Just purchased my first HD, an '07 Softail Custom, due to be delivered next week. I've been reading these forums for a few weeks now and can't figure out what you folks are tlkaing about when you use the phrase "stage 1" - WTF?

 

The Stage 1 is when you change out the stock air filter with the Stage I Screaming Eagle air kit. It changes the backplate, filter, etc. which allows more air flow to the engine. This is usually done in addition to adding new exhaust system or slip on mufflers. These mods should be accompanied by a new ECM Download from the dealer, or a fuel managment system such as a PCIII, SERT, or DFO.

Good luck and welcome to the madness...

 

The first step to making your wallet empty-- hahaha!!! There are many helpful posts to help you with your upgrades here, if you choose. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

Congrats on your new bike. Hopefully you'll be one of the very, VERY few that don't have to bitch about how freakin' hot the 2007 engines are or have the obnoxious 5th gear "chatter." The odds are extremely good that you will end up like the most of us here who have become all too familiar w/the term "Stage 1"- we'd all heard about it before but few knew what it actually meant. Thanks to the 2007 bikes we ALL know NOW.

Don't sweat any of this now. Wait until you get your bike, ride it for a bit to see what you think. Then if you notice any issues with heat, 5th gear noise, etc, this is a good place to look more deeply. If I didn't have my bike yet, I'd run from this Forum because it's very depressing initially. A lot of us have had to investan additional (hefty) chunk of change to get our NEW bikes running like they should have come from the factory.

Hope the "WTF" in your post doesn't mean that your dealership neglected to tell you about the hot-running engines or the all-too-prevalent 5th gear chatter. My guess is you didn't find out about that until reading this forum - like a lot of us!

Again, congrats on the new bike and hope all works out well.

 

New owner here too, just got a 07 Fat Boy,

I just rode it home from the dealer in heavy traffic so I haven't had a chance to see how she really goes.

Today I will get to put on a couple hundred miles on, so hopefully I will enjoy every one of them.[8D]

 

Thanx for the input. Any other tidbits of advice?

 

None other than ride the heck out of it, enjoy it, love it, and treat it as well if not better than you do your own wife.

 

From memory you're a Sydney boy ain't ya? How's the new bike going? I was gonna go for a ride up North with the Sydney HOG group yesterday but the bottle or two I drank of vodka at Karaoke the night before disagreed with me on Sunday morning Hope you got a bit more riding in on the weekend than I did!

DeanO

 

Treat the bike better. With the help of a good bike, you can always get yourself another old lady. The reversw is seldom true.

 

Can't really argue with that kinda logic

DeanO