Diag4Bike / Diagnostic Tool / Looking for recommendations...
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2,274
From: Tampa Bay Area
Diag4Bike / Diagnostic Tool / Looking for recommendations...
I am one week away from my standard warranty expiration and planning to handle most of my own service needs going forward. I've been looking into investing in a diagnostic tool and found a few to consider. I have noticed a few folks here referencing the Diag4Bike product. Others I have looked at online include the Dayton Twin Tec Twin Scan 4 and the Techno-Research Centurion Super Pro. The prices range widely and it's tough to get a sense of their strengths and weaknesses from one to another.
I realize these aren't in everyone's garage. I am hoping there are a few folks here who are using or who have had experience with one or more of these products and can share their thoughts and experience.
Thanks!
I realize these aren't in everyone's garage. I am hoping there are a few folks here who are using or who have had experience with one or more of these products and can share their thoughts and experience.
Thanks!
Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8,538
Likes: 1,646
From: SF Bay area
I can wholeheartedly recommend the Twin Scan 4... used it to service my ABS & it does a whole lot more. One of the cheaper options too. 
__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click HERE For all Twin Cams and Evo Big Twins & Sportsters
__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click HERE For all Twin Cams and Evo Big Twins & Sportsters
__________________
NO, they DON'T all do that!
ROCKOUT rocker shaft inserts... make the tapping STOP! From the guy that FOUND and CURED the problem NO ONE ELSE COULD, thank you for your support!
Ordering & info http://www.rockout.biz On ebay! ... CLICK HERE
Also on amazon.com...
Imitated, never equaled... ROCKOUTS!
Ordering & info http://www.rockout.biz On ebay! ... CLICK HERE
Also on amazon.com...
Imitated, never equaled... ROCKOUTS!
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2,274
From: Tampa Bay Area
Thanks - user friendly? Anything "lacking"?
One thing that caught my eye is the live data-logging function. Have you ever used?
Appreciate your experience - looking for "real-world" feedback.
One thing that caught my eye is the live data-logging function. Have you ever used?
Appreciate your experience - looking for "real-world" feedback.
Last edited by Old Sport; May 8, 2020 at 03:48 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,822
Likes: 1,170
From: florida
I own all of them, and i do mean all of them except for HD's Digital Tech2, or whatever version they are up to now.
The questions i have for you are relevant to your choice i think. 1, what year and model is your bike, 2 What is your level of technical expertise? How good do you feel that you are with electrcal/electronic diagnosis and repair?
. THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE AREyou 1THE FACTORY SERVICE AND ELECTRICAL DIANOSTIC MANUALS.
with those 2 books, a decent set of tools and a good DVM, a mid level tech type guy can do most of what you'll ever run into. The Twin Scan tool is a good one to have if you want to have the capacity to do ABS stuff and it has a lot of other cool features also.
The Techno Research tool is very good my only complaint is the software is slower than a snail, but its more geared for the professional, and it is priced that way too!
Most of the hard stuff nowadays is electrically oriented. If this is your weak area, none of the other specialty tools will do you much good. Buy a good multimeter, and learn how to use it and learn how to read, understand and work with wiring diagrams and learn what HD calls the systematic approach.
my 2 cents.
m
The questions i have for you are relevant to your choice i think. 1, what year and model is your bike, 2 What is your level of technical expertise? How good do you feel that you are with electrcal/electronic diagnosis and repair?
. THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE AREyou 1THE FACTORY SERVICE AND ELECTRICAL DIANOSTIC MANUALS.
with those 2 books, a decent set of tools and a good DVM, a mid level tech type guy can do most of what you'll ever run into. The Twin Scan tool is a good one to have if you want to have the capacity to do ABS stuff and it has a lot of other cool features also.
The Techno Research tool is very good my only complaint is the software is slower than a snail, but its more geared for the professional, and it is priced that way too!
Most of the hard stuff nowadays is electrically oriented. If this is your weak area, none of the other specialty tools will do you much good. Buy a good multimeter, and learn how to use it and learn how to read, understand and work with wiring diagrams and learn what HD calls the systematic approach.
my 2 cents.
m
Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8,538
Likes: 1,646
From: SF Bay area
As for ease of use.... I did it
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2,274
From: Tampa Bay Area
I own all of them, and i do mean all of them except for HD's Digital Tech2, or whatever version they are up to now.
