Power commander or download?
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Langley BC
Power commander or download?
Hey everyone, I have an 09 fat bob, love it and finally ordered my Vance and Hines big shots with screamin eagle a/c. Only question is, power commander or stage one download? I haven't done any other engine mods and don't plan on it. I keep hearing different opinions, download works fine versus commander is a must to get rid of backfiring. Thoughts???
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
First of congratz! and welcome. backfiring will didssipate with time and you will still get someweather you choose pcV or anything else. Yes your bike will run , for years without a tuner but you will squeeze the most power out of your stage one setup with some kind of fuel management system.
I have been using my fuel moto pcv for over thrree years with no real complaints and whenever I change something I just have to call fuel moto and they send me a new map, and theirs have been pretty right on!
I have been using my fuel moto pcv for over thrree years with no real complaints and whenever I change something I just have to call fuel moto and they send me a new map, and theirs have been pretty right on!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
I've been told countless times, by countless GOOD mechanics, that a simple stage one doesn't need anything beyond a dealer download. I have to say, in my experience, and the experience of a LOT of my riding buddies, that setup works very well! I did the download on my current bike and I get NO popping, or backfiring. Bike runs great. On my last bike, I went with a Power Commander because "that's what everybody else said I needed" and had NOTHING BUT TROUBLE with it. Bike missed, spit, popped, and backfired UNTIL I took the Power Commander OFF the bike. Needless to say, I'm NOT a Power Commander fan.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 739
Likes: 5
From: West Memphis, AR
Call FuelMoto and talk to them. I have a PC and my bike runs great. No backfiring. No decell poping. Like maddghost said if you change something just call for a new map. FuelMoto is a dyno shop so their maps are custom maps they have done.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
I did a V&H pipe install and an Arlen Ness Big Sucker, went for a stage 1, helped but not great. Talked to the dealer again and he suggested going a bit further like a PCV or Pro Tuner, went with the Pro Tuner and love it, also with the software kit you can make many more adjustments yourself or you can go to the dealer and tell them how you want it setup without buying the software (dealer charges $50 for downloads though).
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
There's some interesting info relative to the HD stage 1 download on this page.
FWIW
http://tuneyourharley.com/biketech/c...l-map-revealed
FWIW
http://tuneyourharley.com/biketech/c...l-map-revealed
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: West Liberty, Oh
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 58
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From: Arizona
I did the download, lots of popping, no real help. I have the SERTP and still have popping issues. Dealer can't fix it so going indy. If that won't do it I will go Power Vision through Fuel Moto. I feel very confident they will be able to help.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
"Don't waste your money on the download. Just not worth the money for what you get." seems to be a parroted phrase by people who own tuners. I think they're just trying to justify the expense of having bought something that don't really need. I repeat, for a simple stage one upgrade (which is all 75% of us will ever do) the dealer remap is all you need. If you wanna go cams, stage 2, bigger pistons, etc. then maybe you need a tuner, otherwise, it's overkill.
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Mar 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM.