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I just bought a nice "new to me" 2008 heritage classic with 20k on the odometer. Bike is bone stock and looks like it came off the showroom floor. It had the normal slight decelerations pop that all the EPA bikes have, and I did NOT like it. So like the op, I chose to go with just a mild stage one upgrade. Nothing fancy. K&N high flow A/C using the stock football cover (fully open in the back), and stock exhaust. I'll be honest, and say that I immediately felt a difference. The throttle response was crisper, and there was absolutely no decelerations pop. Contrary to popular belief, my MPG actually appears to have gotten better. Only problem I had was installing an external breather system, but that was easily fixed with some good advice from DK Custom. OH, ALMOST FORGOT. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS INSTALL THE FUEL MOTO POWER COMMANDER 2, so that probably made the biggest difference.
To me my opinion, intake filter, exhaust of your choice, cam either Andrews 48 or Screaming Eagle 204s, and change the rear sprocket to a 70 tooth. Bike with be completely different animal.
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