The questions i have for you are relevant to your choice i think. 1, what year and model is your bike, 2 What is your level of technical expertise? How good do you feel that you are with electrcal/electronic diagnosis and repair?
. THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE AREyou 1THE FACTORY SERVICE AND ELECTRICAL DIANOSTIC MANUALS.
with those 2 books, a decent set of tools and a good DVM, a mid level tech type guy can do most of what you'll ever run into. The Twin Scan tool is a good one to have if you want to have the capacity to do ABS stuff and it has a lot of other cool features also.
The Techno Research tool is very good my only complaint is the software is slower than a snail, but its more geared for the professional, and it is priced that way too!
Most of the hard stuff nowadays is electrically oriented. If this is your weak area, none of the other specialty tools will do you much good. Buy a good multimeter, and learn how to use it and learn how to read, understand and work with wiring diagrams and learn what HD calls the systematic approach.
my 2 cents.
m
The questions i have for you are relevant to your choice i think. 1, what year and model is your bike, 2 What is your level of technical expertise? How good do you feel that you are with electrcal/electronic diagnosis and repair?
. THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE AREyou 1THE FACTORY SERVICE AND ELECTRICAL DIANOSTIC MANUALS.
with those 2 books, a decent set of tools and a good DVM, a mid level tech type guy can do most of what you'll ever run into. The Twin Scan tool is a good one to have if you want to have the capacity to do ABS stuff and it has a lot of other cool features also.
The Techno Research tool is very good my only complaint is the software is slower than a snail, but its more geared for the professional, and it is priced that way too!
Most of the hard stuff nowadays is electrically oriented. If this is your weak area, none of the other specialty tools will do you much good. Buy a good multimeter, and learn how to use it and learn how to read, understand and work with wiring diagrams and learn what HD calls the systematic approach.
my 2 cents.
m
I currently have the factory service manual for my bike. I have not yet picked-up the electrical diagnostics manual but plan to. I do have and use a subscription to the SIP.
I know my way around a computer, having spent my earlier years as a systems and LAN administrator. I've recently configured a spare MacBook Air to run Windows10 in an Oracle VirtualBox to serve as a dedicated garage computer.
. I've lot's of experience installing, configuring and troubleshooting systems in my past.All that said, I am much more of a carpenter than a mechanic, and much more comfortable with physical mechanical work vs. electronics. I've learned that having the right tool, and the right quality tool, is a very important part of getting the job done right. I'd like to be as self-sufficient as I can and I enjoy spending time learning, repairing and/or building things.
I've looked closer at the Twin Scan 4 and it seems to do a lot for about half the cost of Diag4Bike. Both seem to have relatively recent software builds available as well which tells me they are actively supported and have some life to them. Hard to tell about the others.
Again, appreciate your thoughts - thanks.
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2,274
From: Tampa Bay Area
Trending Topics
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2,090
From: Masshole
Another Twin Tech owner here. Love it. Does what I need it to. Use it every spring for my ABS flush. Have used it countless times for programming FOB's. Another use I have taken advantage of it the ability to turn on directional's/brakes etc, helped me troubleshoot a bad right switch pack. Love that is doesn't "marry" to a bike.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 435
Likes: 320
From: North Carolina
While these tools are nice, what I really want is a break out box and attendant cables. Right now I use back probes with the DVOM but a BOB sure would make life easier. Oh yeah- without the Elrctrical Diagnostics Manual you're flying blind.
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2,274
From: Tampa Bay Area
So I've taken a look and installed the software for DIAG4BIKE, Twin Scan 4 and the Techno-Research Centurion... Techno-Research won't run in a virtual machine. Why the damn thing completes the install and THEN let's you know it won't work is beyond me. The uninstall was similarly sloppy. They're off the list!
Poking around the applications for the other two - neither is "slick", but both seem to do the job. Looking into price and availability now of these tools now.
Poking around the applications for the other two - neither is "slick", but both seem to do the job. Looking into price and availability now of these tools now.