Tuner Or Not?
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
Tuner Or Not?
I don't know. I've had bikes with Power Commanders III's, SERTS, Power Commander V's, and truthfully, for just a stage one, they didn't do very much at all. Some caused me all kinds of headaches. Some made my bike run much worse. I've been told by several HD techs and independent mechs, one with over 30 years experience, that bypassing the 02 sensors, which most aftermarket tuners do, isn't a good thing to do. My current bike runs great on the simple dealer download. I had all sorts of problems with the "tuners", so I decided to forgo those with this bike. I'm perfectly happy with the download. Works fine for just slipons and airbox. The mechanics I asked said tuners are "overkill" for just a stage one. Everyone I talked to said the download is absolutely working great on their bikes. Everyone except people on internet forums anyway! 
Maybe, if you plan to do more than that, a tuner might help. But, seriously, I know dozens of people running the download, some for lotsa miles and lotsa years, and they had zero problems and are perfectly happy with their bikes. Who on here has a tuner, and who is running just a download? Happy with what you have or not?
Maybe, if you plan to do more than that, a tuner might help. But, seriously, I know dozens of people running the download, some for lotsa miles and lotsa years, and they had zero problems and are perfectly happy with their bikes. Who on here has a tuner, and who is running just a download? Happy with what you have or not?
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Apr 12, 2013 at 11:43 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: northeastern ohio
tuner
Had a tuner on my bike I traded, (07 SG), it never did run right! pv...called Jamie many times, changed the % of fuel. Always wanted to die when coming to a stop. Just installed Cobra mufflers on my new ride,(2012 SG)...leary of installing a AC & a tuner! Wish I knew the answer. Good luck...keep us posted!
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
That's my point. I've had several different tuners on past bikes, and most of them caused me problems, or didn't do much at all, except drain my wallet for the tuner and dyno runs. I've talked to a lot of people who have had problems with aftermarket tuners, but NO ONE who has had any problems with a dealer download.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
My last Heritage I decatted to get rid of some heat, 1.75" slip ons, a K&N airfilter only, not a Stage 1, and a pair of XIED's. It runs well and much cooler with good mpg. My mods solved what I wanted. I have also been the "tuner" route and for money spent, I wasn't impressed
Novice
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: ALabama
I don't think you need a tuner if all you are going to do is a stage 1 setup a dealer quick flash has worked for me in the past
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 15
From: River City Western Canada
I have no problem with a stock tune. My RK runs just fine, I run out off ***** long before my 96 does.
Lets face it, a lot of guys tune just because they can.
Lets face it, a lot of guys tune just because they can.
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My wife's bike dyno'd at 15.1:1 lean bone stock.
We put a PC-V on it after doing pipes (with cat gutted) and intake.
Before moving off stock tune on the PC-V, it dyno'd over 16:1.
That's way too lean for me. Even if it doesn't "blow up" and have detonation issues, that means the motor will be running hotter than it should. If nothing else, summer discomfort and long-term damage to the motor were enough to justify the PC-V and tune.
Trick is, gotta have the RIGHT tune installed on it.
I had a tune on mine that felt "ok" but when I finally got it tuned there were a bunch of little problems sorted out and it was like a whole new bike.
We put a PC-V on it after doing pipes (with cat gutted) and intake.
Before moving off stock tune on the PC-V, it dyno'd over 16:1.
That's way too lean for me. Even if it doesn't "blow up" and have detonation issues, that means the motor will be running hotter than it should. If nothing else, summer discomfort and long-term damage to the motor were enough to justify the PC-V and tune.
Trick is, gotta have the RIGHT tune installed on it.
I had a tune on mine that felt "ok" but when I finally got it tuned there were a bunch of little problems sorted out and it was like a whole new bike.