Hello!

I've just done the deal for a 2019 Fat Boy 114. VERY EXCITED! I should have the bike by the end of the week.

Please share your thoughts and experiences doing Stage I and II upgrades, especially on the 114 M8. Please keep in mind that I'm super new to this, and I don't know anything. Explain it to me like I'm a five year old who has had too much sugar.

So far, my thoughts are: I would like an enhanced engine sound and a bit of a performance upgrade and consistent power and torque through the RPM range. I doubt I will feel the need to go to 117. I feel like Stage I is a great idea, and I'm wondering if I should do Stage II. Worth the money? Too much vibration? Super fun?

And, if I do Stage II, which options would you choose and why?

What other questions should I be asking?

Thanks!! I look forward to hearing from you.

Noah

 

Congratulations on your new bike!

I own a 2018 Street Glide, so I also have an M8 engine. I am waiting for my two year warranty to expire, because I want to do a Stage 1 myself, with non-Screaming Eagle parts. Doing so will void the warranty. But, I have been fine with the performance of the stock M8, so I suggest you wait until you ride it a bit. You may decide there is no need for the Stage 1. If it is just a better sound, you can go with slip on mufflers instead of the Stage 1.

 

Mate the direction you go depends if you want warranty or not and your budget.
I would definitely go a Stage1 as it's the base for further mods,It's not engine intrusive you just need the SE stuff and away you go.
It is not the most cost effective but you've then got a tuner to go further if you want.The change you notice will be that the bike revs faster through the range , feels a little stronger.

 

Thanks!

Very cool. I'm curious why you want to go non-screaming Eagle? Better stuff? You like doing the work yourself?

 

Okay, good advice. Stage 1 seems to be the way to go to start. The Screaming Eagle stuff keeps it under warranty though, right?

 

 

Yes, I like doing the work myself and I think the aftermarket options are better than the SE stuff.

 

Welcome to the club , if I were you I would enjoy the bike first and think about what you want to do with it.

 

If you know for a fact that you want to go to Stage I or Stage II, you have two choices: aftermarket, or Screaming Eagle. If you go aftermarket, you'll get potentially better performance, but you will also be throwing your 2-year factory warranty away.

If you go with SE stuff, you will maintain your factory warranty. Additionally, if you do an SE upgrade within the first 60 days of ownership, those upgrades get added to the factory warranty, so the upgraded parts will be covered for the full two years, and will also likely be covered by your extended warranty (if you have one).

So you can:
1) leave it stock and keep your warranty for two years, and then go aftermarket if you want, or
2) go aftermarket now and throw away your warranty and your extended warranty, or
3) go with SE stuff now, maintain your warranty, and perhaps even have the upgrades covered under an extended warranty too. After the warranty is up, you can always go aftermarket if you want.

For a 114, if you want to keep the warranty, the Stage II is the best bang for the buck. Stage I does little to nothing, and Stage III doesn't give you any performance gain over a Stage II Power Cam kit. You can also go Stage IV, but it really depends on how you like to ride. Stage 2 Torque gives a big boost in roll-on power, Stage IV actually takes torque away from the stock bike but gives you a whole lot more high-RPM horsepower. The Stage II Power is about halfway between.

Going aftermarket you can do something like a FuelMoto big bore kit, which gives tremendous gains in horsepower and torque.

I have a 114 with Stage II Torque and am very happy with it. If I want more, then when the warranty is up I am leaning strongly towards the FuelMoto route.

 

+1

Dave