New platfrom w/ M8- winner winner chicken dinner
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 193
Likes: 38
From: SoCali
New platfrom w/ M8- winner winner chicken dinner
Just traded in a 10 SG w/110, had 40k mi. I was ready for a new ride. Bought a road king special, wanted the best of both worlds. LOL Had the new bike almost a month now, 1200 mi. Loving all of this new machine. Handling and balance is fantastic on low and hi speeds. Performance is a big change. Enjoying the pull of the M8. 6th gear is a real gear !!!
The biggest challenge with getting new bike is "making it fit me and my style of riding. This means finding the right mods (bars, seats, grips, windshields). This has been fun obsessing in ebay and amazon. LOL
The one frustration about the M8 is the lack of knowledge and consistency. When it came to performance mods Pipes, Air intake, tuners, Cams. I have been told this bike is a little fickle about the right combos of these mods. Unfortunately Calif HD dealers seem to know the least about this bike! They have warned me against using any tuner until they figure out what is best with M8.
Any thoughts on where to go for good info on M8 performance mods?
The biggest challenge with getting new bike is "making it fit me and my style of riding. This means finding the right mods (bars, seats, grips, windshields). This has been fun obsessing in ebay and amazon. LOL
The one frustration about the M8 is the lack of knowledge and consistency. When it came to performance mods Pipes, Air intake, tuners, Cams. I have been told this bike is a little fickle about the right combos of these mods. Unfortunately Calif HD dealers seem to know the least about this bike! They have warned me against using any tuner until they figure out what is best with M8.
Any thoughts on where to go for good info on M8 performance mods?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
Bike got a warranty? If so, want to keep it? Then probably only one place you can go. HD.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 6,697
Likes: 774
From: Stuart, Fl
Enjoy your new toy break it in well before you start new performance mods to get the sound and kick were looking for is not easy. If you still want to keep your warranty be careful specially in this state of California they would band gasoline if they could good luck and enjoy your new Ride
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 1,603
From: High Point, NC.
Thats actually surprising, since they WANT to sell you the HD SE tuner and parts. They're EPA compliant and supposedly the best and most compatible parts out there specifically made for the new M8.....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
When it came to performance mods Pipes, Air intake, tuners, Cams. I have been told this bike is a little fickle about the right combos of these mods. Unfortunately Calif HD dealers seem to know the least about this bike! They have warned me against using any tuner until they figure out what is best with M8.
Any thoughts on where to go for good info on M8 performance mods?
Any thoughts on where to go for good info on M8 performance mods?
Do you want to maintain your factory warranty? If so, stick with HD parts and DEFINITELY the HD tuner (or wait until the warranty is up).... the HD, EPA approved tuner is the only tuner guaranteed NOT to void your powertrain warranty... this choice has nothing to do with the "fickle" M8 engine, it's all about warranty... HD tuner & parts = the bike will run better than stock
You don't care about maintaining your factory warranty? Many choices.... FuelMoto (my favorite), TTS, etc... there are a lot of aftermarket vendors getting really good results from the M8 in the area of performance. It obviously takes well engineered products to get good power & manners, but that's true of any engine, not just the M8... Aftermarket tuner & parts = the bike will run very well, considerably better than stock.
So make your decision, warranty or no warranty, and then get busy.....
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 367
From: Northern MN
Depends on where you want to end up eh? But what an amazing bike! This is my third Road King but this is so far above the others there is no comparison. I have fun just staring at this bike as it seems like it came from a custom builder, and the handling and power with just a stage 1 is incredible. I went with the S&S MK45 slip on's for the power and the low bass rumble they produce, which with the combo I have is very close to the 2-1 Thunderheaders I had on my last bike and they are CA compliant, although it doesn't matter here! Anyway, A great canvas to start from, have a ball, I am!
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 514
Likes: 160
From: So Cal!
It's really pretty easy....
Do you want to maintain your factory warranty? If so, stick with HD parts and DEFINITELY the HD tuner (or wait until the warranty is up).... the HD, EPA approved tuner is the only tuner guaranteed NOT to void your powertrain warranty... this choice has nothing to do with the "fickle" M8 engine, it's all about warranty... HD tuner & parts = the bike will run better than stock
You don't care about maintaining your factory warranty? Many choices.... FuelMoto (my favorite), TTS, etc... there are a lot of aftermarket vendors getting really good results from the M8 in the area of performance. It obviously takes well engineered products to get good power & manners, but that's true of any engine, not just the M8... Aftermarket tuner & parts = the bike will run very well, considerably better than stock.
So make your decision, warranty or no warranty, and then get busy.....
Do you want to maintain your factory warranty? If so, stick with HD parts and DEFINITELY the HD tuner (or wait until the warranty is up).... the HD, EPA approved tuner is the only tuner guaranteed NOT to void your powertrain warranty... this choice has nothing to do with the "fickle" M8 engine, it's all about warranty... HD tuner & parts = the bike will run better than stock
You don't care about maintaining your factory warranty? Many choices.... FuelMoto (my favorite), TTS, etc... there are a lot of aftermarket vendors getting really good results from the M8 in the area of performance. It obviously takes well engineered products to get good power & manners, but that's true of any engine, not just the M8... Aftermarket tuner & parts = the bike will run very well, considerably better than stock.
So make your decision, warranty or no warranty, and then get busy.....
FWIW, my '17 FLHXS has had the SE Stage II parts since 1050 miles. 462 (Power) cam, Ventilator, Street Cannons, Pro Street tuner. Thing runs hard (for a 900 lb. anchor, as I have previously stated), tune works extremely well for a 'canned' example, and it is definitely more fun to ride than a stocker (at least for my riding style). Even two up and loaded down, still plenty torquey to get it done with the 462 cam.
Last edited by SoCalHDMC; Dec 1, 2017 at 02:24 PM.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
Likes: 1,665
From: Blairsville GA
^^^^^ I believe that as long a you stick with SE parts the OEM warranty stays in effect for the full term. The caveat around a 60 day installation window is that installed in that time frame extends the warranty of the SE parts for the full 2 years. Instead of the shorter period they would normally be covered for.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
^^^^^ I believe that as long a you stick with SE parts the OEM warranty stays in effect for the full term. The caveat around a 60 day installation window is that installed in that time frame extends the warranty of the SE parts for the full 2 years. Instead of the shorter period they would normally be covered for.
