So here's the scenario.

Jan 2013, I buy and take delivery of a used 2011 Ultra Limited with 7500 miles from a dealer in Montana. I ride it once in 40 degree weather, love the way it runs and throw on a set of RCX slip ons. Later changed out the head pipe to an OEM de-catted unit. Leave the air cleaner alone. Weather finally hits 80 degrees and it pings like a bitch. Level ground 75-80 mph and it pings unless I cracked the throttle and put it in open loop. Take off from a stop on a hot day and it pings. Buy a set on FL Vieds off a guy here and put them on and it still pings. Tried every setting and made no difference. Left them at 25% per the website. Put up with it for three years. Ready to go the tuner route.

Here's where it gets kind of confusing. I buy a complete 2014 air cleaner assembly for $27.00 on Ebay. Install that and actually notice a difference in throttle response and overall performance. The pinging stopped. Waited for the weather to warm up. No more pinging. Rode in stop and go traffic yesterday (with a passenger) at 97 degrees. The engine was cooking our right leg from the heat (typical). No pinging. Rode a slight grade in sixth gear at 75 MPH. No pinging at all.

So all I did was install an air cleaner that flows a little more air than the stock 2011 air cleaner. One would expect that the opposite would occur and the pinging would get worse. It went completely away. I have a theory as to why.

Thoughts?

 

Adding the non-restrictive air filter equaled out the air pressure of the whole system.

 

magic

or wishful thinking

 

Your hearing got fried when you rode in 97degree temps with your spiffy new flat black helmet.

 

I use artificial lures when I fish.