How much "pop" is normal/acceptable
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1,985
From: Cleveland Zoo
Decel popping is destroying your bike every time you let off the throttle.
Decel popping is normal, baffels in the pipes can quiet it down though.
Decel popping can be tuned out but it sets your A/F ratio too high.
Decel popping can be tuned out but it sets your A/F ratio too low.
After reading all the threads about decel popping on this forum I'm half blind and in every thread you get a lot of different opinions. I have not figured it out but my bike runs great and I hear a little.
Decel popping is normal, baffels in the pipes can quiet it down though.
Decel popping can be tuned out but it sets your A/F ratio too high.
Decel popping can be tuned out but it sets your A/F ratio too low.
After reading all the threads about decel popping on this forum I'm half blind and in every thread you get a lot of different opinions. I have not figured it out but my bike runs great and I hear a little.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: New York
i have an 06 road king. it was stock exhust, python slip-ons(first) then vance & hines oval slash cut currently. stage 1 down load, k&n high flow airfilter (not a stage one air intake) and 25 degree injectors. i had constant decel popping while down shifting. if i left it in the gear i was in and let it wind down then it was ok, but if i downshifted the popping would start. even with stock exhaust you have some decel pop but it is very quiet. patrick
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
My Heritage has minor decel popping and I understand if the bike is tuned for peak performance, it's normal. My Heritage has stage one with a dyno tune. It can be tuned out but I actually like it and I want the best performance. Decel "pops like a gun shot" - bike isn't tuned properly.
Last edited by barjbar; Apr 8, 2011 at 08:33 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 646
Likes: 1
From: Rockford, IL
I've got a question, why are there so many people worried about decel pop??? It does absolutely nothing bad to the bike, trying to get rid of it doesn't improve performance, so what's the deal? I'm trying to understand why this is looked upon as a main tuning point. Who cares if it pops while on decel? I would only be worried if it's popping/spitting/sputtering while accelerating.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: New York
Reminds me of when I started riding Harleys around 40 years ago. Back then some of my friends were running old Flat heads, knuckles and early pans that had the old "plumbers fitting" intakes. You old timers like me will remember these. Those things never sealed properly and they always got that pop when you let off the throttle to shift gears. Back then it was a sign of a poorly maintained bike or a bike with worn parts. Someone came out with aluminium intake adapters that could be heliarc welded to the heads allowing you to use the later panhead intake manifold with the rubber "O" ring seals. We spent a lot of time and money in pulling the heads and heliarc welding the adapters to eliminate the annoying pop. No way I'm going back to that!
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
My eGlide was set up with rush slip ons, stage 1 intake, and a download. Ran fine up here were I live at about 7000 ft elevation, but when I would ride out to the left coast (at sea level) I would get some popping on deceleration.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 38
From: Linden, NC
I've got a question, why are there so many people worried about decel pop??? It does absolutely nothing bad to the bike, trying to get rid of it doesn't improve performance, so what's the deal? I'm trying to understand why this is looked upon as a main tuning point. Who cares if it pops while on decel? I would only be worried if it's popping/spitting/sputtering while accelerating.
Guess it all matters to what each individual is looking for.
Last edited by Weevil; Apr 10, 2011 at 09:51 AM.