Bought my 09 Fatboy a few weeks back - 3rd owner but only 3500 miles. Unlike all my other past and present HDs, the fuel gauge seemed really inaccurate, as it was down in the red after only 80 miles on my first full tank of gas. Went riding today and low fuel light came on at 98 miles. We were heading up the coast highway where there are few gas stations so to be safe I stopped first and filled up. DAYUMMM! 103 miles on the odo (old habit to reset it each time) and 4.137 gallons! That's less than 25 mpg!!!!

When I got it, the PO had installed Stage 1, SE a/c, V&H Straight Shot slip ons, and a Fuelpak. I replaced the V&H (too loud for my taste) with an pair of pipes with no markings we took off my g/f's 07 - just slightly louder than stock but seem to flow much better. In fact, in the shape I first got the bike it seemed to run out of oomph really soon - I was in 6th before 60 and the g/f's bike darn near dies if you do that. New (used) pipes seemed to really wake things up, but the decel popping was terrible.

Emailed Fuelpak's Tech support with everything I knew about the set up. They sent me a map to try - programmed it last week (after recording the existing map settings) but it rained all weekend so I couldn't ride. Took it to work (easy 9 mile intown ride) one day and it seemed fine and also seemed to have woken up even more.

We only put about 90 miles on since the fill up today but the gauge is still above 1/2 and the R value on the odo is currently at 148. My guess is I'm back up to something over 40 mpg where it should be.

Moral of the story - assume the PO screwed something up and check it all out thoroughly. I went to the Fuelpak website and punched in the config of the bike when I got it. The map it recommended has settings nothing like what were on it.

And a shout out to Fuelpak Tech Support. Not only did they help me map a used unit I didn't buy from them, I asked if a FP would help the g/f's ride with Stage 1 and SE a/c but stock pipes. Tech said her bike should be running fine and don't bother buying a FP unless she puts pipes on.

 

There are still some decent people in the world, who will help you no matter what the circumstances

 

Same thing happened to me.......checked the program and the numbers weren't even close to what FP Tech Support said they should be. They sent me an email with the new programming numbers.......worked great, they are helpful. I have the printout of the program stored in my maintenance folder just in case!!!!
Glad it worked out!

 

holy crap, that thing must've been SUCKIN down the gas if you were getting ~25MPG. I didn't even think mileage that poor was even possible on a V-Twin...

 

Nice to read a thread about good service. Hat's off to V&H.

 

Yup. Seems they're getting harder and harder to find but feels good when you do.

Yep, Tech emailed me the map # (FP0770 I think but don't quote that) and I printed it out online. Super easy re-program (except when I fumble-fingered past one or two of the stages).

All in-town, slow speed, stop and go, etc. Funny thing is, I thought I smelled gas after parking in my garage. Asked the g/f, she sniffed, said nope. Now I'm thinking my sniffer was probably more accurate than hers.

Oh, and at $4.09/gal of "includes 1-10% ethanol" the mpgs felt a lot like a joint visit with a proctologist and the IRS.

I'm giving the bike a complete going over (thought I'd done that right off but obviously missed some things). I'm really worried now that one of the dang POs may have replaced the approved H-D Screamin' Eagle tire air with some off brand junk.

 

Yikes.

 

So Ur GF's bike has the SE A/C only and Ur calling that stg1..





.

 

Nope. If you'll read my post I believe you'll see that I said her bike has both the Stage 1 and a SE a/c. That was confirmed by the dealer who did the work for the original owner. It also had the pipes I now have on my bike when she bought it.

So here it is real slow for you:
Aftermarket pipes, since removed
SE a/c, still on the bike
Stage 1 download from the dealership.

FuelPak tech advises no additional value given the current configuration would be gained by adding a Fuelpak.