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I have a 2007 softail custom I purchased used from a dealer, they told me it has a stage one kit on it but the previous owner never got around to installing a high flow exhaust. I recently in n stalled a set of large diameter pipes do you think I need to have the bike tuned? The dealer said it was AL ready for a new exhaust, but I know how they can be.
A stage one set up includes high flow intake, exhaust AND a re-tune. I have the same bike, bought new. I was told by the dealer when you open up the intake and exhaust, the bike will run lean and therefore needs to be re-tuned. Although there are now many ways to re-tune, in 07 the Harley SERT [Screaming Eagle Race Tuner] was about the only option I could find. After the reprogramming the bike ran perfect and stills does. I personally believe you cannot have the proper tune if it was performed before the exhaust was added and will need to address the tune in order for it to run properly.
How can it have a Stage 1 kit installed and no performance pipes? That's not a Stage 1 but more like a Stage 1/2 or less. There's so many options out there you just have to go with what pleases your eye, sounds good and gives you a little bit more juice. You can get a Power Vision from Fuel Moto and they'll send you a custom tune for your bikes set up. I did it, and it runs like a champ.
Like Do Tkd said, a "proper" stage one will require athree things.
1) non restrictive exhauste
2) non restrictive air cleaner filter
3) ECM ( electronic control module) re--tune
You can just run any after market full exhaust system or just add some slip ons to the stock
header with out worries. All you'll gat out of that is a better sounding bike. But for that, most either remove the baffles or drill through the back plate of thr stock mucflers.
But for any performance in fease what so ever, you'll want to add a high performance air cleaning sytem and some control module that will fun tion with. Or against your bikes EXM
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