Experienced guys - if you could do the EFI tune all over again...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 7
Experienced guys - if you could do the EFI tune all over again...
Knowing what you do now...
We get tons of questions from new owners playing with their exhausts/intake/tuner.
I thought maybe we could do this in the opposite direction. Here's the question I'd like you please answer:
If you could do it all over again with the same bike, but knowing all the additional info you do now about the issue, what would you do?
Give me your three options based on 1. high dollar, 2. medium, 3. bare bones. Also if you would, list what your choice would be for a solution that would yield;
1. best WOT (wide open throttle) performance
2. best "overall" tune - combo of power, reliability, efficiency.
3. best gas mileage.
Thanks!
We get tons of questions from new owners playing with their exhausts/intake/tuner.
I thought maybe we could do this in the opposite direction. Here's the question I'd like you please answer:
If you could do it all over again with the same bike, but knowing all the additional info you do now about the issue, what would you do?
Give me your three options based on 1. high dollar, 2. medium, 3. bare bones. Also if you would, list what your choice would be for a solution that would yield;
1. best WOT (wide open throttle) performance
2. best "overall" tune - combo of power, reliability, efficiency.
3. best gas mileage.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 7
My response
1. No holds barred - I'd get a Thundermax/autotune and replace the entire EFI system. Based on my vrod experience it provides the most comprehensive, easy to understand and adjust user experience, with excellent performance gains, smoother response, and efficiency. Plus, you can tune EVERYTHING without being a rocket scientist. Similarly PowerCommander/Autotune would do it, too.
2. Medium dollar solution: SERT (screaming eagle race tuner) and the download from the dealer. I did this on my sporty, it is easy, reliable, and safe and works well.
3. Bare bones: I'd leave the stock air cleaner on. Or if I replaced it with a high flow cleaner, XIED the thing.
To answer the other three:
1. Best WOT - SERT and dyno tune
2. Best overall experience - Thundermax/Autotune
3. Best gas mileage - stock.
1. No holds barred - I'd get a Thundermax/autotune and replace the entire EFI system. Based on my vrod experience it provides the most comprehensive, easy to understand and adjust user experience, with excellent performance gains, smoother response, and efficiency. Plus, you can tune EVERYTHING without being a rocket scientist. Similarly PowerCommander/Autotune would do it, too.
2. Medium dollar solution: SERT (screaming eagle race tuner) and the download from the dealer. I did this on my sporty, it is easy, reliable, and safe and works well.
3. Bare bones: I'd leave the stock air cleaner on. Or if I replaced it with a high flow cleaner, XIED the thing.
To answer the other three:
1. Best WOT - SERT and dyno tune
2. Best overall experience - Thundermax/Autotune
3. Best gas mileage - stock.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
I got a PCV and am having to deal with a lag off the line, not sure if its my settings or the unit but if I had to do it all over I would probably start with the XIEDS. Even if it doesn't quite perform you still got your money's worth.
Thoughts to consider :
How tech savvy are you?
Do you have a lap top?
Do you plan on doing more upgrades?
How much do you want to spend
Bottom line I like my PCV (once it gets going), I just don't have anything to compare it to. If iI did it all over againI i would find a friend with a similar bike and compare.
Thoughts to consider :
How tech savvy are you?
Do you have a lap top?
Do you plan on doing more upgrades?
How much do you want to spend
Bottom line I like my PCV (once it gets going), I just don't have anything to compare it to. If iI did it all over againI i would find a friend with a similar bike and compare.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 7
I got a PCV and am having to deal with a lag off the line, not sure if its my settings or the unit but if I had to do it all over I would probably start with the XIEDS. Even if it doesn't quite perform you still got your money's worth.
Thoughts to consider :
How tech savvy are you?
Do you have a lap top?
Do you plan on doing more upgrades?
How much do you want to spend
Bottom line I like my PCV (once it gets going), I just don't have anything to compare it to. If iI did it all over againI i would find a friend with a similar bike and compare.
Thoughts to consider :
How tech savvy are you?
Do you have a lap top?
Do you plan on doing more upgrades?
How much do you want to spend
Bottom line I like my PCV (once it gets going), I just don't have anything to compare it to. If iI did it all over againI i would find a friend with a similar bike and compare.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 4
From: Upstate NY
I would go with #2
I got talked into a fuelpak and I wish I had known more about them before hand. Now that I want to do more things to my bike I need to get a real tuner for it. I would love a thundermax.
I got talked into a fuelpak and I wish I had known more about them before hand. Now that I want to do more things to my bike I need to get a real tuner for it. I would love a thundermax.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 4
From: Upstate NY
Its always hard to dictate how thread will go. People read and answer with what they want...lol
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 362
From: Mansfield Texas
1. No holds barred - ThunderMax , I have used the SERT But yo pretty much need a Dyno to get it right.
2. Medium dollar solution:Stage 1 Download from dealer, works fine for High Flow A/C and Pipes.
3. Bare bones: With Stock Air Cleaner, Great sounding pipe
To answer the other three:
1. Best WOT - SERT and good Dyno Tune
2. Best overall experience - Stage 1 Download and just enjoy the ride.
3. Best gas mileage - stock.
2. Medium dollar solution:Stage 1 Download from dealer, works fine for High Flow A/C and Pipes.
3. Bare bones: With Stock Air Cleaner, Great sounding pipe
To answer the other three:
1. Best WOT - SERT and good Dyno Tune
2. Best overall experience - Stage 1 Download and just enjoy the ride.
3. Best gas mileage - stock.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 933
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Knowing what you do now...
We get tons of questions from new owners playing with their exhausts/intake/tuner.
I thought maybe we could do this in the opposite direction. Here's the question I'd like you please answer:
If you could do it all over again with the same bike, but knowing all the additional info you do now about the issue, what would you do?
Give me your three options based on 1. high dollar, 2. medium, 3. bare bones. Also if you would, list what your choice would be for a solution that would yield;
1. best WOT (wide open throttle) performance
2. best "overall" tune - combo of power, reliability, efficiency.
3. best gas mileage.
Thanks!
We get tons of questions from new owners playing with their exhausts/intake/tuner.
I thought maybe we could do this in the opposite direction. Here's the question I'd like you please answer:
If you could do it all over again with the same bike, but knowing all the additional info you do now about the issue, what would you do?
Give me your three options based on 1. high dollar, 2. medium, 3. bare bones. Also if you would, list what your choice would be for a solution that would yield;
1. best WOT (wide open throttle) performance
2. best "overall" tune - combo of power, reliability, efficiency.
3. best gas mileage.
Thanks!
1. High dollar = SEPST, Hands down the best tuner for a Harley having been told this by numerous techs in Harley shops and Independent shops.
2. Medium dollar = Power Commander. Good because you can get it dynoed or run a map from DynoJet, and is cheaper than the SEPST
3. Bare bones = FuelPak. Not great but has got the job done for 20,000+ miles.
Best WOT = SEPST (In many opinions the best tuner money can buy)
Best "overall" tune = any flash tuner that doesn't add something to the bike that can fail
Best MPG = any tuner that retains the bikes ability to run in closed loop (aka not the PC with o2 delete)
About the ThunderMax. I have been told by even people that sell the ThunderMax that it is overpriced and not any better than the SEPST and TTS master tune as it is more expensive and still needs a dyno tune to get the best tune possible unless you want to learn how to tune.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I'm not really sure how to properly answer your question....
But I started out with a stage 1 intake, Vance and Hines Big Radius 2 into 2 pipes, and a Power Commander V and I thought the bike ran well.
Later swapped out for the S&S intake kit.
Eventually my PCV would take a dump and somehow fried my ECM. Perhaps coincidence but PC left me with a sour taste for their product. My PCV crashed, my brother was running one on his Wide Glide and after 2 weeks it also crapped out. I decided to ditch the PCV and went with the Harley Super Tuner. I found my throttle response was alot crisper and the bike pulled harder than with the PCV.
I'm also no longer fond of my pipes. If I had to do it all over again I'd do a Super Tuner, S&S intake and V&H Comp series 2 into 1.
But I started out with a stage 1 intake, Vance and Hines Big Radius 2 into 2 pipes, and a Power Commander V and I thought the bike ran well.
Later swapped out for the S&S intake kit.
Eventually my PCV would take a dump and somehow fried my ECM. Perhaps coincidence but PC left me with a sour taste for their product. My PCV crashed, my brother was running one on his Wide Glide and after 2 weeks it also crapped out. I decided to ditch the PCV and went with the Harley Super Tuner. I found my throttle response was alot crisper and the bike pulled harder than with the PCV.
I'm also no longer fond of my pipes. If I had to do it all over again I'd do a Super Tuner, S&S intake and V&H Comp series 2 into 1.