Dyno tweaking, Chasing the Rainbow ?
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Dyno tweaking, Chasing the Rainbow ?
HD owners, myself included most certainly 
, are renowned for chasing dimini$hing return$ in the interest of performance, custom looks, whatever. IMHO this is a great part of what makes HD so appealing to us as it accommodates these pursuits like no other brand. No matter if it is largely illusory, we just enjoy doing it. Now to the question that will **** people off:
Is all this "Dyno Tuning" really and truly a rock solid indicator of every day, wet/dry, hot/cold, constantly modulating, endlessly modified, street performance; or is it an Nth degree tweaking exercise taken to levels not sustainable beyond the exact conditions in which they're done ? In other words, is a Dyno tune really a race day "snapshot" tune, or more ?
I'm not trying to disparage the practice of having Dynos run or promote something alternative but, just for the sake of brutal honesty; when you go to a stage 3 or 4 or X upgrade and get your Dyno tune today at "Mountain Top HD", how relevant is it on next week's cool morning coastal run with E10 in the tank ?
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?
, are renowned for chasing dimini$hing return$ in the interest of performance, custom looks, whatever. IMHO this is a great part of what makes HD so appealing to us as it accommodates these pursuits like no other brand. No matter if it is largely illusory, we just enjoy doing it. Now to the question that will **** people off:Is all this "Dyno Tuning" really and truly a rock solid indicator of every day, wet/dry, hot/cold, constantly modulating, endlessly modified, street performance; or is it an Nth degree tweaking exercise taken to levels not sustainable beyond the exact conditions in which they're done ? In other words, is a Dyno tune really a race day "snapshot" tune, or more ?
I'm not trying to disparage the practice of having Dynos run or promote something alternative but, just for the sake of brutal honesty; when you go to a stage 3 or 4 or X upgrade and get your Dyno tune today at "Mountain Top HD", how relevant is it on next week's cool morning coastal run with E10 in the tank ?
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?
Last edited by HKMark23; Dec 20, 2015 at 08:38 AM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
HD owners, myself included most certainly , are renowned for chasing dimini$hing return$ in the interest of performance, custom looks, whatever. IMHO this is a great part of what makes HD so appealing to us as it accommodates these pursuits like no other brand. No matter if it is largely illusory, we just enjoy doing it. Now to the question that will **** people off:
Is all this "Dyno Tuning" really and truly a rock solid indicator of every day, wet/dry, hot/cold, constantly modulating, endlessly modified, street performance; or is it an Nth degree tweaking exercise taken to levels not sustainable beyond the exact conditions in which they're done ? In other words, is a Dyno tune really a race day "snapshot" tune, or more ?
I'm not trying to disparage the practice of having Dynos run or promote something alternative but, just for the sake of brutal honesty; when you go to a stage 3 or 4 or X upgrade and get your Dyno tune today at "Mountain Top HD", how relevant is it on next week's cool morning coastal run with E10 in the tank ?
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?
, are renowned for chasing dimini$hing return$ in the interest of performance, custom looks, whatever. IMHO this is a great part of what makes HD so appealing to us as it accommodates these pursuits like no other brand. No matter if it is largely illusory, we just enjoy doing it. Now to the question that will **** people off:Is all this "Dyno Tuning" really and truly a rock solid indicator of every day, wet/dry, hot/cold, constantly modulating, endlessly modified, street performance; or is it an Nth degree tweaking exercise taken to levels not sustainable beyond the exact conditions in which they're done ? In other words, is a Dyno tune really a race day "snapshot" tune, or more ?
I'm not trying to disparage the practice of having Dynos run or promote something alternative but, just for the sake of brutal honesty; when you go to a stage 3 or 4 or X upgrade and get your Dyno tune today at "Mountain Top HD", how relevant is it on next week's cool morning coastal run with E10 in the tank ?
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?
A lot of the new tuner setups will actually make changes while the bike is riding under real conditions.
I've never had my bike on a dyno and I'm very happy with the power smoothness that I had over stock.
