Performance upgrade suggestions please!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 55
From: Londonderry, NH
Ok so here we go. 2011 heritage, stock 96" with stage 1 (ac and fishtails). I am absolutely disappointed in the power this bike makes. I know fishtails aren't known for power but hey, I like em. Anyway, it just seems like I have very sluggish acceleration at speed (6th gear, passing cars) It just seems very doggy. My night train with a stock carbed 88" will absolutely walk all over my heritage. I ride 2 up the majority of the time, I take long trips with this bike frequently.
I have been quoted a price on a 107" upgrade with head work, cams, and stuff that seemed reasonable.
What would you guys suggest for my riding style. I absolutely require reliability over hot rod speed. But it just seems that it currently doesn't have enough to make me happy. wait, im never happy hahahha
I have been quoted a price on a 107" upgrade with head work, cams, and stuff that seemed reasonable.
What would you guys suggest for my riding style. I absolutely require reliability over hot rod speed. But it just seems that it currently doesn't have enough to make me happy. wait, im never happy hahahha
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
+1. You dont have to spend thousands to get these bikes to run really well. Have seen 48's in 96's get ~100tq.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Allendale, Mi
One of the bikes I ride with, 2010 fat boy, just installed a Andrews 37h cam and now he walks away from the two 2013 street glides in our group. We all have stage 1 equipped bikes and ride mostly 2 up. I am saving coin for my next two upgrades which are the Andrews 21h or 37h and a shotgun shock.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 6
From: Boston
How do you know if the stage one is correctly matched to the bike?
Do you need a dyno tune for that.
I have a V&H Drak AC and V&H side Shots with removable baffles. Well I made them removable. But they are currently in because I dont feel like getting arrested.
Had a F&H fuel pak but my indy said get rid of it so its gone and sold. I bought a power commander with rev xtend, but never installed it because I honestly have no room for it under my seat or anywhere else on my bike. So its for sale, brand new in package! Ill make a thread soon.
Do you need a dyno tune for that.
I have a V&H Drak AC and V&H side Shots with removable baffles. Well I made them removable. But they are currently in because I dont feel like getting arrested.
Had a F&H fuel pak but my indy said get rid of it so its gone and sold. I bought a power commander with rev xtend, but never installed it because I honestly have no room for it under my seat or anywhere else on my bike. So its for sale, brand new in package! Ill make a thread soon.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
How do you know if the stage one is correctly matched to the bike?
Do you need a dyno tune for that.
I have a V&H Drak AC and V&H side Shots with removable baffles. Well I made them removable. But they are currently in because I dont feel like getting arrested.
Had a F&H fuel pak but my indy said get rid of it so its gone and sold. I bought a power commander with rev xtend, but never installed it because I honestly have no room for it under my seat or anywhere else on my bike. So its for sale, brand new in package! Ill make a thread soon.
Do you need a dyno tune for that.
I have a V&H Drak AC and V&H side Shots with removable baffles. Well I made them removable. But they are currently in because I dont feel like getting arrested.
Had a F&H fuel pak but my indy said get rid of it so its gone and sold. I bought a power commander with rev xtend, but never installed it because I honestly have no room for it under my seat or anywhere else on my bike. So its for sale, brand new in package! Ill make a thread soon.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Here's my stock 07, 96''er, With Rush muffs installed and SE filter before tuned.
Here's my Stg1, Rush 2'' muffs, SE/AC, SERT, Andrews 26's after dyno tune
Completely different ride after the cams...More TQ now at 2k than she made MAXIMUN in stock form...
Thinking all You need are some good low-mid cams running TD's.. Lots of Happy Andrews 21's and 26's in the 96''ers..
There are lots of others to pick from, If you are wanting to Squeeze every TQ you can get, then they are Not the best for racing in the high rpm, but as good as any for the 1800-4000 rpms.. Plus I chose the 26's because they are really easy on the motor while giving good performance and are not hard to tune..
Intake Close is what you need to look for if only doing a Bolt in cam..
Most cams that close between 30*-35* will give good results.
Just research and looked at the reccomemded rpm range and get one were your want you TQ to be..
I mostly run between 2000 and 3000 on the road,, which is the sweet spot for my 26's..
Here's my Stg1, Rush 2'' muffs, SE/AC, SERT, Andrews 26's after dyno tune
Completely different ride after the cams...More TQ now at 2k than she made MAXIMUN in stock form...
Thinking all You need are some good low-mid cams running TD's.. Lots of Happy Andrews 21's and 26's in the 96''ers..
There are lots of others to pick from, If you are wanting to Squeeze every TQ you can get, then they are Not the best for racing in the high rpm, but as good as any for the 1800-4000 rpms.. Plus I chose the 26's because they are really easy on the motor while giving good performance and are not hard to tune..
Intake Close is what you need to look for if only doing a Bolt in cam..
Most cams that close between 30*-35* will give good results.
Just research and looked at the reccomemded rpm range and get one were your want you TQ to be..
I mostly run between 2000 and 3000 on the road,, which is the sweet spot for my 26's..
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 22
Doggy style
I had the same situation on my 011 Fatboy. Was coming off a 95" hot rod Road Glide and was pretty disappointed. Went with cams, air cleaner, pipes, and Power Comander. Wasted 2Gs is all I did because it didn't do a whole bunch. Another thing trying to pass in 6th gear is a waste of gas even when hopped up unless you go big. I think the best bang without mortgaging your house is: bump up to a 103"(pistons are much cheaper than a 107 and you'll have enough meat for another bore) with 10 to 10.5 to 1 compression; mild street port heads with compression releases; CR 575 cams; keep your fishtails but know they'll cost you some in power; keep your air cleaner; and a great tuner to tie the upgrades together. Unless you change your gearing and even then 6th gear passing is good for down hill only. These bikes are geared way too high. I usually don't get out of 5th gear till 65 even with my 107. I have a 11 Fatboy with a 124 motor(over 10Gs in cost with all the upgrades to support added HP) and a 08 Crossbones with a 107 that I'm still using stock components on but know a clutch is in my future and that has most of the above mentioned upgrades on the motor.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
A few week ago i added the Thundermax & a set of S&S 583 Easy Start cams to my 2008, 96ci Heritage Softail. It also has a Stage 1 intake with a K&N filter and Vance & Hines slip-ons. It now has 81hp with 95 flbs of torque. After riding it now for a week, i still can't seem to get the smile off my face. This combination really woke up my 96ci motor and gave it the ability to pull 6th gear like it was meant to be able too. After riding this for a few weeks now i'm extremely impressed with the mid-range power these cams are making. It's like a totally different bike. I smile now when i pull away from my riding buddy on his 103. I Have a feeling he'll be doing something to his very soon. lol
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