Forty Eight.... really??
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 265
Likes: 96
From: RSA
I bought mine with that exact set up and it was always a surging/ jerky ride at steady state throttle. You're right, it was like a guy just learning how to ride. I tried different tunes and adjustments from V&H on the fuel pack. nothing helped. I tried the fuel pack with the stock exhaust, same surging. Tried IED's, same thing. I read somewhere about the closed loop algorithms causing surging which is why I went with Fuel Moto's Micro EFI. It's a piggy back fuel only controller but it disconnects the O2 sensors so no closed loop.
Their initial tune was OK but I manually fine tuned over time and got rid of all the surging and it runs great.
If you really like the short shots then I would suggest trying the Micro EFI or go full bore and get the Power Vision Tuner. It has auto tune features that you can use to fine tune and flash your ECU, I think you can also program it to ignore the o2 sensors of you want.
Their initial tune was OK but I manually fine tuned over time and got rid of all the surging and it runs great.
If you really like the short shots then I would suggest trying the Micro EFI or go full bore and get the Power Vision Tuner. It has auto tune features that you can use to fine tune and flash your ECU, I think you can also program it to ignore the o2 sensors of you want.
Last edited by JWCFatboy; Dec 25, 2018 at 02:53 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 1,997
From: Eastern,North Carolina
as to the harshness of the ride, I went with Progressive 412 shocks. 12.5" I think. I went with the longer than stock shocks because they came with softer springs. Made a world of difference.
There are even better options out there, but the 412's knocked the edge off enough for me.
There are even better options out there, but the 412's knocked the edge off enough for me.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 468
From: shore of Gitche Gumee
Dyno jet Power Vision did the trick for my 2012 1200custom
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,259
Likes: 523
From: USA
Yes, Sportster OEM suspension many regard as not great, including myself. Treat it as a rigid frame.
Not smooth below 2500 rpm is concerning, that does not seem right.
On warranty? Check swing arm bolts, motors mount, eg: the critical fasteners from the workshop manual.
Many concur an air/ fuel tune, intake and pipes "smooth out" an engine.
Next mention of nervousness, longer shocks, 200 width tire. Wider 200 tire is a major modification.
IMO You are going "down the rabbit hole" of customizing and it's your choice.
Good luck.
Not smooth below 2500 rpm is concerning, that does not seem right.
On warranty? Check swing arm bolts, motors mount, eg: the critical fasteners from the workshop manual.
Many concur an air/ fuel tune, intake and pipes "smooth out" an engine.
Next mention of nervousness, longer shocks, 200 width tire. Wider 200 tire is a major modification.
IMO You are going "down the rabbit hole" of customizing and it's your choice.
Good luck.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4,032
From: San Diego, CA
It appears a more precise description of "not smooth" is actually a "surging" sensation at those RPMs. This seems somewhat common with EFI bikes, which a proper tune should solve, perhaps needing an aftermarket tuner or dealer reflash of the ECM.
John
John
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
You're finding that the Sportster is a completely different animal then pretty much all the other bikes. Only thing it has in common is the brand name. With that said, I like my bikes with power in the upper rpm range vs the bigger bikes. I also like that I don't feel like a midget while riding my Sporty. People say the Sporty is small,..but at 550lbs I disagree. Small compared to a 750lb Fat Boy,....I'll give you that. That doesn't mean I don't like the big bikes. I'd love to have one as a 2nd bike.
You really cannot compare the 2.
The Sporty does seem to be less forgiving when you start installing crapy components,...like short pipes. I changed from short pipes to a quality 2 into 1 and saw a dramatic improvement in low end tq and 1st/2nd gear light to light (lower rpms/cruising).
As for suspension,...yeah,...get ready to dump about $800-$1000 (parts alone) into front and rear if you want it to feel anything like a dialed in big bike. A good seat does wonders as well. Good as in good for you,..not just name brand. Width, padding, shape.
You really cannot compare the 2.
The Sporty does seem to be less forgiving when you start installing crapy components,...like short pipes. I changed from short pipes to a quality 2 into 1 and saw a dramatic improvement in low end tq and 1st/2nd gear light to light (lower rpms/cruising).
As for suspension,...yeah,...get ready to dump about $800-$1000 (parts alone) into front and rear if you want it to feel anything like a dialed in big bike. A good seat does wonders as well. Good as in good for you,..not just name brand. Width, padding, shape.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 265
Likes: 96
From: RSA
Not smooth below 2500 rpm is concerning, that does not seem right.
On warranty? Check swing arm bolts, motors mount, eg: the critical fasteners from the workshop manual.
Many concur an air/ fuel tune, intake and pipes "smooth out" an engine.
Next mention of nervousness, longer shocks, 200 width tire. Wider 200 tire is a major modification.
IMO You are going "down the rabbit hole" of customizing and it's your choice.
Good luck.
On warranty? Check swing arm bolts, motors mount, eg: the critical fasteners from the workshop manual.
Many concur an air/ fuel tune, intake and pipes "smooth out" an engine.
Next mention of nervousness, longer shocks, 200 width tire. Wider 200 tire is a major modification.
IMO You are going "down the rabbit hole" of customizing and it's your choice.
Good luck.
I agree on the 200 tire and the rabbit hole.... but the thin 150 looks rather silly....
I have a few bikes in the garage including a BMW R Nine T 1200.... it is silky smooth compared to the Sportster and has zero issue pulling the bike in 6th from "low" revs... I just thought the Sportsters of yesteryear had soft suspensions and the motors were smooth (and I'm not talking vibrations here....) - maybe I'm confused with some other HD I had way back...
Last edited by JWCFatboy; Dec 26, 2018 at 11:52 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 265
Likes: 96
From: RSA
Thanks John. Ran a few different maps already.... it is currently the best I can get it. The culprit may be the V&H combination of pipe, FP3 and intake...
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 265
Likes: 96
From: RSA
You're finding that the Sportster is a completely different animal then pretty much all the other bikes. Only thing it has in common is the brand name. With that said, I like my bikes with power in the upper rpm range vs the bigger bikes. I also like that I don't feel like a midget while riding my Sporty. People say the Sporty is small,..but at 550lbs I disagree. Small compared to a 750lb Fat Boy,....I'll give you that. That doesn't mean I don't like the big bikes. I'd love to have one as a 2nd bike.
You really cannot compare the 2.
The Sporty does seem to be less forgiving when you start installing crapy components,...like short pipes. I changed from short pipes to a quality 2 into 1 and saw a dramatic improvement in low end tq and 1st/2nd gear light to light (lower rpms/cruising).
As for suspension,...yeah,...get ready to dump about $800-$1000 (parts alone) into front and rear if you want it to feel anything like a dialed in big bike. A good seat does wonders as well. Good as in good for you,..not just name brand. Width, padding, shape.
You really cannot compare the 2.
The Sporty does seem to be less forgiving when you start installing crapy components,...like short pipes. I changed from short pipes to a quality 2 into 1 and saw a dramatic improvement in low end tq and 1st/2nd gear light to light (lower rpms/cruising).
As for suspension,...yeah,...get ready to dump about $800-$1000 (parts alone) into front and rear if you want it to feel anything like a dialed in big bike. A good seat does wonders as well. Good as in good for you,..not just name brand. Width, padding, shape.
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