As a matter of fact every time I've changed cams I noticed a huge improvement before doing a tune.
IIMHO a dyno tune is good for maximizing the bike's potential but you still need someone who knows what they are doing to make the proper tuning adjustments.
Personally I'd love to throw my bike on a dyno just to see what it will do.
As far as a workable tune goes with a good tuner and a little knowledge on how things work (there are numerous threads on this site) your average Joe should be able to cook themselves a good home brew tune.
Last edited by JustDave13; Dec 20, 2015 at 09:28 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 190
From: Penticton BC Canada
Dyno tune today at "Mountain Top HD", how relevant is it on next week's cool morning coastal run with E10 in the tank ?
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?[/QUOTE]
I got to do quite a few Powervision Autotune pro runs last year.
I live in a long valley and the altitude is 1200', if I want to really go any distance, I have to climb over the hills at 4500-5000'.
On the long runs at altitude, the autotune changed all my settings.
So, I would say that the bikes don't compensate for altitude very well, and tuning should be done at the altitude the bike will most often be at.
The autotune did make the bike run a lot better. So, yes, a workable tune can be had without a Dyno.
Can a technician not achieve a perfectly workable tune without benefit of the Dyno run ?[/QUOTE]
I got to do quite a few Powervision Autotune pro runs last year.
I live in a long valley and the altitude is 1200', if I want to really go any distance, I have to climb over the hills at 4500-5000'.
On the long runs at altitude, the autotune changed all my settings.
So, I would say that the bikes don't compensate for altitude very well, and tuning should be done at the altitude the bike will most often be at.
The autotune did make the bike run a lot better. So, yes, a workable tune can be had without a Dyno.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
Likes: 11,441
DYNO tune is one of the biggest scams in motorcycles. Huge cost little run and zero flexibility. DYNO tech can make the print out display what ever he wants.
Unless you have some outrageous build That is just way out there dnyo tune is not a good value.
Unless you have some outrageous build That is just way out there dnyo tune is not a good value.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 387
From: georgia
Have you ever had a proper dyno tune on any bike?
Can a bike have an adequate tune without a dyno?--Sure it can. A dyno sure makes it quicker and easier--at least for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
Likes: 11,441
Modern turners will do the job and you can change it at will. Dyno runs are a chasing a ghost in most cases. If you think you can stage I a bike do a dyno tune and some how make it a rocket you are mistaken It will do no better than a bike tuned with a basic tuner. Even with basic cam work a good map from some one like Fuel moto and a power vision you are good to go. Want to play run all the auto tunes you want, raise you education level a bit and try some tweaking.
If you want to spend the cash on bubba and his dyno go for it. But selling the dishonesty to new riders is wrong.
Good basic tuner pay once ,dyno pay and pay and pay.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 387
From: georgia
There is no dishonesty here. I don't know who you've dealt with but there are reputable tuners that do an honest job throughout the country. Of course there are some that are not so capable. That's true in most all professions.
I agree that no dyno can make a bike a rocket if the components are not correct---neither can a canned map or any autotuner. I'm sorry that you have not had good luck with dyno tuning but don't condemn all dyno tuners based just on your experiences.
I agree that no dyno can make a bike a rocket if the components are not correct---neither can a canned map or any autotuner. I'm sorry that you have not had good luck with dyno tuning but don't condemn all dyno tuners based just on your experiences.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 830
Likes: 121
From: Hill Country, Tx
If I understand correctly all these base maps from Fuelmoto, etc.(insert your favorite tuner) ARE derived from dyno tunes that they have done. Someone, somewhere at some time developed these maps using a dyno. To say that dyno tuning is basically a waste of money is incorrect because we ARE paying for it when we purchase any tuner IMHO. The person doing the tuning, either a tech on a dyno or the rider doing an autotune is more important.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 542
Likes: 4
From: Louisville, KY
I don't think so. The factory tune was probably developed with a dyno. The canned tunes were developed on a dyno. A technician developed a tune for my particular bike using the dyno as a tool.