I'm sure this was spoken about a milliom times on here but I am getting ready to purchase a 2009 flstn & want to put vance and hines or samson pipes on it.What will I have to do a remap,power commander,or can I just change the pipes.This fuel injection is all new to me I am used to rejetting thanks for all your help I hope I don't become a pain in the *** but like I said this is all new to me thanks again Anthony.

 

Put V&H Big Shots on mine with no other changes.

I have been thinking about adding a stage 1 intake upgrade and maybe the new Power Commander V.

If you leave the air intake stock, you should be ok. That's what most have said

 

Do you find that the bike runs hot that is what people have told me.I don't know what to think others say just change the pipes and you will be fine.(very confused)

 

For few more bucks, add a Screamin Eagle low restiction filter and a Vance & Hines Fuel Pak and for a complete upgrade a pair of XIED'S
Butt Dyno will be very happy!

 

To people who are used to older (EVO or carbed mostly) bikes the 07's and up do run a bit 'warmer'. Its because of the EPA regulations requiring certain standards and the ability of a fuel injected bike to run leaner.
Putting on pipes alone shouldn't change anything as the O2 sensors will tell the ECM (it does have a very limited self adjustment range) to richen up the mixture a bit.
But once you start making changes to the intake you basically screw up the ECM's understanding of exactly how much air (by volume) is getting in. Its original program (map) is based on a 'standard' that the factory put in there. All of its fuel air ratio calculations are based on the original factory intakes volumetric efficency.

The MAP (manifold air pressure) sensor in the intake and the TPS (throttle position sensor) along with the intake temperature sensor tell the ECM the volume of air that "SHOULD" be going into the engine (it really doesn't 'know'). So it bases all of its AFR (air fuel ratio) calculations on that 'known' standard.

Changing the intake so it breaths better artificially lowers the MAP sensor readings sent to the ECM so it 'thinks' there is less air going in when in fact the opposite is true thus makeing a lean running engine even leaner.

Once that happens you are forced to look for ways to either modify its output signals to the injectors (like with a PCIII or Fuelpac), reprogram it to a different 'standard' (like with a SERT) or outright replace it for a different system (like a Thundermax).

Just changing the exhaust generally doesn't have much if any effect on the ECM's ability to work properly. Because no matter how good an exhaust system is it can't make the the engine breath in more than a very small percentage better without a radical change (increasing the over lap time) in valve timing. And if the air can't get in, little if anything changes for the AFR.

Sorry for the lecture, but maybe it will help some of the new guys understand the system a little better.

BTW They gave up this system in cars a long time ago in favor of a MASS sensor based system that actually measures the volume of air getting in instead of guessing and adjusts the AFR accordingly. That's why you can mess around with a cars intake without having all the problems that we have do deal with on our bikes MAP based systems.

 

+1 to what Cito said

in general if you want to benifit more from higher flow exhaust you need to let the engine breath better, ie higher air intake. Once you change the air intake you will need to change the ECM.

Concerning the ECM you are starting a whole long argument what is better SERT/PC/and all the other systems.
IMHO I would go PowerCommander. Since you are talking about a 2009 softail you will need the PC V. Which is out now since mid-December 08. (no idea what happened to PC IV). PC V is a heap small than the good old PC III and will actually fit under the seat of most softails. (I have and FLSTC and used to have to mount the PC III behind the mud guard, on my new 2009 FLSTC it actually fits under the seat again.)

 

I would spring for the SE Super Tuner and an air cleaner (HD OR aftermarket) to go with those pipes.

The bike won't run so lean and you'll squeeze a little more power out of it by dialing it in for maximum performance.

 

+1 also to what cito said

 

Mordrapheus;
Thanks for the correction, I forgot the PC V is avalable now.

And I couldn't agree more about the "SERT/PC/and all the other systems" thing.
That's why I left it the way I did. I see no need to start ANOTHER cat/dog fight over which setup is better.
Its been gone over far too many times for my taste.
Suffice it to say that if your just going to putter along and not fool with the engines internals. Nearly any of the add-on systems, like the PC V will do the job just fine.
But if your planning on doing any major engine mods down the road. Then the more expensive and complicated setups like the SERT or whole unit replacements like the Thundermax start to make a lot more sense.

 

I have a 2008 Fat Boy FLSTF. My choice for mufflers will be the Rush 2.0 slip on's and Stage 1 A/C.
I am trying to decide on which EFI module to go with before I make my purchase from Jamie at FuelMoto.
My choices are in order of preference:
1. Power Commander 5 ( Not sure about adding Auto Tune or not)
2. Thundermax
3. SERT
Talking to my local HD performance shop ( not a HD dealer), they lean towards the SERT. I am not sure if the SERT and Thundermax will be more than I need as I do not plan any other modifications. I plan to install myself, except SERT and Dyno of course.
I am grasping alot from this forum, but I just can't make up my mind.