General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Harley Stages

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 06:12 PM
  #1  
encholland's Avatar
encholland
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, Washington
Default Harley Stages

I completed stage 1 on my 2015 Road King for noise and a little oomph (plus I like the looks of pipes and slip-ons)! What are the benefits of doing stage 2 besides power? Is it worth the money? I worry about shortening the life of my engine.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 06:23 PM
  #2  
QC's Avatar
QC
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
Default

Proper cams are a worthwhile upgrade even on an otherwise stock engine. Done properly, your engine should last just as long as stock.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 06:24 PM
  #3  
PFWiz's Avatar
PFWiz
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Default

Noise?
You did a stage 1 for noise?
Seriously, you did a stage 1 for noise?
Sheesh...
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 06:28 PM
  #4  
encholland's Avatar
encholland
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, Washington
Default

Originally Posted by PFWiz
Noise?
You did a stage 1 for noise?
Seriously, you did a stage 1 for noise?
Sheesh...
yes, I did. I like being heard while riding. I could have put every reason why I did the stage 1 but I figured people wouldn't want to take such time to read that long of a post. But thanks your reply
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 07:07 PM
  #5  
Dynamick's Avatar
Dynamick
Club Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,829
Likes: 8,734
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Riders Club Member
Default

Originally Posted by QC
Proper cams are a worthwhile upgrade even on an otherwise stock engine. Done properly, your engine should last just as long as stock.
Or even longer, if you take the opportunity to install some decent lifters.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 08:16 PM
  #6  
PFWiz's Avatar
PFWiz
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Default

Originally Posted by encholland
yes, I did. I like being heard while riding. I could have put every reason why I did the stage 1 but I figured people wouldn't want to take such time to read that long of a post. But thanks your reply
My point was if you just did it for noise you could have saved a bunch of money and just installed siren. Now if you did to make your bike sound better, that would be an entirely different story...
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 08:54 PM
  #7  
encholland's Avatar
encholland
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, Washington
Default

Originally Posted by PFWiz
My point was if you just did it for noise you could have saved a bunch of money and just installed siren. Now if you did to make your bike sound better, that would be an entirely different story...
my point is who cares why I did stage 1. If I wanted to do stage one just because of sound, my choice. I just wanted to know from people if upgrading to stage 2 is worth the money. Will it degrade engine life span.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 09:44 PM
  #8  
Cygnusx51's Avatar
Cygnusx51
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
Default

Originally Posted by QC
Proper cams are a worthwhile upgrade even on an otherwise stock engine. Done properly, your engine should last just as long as stock.
There you have it OP. No need to go further I guess. Do it correctly and you shouldn't see adverse effects. Now, before you ask about what cam, that subject has been beat till there was no horse left so the search will be your friend.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 11:19 PM
  #9  
ChickinOnaChain's Avatar
ChickinOnaChain
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
Default

I wanted Stage 1 because of wanting different pipes. As for Stage 2, if it involves changing the engine from stock, I'm not doing it, even if I had the money.
 
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2017 | 08:51 AM
  #10  
Pumba11's Avatar
Pumba11
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
Default

Stage 2 by far, no competition, was the best money spent on my bike. A nice torque cam, nothing crazy. But wow, the miles of smiles continue.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MarkBorg
Milwaukee Eight (M8)
4
Nov 14, 2016 11:37 AM
CGD
Touring Models
7
Oct 20, 2016 11:47 AM
DrPaul
Touring Models
6
Jul 11, 2015 02:06 PM
05dlx
Touring Models
3
Apr 8, 2014 09:40 AM
GlennsGlide
Exhaust System Topics
1
Jul 25, 2007 05:46 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:58 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE