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After riding Harleys for 10 years now I added a 2016 Forty Eight Sportster. I started off with a 2008 883, then bought a 2009 1200 Sportster, a 2009 Rocker C then I got a Wide Glide, a 2013 Breakout and a current 2015 Fatboy. I find the Forty Eight harsh / hard.... the suspension is poor! (front and back) The bike feels unstable - especially when the tarmac is a little rough... so I guess it is fair to say it does not feel very planted?? Lastly the engine is not smooth below 2500 rpm.... very un-Harley! A disappointing little bike IMHO... Unless I own a lemon made very late on a Friday afternoon....
I have replaced the rear shocks with a pair of old "used" ones to see if more travel will help... I'm thinking of fitting a 200 rear wheel... if this will help with the nervousness?? Or swapping it for an Indian Scout....
I like mine fine, configured as in my sig.
Much smoother running and handles fine. It will never be a long haul comfortable bike but for under 2 hr rides it's perfect.
Get rid of the short shots, go with some slip ons or quality 2 into 1 and install a tuner that gets rid or turns off the O2 sensors and it will be much smoother .
I had Short shots and V&H fuel pack tuner and could never get it to run nice under 3000 rpm.
Last edited by awilson40; Dec 25, 2018 at 11:07 AM.
The entire Sportster line could use a suspension make over. A proper tune will cure any rough running. Anyone that thinks the Sportster line has good suspension, needs to ride other brands and see what good suspension feels like. I love Sportsters and Harley.
I really feel that if Harley stopped trying to sell bikes by changing styles, and first focused on suspension and braking, then style, they would be better off.
I don't think running below 2500 RPM is good for the Sportster engine, you're lugging it. Your bike is sending you a message, listen to it. At lower RPMs you are putting a lot of stress on the lower end bearings. Not good in the long run.
Your big Fatboy engine will lope along at those RPM's, but no bueno on the Sportster engine. Keep those RPM's at 3000-4000 for a happy motor. It's not designed to plod along like the big twins, keep her revved up and happy!
Check into Ohlins for shocks (I think there's a recent post), or DK Accessories on this forum offers excellent products too! I think you're across the pond, so shipping from Fortress Amerika may be prohibitively expensive. Suspension is a common complaint.
John
Last edited by John Harper; Dec 25, 2018 at 11:55 AM.
I like mine fine, configured as in my sig.
Much smoother running and handles fine. It will never be a long haul comfortable bike but for under 2 hr rides it's perfect.
Get rid of the short shots, go with some slip ons or quality 2 into 1 and install a tuner that gets rid or turns off the O2 sensors and it will be much smoother .
I had Short shots and V&H fuel pack tuner and could never get it to run nice under 3000 rpm.
Very interesting info regarding the short shots and the FP3.... I thought this was quality stuff?? The bike has both.... What other tuner is there apart from the V&H FP3?
I like mine fine, configured as in my sig.
Much smoother running and handles fine. It will never be a long haul comfortable bike but for under 2 hr rides it's perfect.
Get rid of the short shots, go with some slip ons or quality 2 into 1 and install a tuner that gets rid or turns off the O2 sensors and it will be much smoother .
I had Short shots and V&H fuel pack tuner and could never get it to run nice under 3000 rpm.
Originally Posted by John Harper
I don't think running below 2500 RPM is good for the Sportster engine, you're lugging it. Your bike is sending you a message, listen to it. At lower RPMs you are putting a lot of stress on the lower end bearings. Not good in the long run.
Your big Fatboy engine will lope along at those RPM's, but no bueno on the Sportster engine. Keep those RPM's at 3000-4000 for a happy motor. It's not designed to plod along like the big twins, keep her revved up and happy!
Check into Ohlins for shocks (I think there's a recent post), or DK Accessories on this forum offers excellent products too! I think you're across the pond, so shipping from Fortress Amerika may be prohibitively expensive. Suspension is a common complaint.
John
Thanks John.... I do not "lug" the motor... I'm talking 1st / 2nd gear in traffic.... Taking it above 3000 rpm "sounds" like a person practicing to ride (I've been riding 54 years now... yea I'm an old guy!! ) Needles to say I'm FRUSTRATED with the Sportster issues. I really feel HD has/is let the rider public down with the 48... it is expensive over here!! It needs a suspension right out of the box!!
Very interesting info regarding the short shots and the FP3.... I thought this was quality stuff?? The bike has both.... What other tuner is there apart from the V&H FP3?
The items you mention are good quaility items. But if the wrong tune is put into the bike, you will have issues.
I would try other tunes or run it in auto tune for awhile and install that, it may clear up your issues.
Very interesting info regarding the short shots and the FP3.... I thought this was quality stuff?? The bike has both.... What other tuner is there apart from the V&H FP3?
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.
The items you mention are good quaility items. But if the wrong tune is put into the bike, you will have issues.
I would try other tunes or run it in auto tune for awhile and install that, it may clear up your issues.
Thanks! After messing around with some stock maps of V&H they offered to help and sent me a map. It helped - I do admit. What I can say is that the support from V&H on the FP3 is outstanding!! Very impressed with them! My main gripes are the suspension and the nervousness of the bike... it is just insecure on the road. I love the looks etc. but I need to address the two main issues - the tuning is only an issue while riding in traffic - I can live with that!
The entire Sportster line could use a suspension make over. A proper tune will cure any rough running. Anyone that thinks the Sportster line has good suspension, needs to ride other brands and see what good suspension feels like. I love Sportsters and Harley.
I really feel that if Harley stopped trying to sell bikes by changing styles, and first focused on suspension and braking, then style, they would be better off.
Agreed!! The Fatboy has a sorted suspension!! The Breakout has a sorted suspension!! The Sportster needs a suspension!!!
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Forty Eight.... really??
