The Stage I download is generally "good enough" for swapping the air cleaner and adding exhaust. Although you might still notice some decel popping or other undesireable behavior. But they are a generic map so that is to be expected since every bike will perform a tin bit different even if two are setup identically.

There are lots of fuel managment and tuning products out there that will get you tuned as good as, or better than a Stage I download. Prices vary as do opinions of their effectiveness and on their performance output.

The SERT is a great tool but may not be the best decision for everyone. The SERT is great if you know you are going to do a lot of performance parts over time. You can get every ounce of power out of a bike using a SERT combined with a well trained tuner and dyno. But that comes at a cost as the SERT is one of the more expense options out there. Another benefit of the SERT is not having to find a place to install it on the bike. Some of the other tuners/fuelers available out there require them to be installed on the bike which can be frustrating and difficult under some circumstances.

If you just want your Stage I bike to run well and produce max power as is, one of the aftermarket tuners or fuelers might be the best option for you. If you plan on turning your stocker into a monster bike, or even just plan on a cam change, 95", 103" kit, etc, the SERT might be a good choice. It will max out performance for you now and be able to adjust for those mods down the road.

 

I ride an 06 Softail Standard, stage 1 download, SE air cleaner, and V&H big radius. No problems at all here with performance, decel popping is seldom and barely noticeable. Ive been considering a V&H fuel pac, but im having a tough time getting off of the cash because the bike runs good.

 

Ok so what is a sert then if you don't install it? Is it a device that you hook up but disconnect when done reprogramming? Is it just a software program? What IS the SERT?

 

SERT= Screaming Eagle Race Tuner.
The SERT is a device that you hook to the ECM's data port in your bike and with the software that comes with itallows you to reprogram the maps in it.
When your done, you unplug it and put it away for the next time you need or want it.
It also 'marries' itself to the serial number in the ECM the first time you use it and will not function on any other bike after that.

 

Thundermax sucks. I went that way once and I had to become a bike tuner for about 2 weeks before I sent it back for my money. It does not really auto tune! Like I said I almost had to retune every ride to make the motor run even ok. My 07 couldnt accept the Thundermax, and I went with the pc111. Now everything seems to be just fine.

 

Wingnut- I've got a question. How old were your pipes on your bike when pics were taken for the sig? By the looks of the tips, they seem quite tan in color and look lean in tune. I thought that mostly, colors were light grey to almost black in varience? Just a question for you and would like some feedback from 'ya and others. Thanks.

 

I read your post and had to go out to the garage to take a look. At the time the pic was taken the pipes were about a week old. The pic does make them look a little tan in color. The tips have a greyish blackcolor to them now. Before the Big Radius I was running a set of S&S slip ons, for about a year. When I pulled them off the tips were grey black also. Im gonna pull the plugs today and have a look. Im no expert on this subject by any means, and like I said, the bike runs great. I will invest in a fuel management system if I need to.

 

Depending on what you want to do is what you should purchase. The SERT is the best bet that I have come across. I had an 06 fatboy with a thundermax on it and I kept blowing up fuel pumps. The thing I dont like about them is that they piggy back the ecm. The sert just reprograms the system and that is why I think it works better and in the long run you wont have any problems.

 

If the fuel managment system that was in that bike was a piggy back system, then it wasn't a Thundermax. The Tmax completely replaces the original ECM, the PCIII and the V&H Fuel Pac are piggy back setups.
And your right the SERT doesn't replace things, it just allows youreplacethe maps in the stock ECM with one of your own choosing. There is no way (at present) to modify an installed map. If you want to change what's in there,you have tocompletely replace it with a newone.