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I have an 07 Softail Standard, I want to do a stage 1 a/c upgrade. I already have the SE slip-ons installed. Do I have to do a Power Commander? Or is there download that I can have HD service do? I have called a copule shops in my area, One tells me they ONLY do Power Commanders, that there is NOT a download from HD. Then the other HD shop tells me that they have a download and that it would be up to me if I wanted to do the down load or the Power Commander..... I would rather do the Download. I am not planning on doing any other engine mods until I have too. SO which dealer is telling me the TRUTH? Thanks for your reply's
My personal preference was to leave the ECU completly stock, and allow a fuel management computer do the computations. I went with a FuelPak because of my choice of pipes. (Both being a V&H product).
I am hearing on here that you can end up in no-man's land if (any) dealer starts downloading into your ECU. You pay each time for that download; which may be only once, or additional times if you want something tweaked later on. As soon as you go for that second download, you exceed your break-even point for buying a fuel handler in the first place.
The first dealer you spoke with may have a bad taste in his mouth dealing with repeat customers who are coming back for second or third tweaks; all trying to get them for free because of not being satisfied with their original download. (this is that no-man's land I was speaking about). This may have been why this first dealer said he did only PC.
Thanks Poorboy for your info! I can see what you mean about break-even if I had to go back for a second tweak. It's just that I am not thinking of doing any other mods until a can save enough for a stage II upgrade, By then I would probably be doing diffrent pipes and can see doing a fuel managment pak. I will probably ask the dealer for some kind of written statement, (if that's even possible to get that out of them... [sm=bicker.gif]). Saying that if there is any mechanical problem that they are to fix it. (good luck on that one right...).
Based on the changes you are making to your bikeI would highly recommend that youspend a few bucks and put a SERT (Screaming Eagle Race Tuner) on it. If you try to do it on the cheap, your bike will run like crap and be popping/backfiring, etc. I see new bikes like that all the time. $18-20,000 bike poppin and spittin and can't keep up. Go rob a bank or something and do it right, especially ifyou want to eventually go to a Stage II. Just my .02. and I could be wrong but that is what I did to my bike and it runs excellent, very strong with no snap, crackle or pop!
From my experience. I originally went with a download when I added my V&H pipes. It was a mistake and I ended up buying a SERT. Consequently the download was like throwing money away.Buy the tuner and don't waste your money on a download.
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