary evil like insurance..
Good luck to you. Hell, good luck to us all, we need it with THIS hobby!
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Western NY
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
PClll can be plugged into with your own laptop and you can see what it's doing. You can make adjustments on your own based on hundreds of maps. Many tuners have lots of experience with this because it has been around awhile. And Trotters picture of a fuelpack in the bottom of a garbage can was all I needed to make that decision!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
ORIGINAL: Graduate
And Trotters picture of a fuelpack in the bottom of a garbage can was all I needed to make that decision!
And Trotters picture of a fuelpack in the bottom of a garbage can was all I needed to make that decision!
I understand why he tossed his. But there are plenty of us that use it and are happy with the results. In my opinion, it's only a piece of trash to a certain few that expect and want more.
All that said, knowing what I know now, I would have bought a PCIII. Not because of Trotter's famous picture but more for the reasons Eagleknyght stated, especially for not that much more money. If I decide to change to a set of pipes that Fuelpak doesn't yet support, I would be able to. Or, if I find my bike needs a little dyno-tuning, I can have it done. With fuelpak, I've got what I've got, and thank goodness it works for me. But, that's it, no tuning on it,
Novice
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: Vance and Hines or Power Commander ??
And Ultimately, 2007fxdr, that is precisely what drew me to a Harley.....the full customization and the ability for us all to admire one anothers bike, yet still love what we have under our own dang butts..
When all is said and done on this.....its a lot like investing to me: Only you know what your willing ro risk, for what cost and what return..
When all is said and done on this.....its a lot like investing to me: Only you know what your willing ro risk, for what cost and what return..