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Is this normal?????

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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 05:03 PM
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Default Is this normal?????

Do Softails shake Slightly at idle when hot .
I have a 09 fxst with 20000 KMS the clock and I've noticed it shakes slightly at ide when hot . Also alot of decel pop and poor fuel economy....small tap which is intermittent from primary and she seems to get quite hot....any clues.

It's all quite subtle and it still rides well
She's under exttended warranty as I got It used from Harley heaven about 6 months ago and IV only put 2000 on her.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 05:30 PM
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Hot is normal for a Harley.
Decel pop depends on the exhaust you are running and is quite normal normal.
Can't say about the shaking without feeling it in person. My 08 Heritage shakes very little at idle compared to my 16 Ultra.
Poor fuel mileage depends on many factors: how you ride, do you have a tuner, hi-flow air cleaner, cats, exhaust, etc.
Can you define 'poor' milage.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by YZR
Hot is normal for a Harley.
Decel pop depends on the exhaust you are running and is quite normal normal.
Can't say about the shaking without feeling it in person. My 08 Heritage shakes very little at idle compared to my 16 Ultra.
Poor fuel mileage depends on many factors: how you ride, do you have a tuner, hi-flow air cleaner, cats, exhaust, etc.
Can you define 'poor' milage.
So it's completely stock and I get about 200 kms or 120-130 miles per tank.
It back fires/ Decel pop the moment I let off the gass unless but I can ride in a fashion that stops it ...it feels hesitant and doesn't feel like it accelerates quite like it did. Also iv noticed the pipes are very sooty.

Starting to think it could be a slowly deteriorating coil maybe?

I mainly doin highway kms on it and I try not to be too aggressive around town co it's my only transport.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Xristopher
So it's completely stock and I get about 200 kms or 120-130 miles per tank.
that's like 26 mpg.
on a stock engine...and most miles are hi-way to boot?? that's terrible mileage.
with the other stuff you have going on, I'd get it checked out (assuming your warranty will cover it?)

..L.T.A.


 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Cap77
that's like 26 mpg.
on a stock engine...and most miles are hi-way to boot?? that's terrible mileage.
with the other stuff you have going on, I'd get it checked out (assuming your warranty will cover it?)

..L.T.A.
Hopefully they will find something...it's imported to Australia from America so it sat on a ship at some point.. Just wondering weather it's electronic or maybe the injectors clogged as it sat without being started for a while in the showroom. Its always had less fuel economy then it should and decel poped a fair bit.. sooty pipes etc.
Perhaps a tuning thing. I run premium 98. Said it cleans engines and gives better fuel economy....I'm stumped....it starts every timeReally hoping the dealer doesn't screw me over when I bought 3 year extended warranty
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Xristopher
Hopefully they will find something...it's imported to Australia from America so it sat on a ship at some point.. Just wondering weather it's electronic or maybe the injectors clogged as it sat without being started for a while in the showroom. Its always had less fuel economy then it should and decel poped a fair bit.. sooty pipes etc.
Perhaps a tuning thing. I run premium 98. Said it cleans engines and gives better fuel economy....I'm stumped....it starts every timeReally hoping the dealer doesn't screw me over when I bought 3 year extended warranty

Who told you that......?? I suspect is someone trying to sell you 98 octane, or some gas additives..... that smells of marketing hogwash...

Octane, most basically, allows you to tune with more spark advance, without detonation...

If you have a well tuned engine, running in the proper gear..... if it's tuned on 91 octane, you can get serious detonation under certain conditions if you run 89 octane. If you run higher octane, you will get no benefit... no "cleaning" and no "better mileage"...
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by hattitude
Who told you that......?? I suspect is someone trying to sell you 98 octane, or some gas additives..... that smells of marketing hogwash...

Octane, most basically, allows you to tune with more spark advance, without detonation...

If you have a well tuned engine, running in the proper gear..... if it's tuned on 91 octane, you can get serious detonation under certain conditions if you run 89 octane. If you run higher octane, you will get no benefit... no "cleaning" and no "better mileage"...
It's this BP ultimate stuff that is in sold at most service stations...it's basically just premium that claims to reduce engine gunk.... guy at the dealership said only run premium so i just put in the premium fuel... weather it's BP or she'll premium.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2022 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Xristopher
It's this BP ultimate stuff that is in sold at most service stations...it's basically just premium that claims to reduce engine gunk.... guy at the dealership said only run premium so i just put in the premium fuel... weather it's BP or she'll premium.
My bad..... I just noticed you are in Austrailia.... OOPs...

I was commenting specifically about the octane number of 98 you mentioned.....

In the states, we use the (R+M)/2 octane rating, which is the average of the RON (research octane number) and the MON (motor octane number).... Our normal premium fuel is 91 octane... but there are some higher octane fuels available, in different parts of our country... I thought you were referring to one of those higher than average premium octane fuels...

I'm not sure how you figure/label octane down under... So if your normal premium fuel is rated as 98 octane, then that is the appropriate fuel to use for you...

I'm sorry if I confused things...
 
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Old Apr 26, 2022 | 01:05 AM
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Originally Posted by hattitude
My bad..... I just noticed you are in Austrailia.... OOPs...

I was commenting specifically about the octane number of 98 you mentioned.....

In the states, we use the (R+M)/2 octane rating, which is the average of the RON (research octane number) and the MON (motor octane number).... Our normal premium fuel is 91 octane... but there are some higher octane fuels available, in different parts of our country... I thought you were referring to one of those higher than average premium octane fuels...

I'm not sure how you figure/label octane down under... So if your normal premium fuel is rated as 98 octane, then that is the appropriate fuel to use for you...

I'm sorry if I confused things...
All gd mate.
It is an American import... you think it may be tuned for lower octane?.. would it matter?.
I'm legitimately stumped...I remember a guy telling me that back in the day people used to Run street rod V8s on avgass and it made them run sooty as hell. Not quite sure if it's applicable in the this instance.. if it is the fuel .. could the thick soot layer have coated an o2 sensor?
 
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Old Apr 26, 2022 | 04:24 AM
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Your exhaust pipes are black and very low m.p.g. indicate running way to rich!!
You need a tune-up or one of the sensors on your bike isn't doing it's job.
Your premium gas is the right one to use!!
Changing octane won't help your problem.
It's under warranty, have it looked at!! Your already paying for it.
 
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