Just bought my first Harley last weekend. Its a 2008 Nightster. The bike is all stock except for some cycle shop slip ons. My question is, what's the best route to go as far a tuning? I'm pretty sure it needs it with the exhaust that's on it. I have some experience tuning cars so I understand how it works. Just need some guidance as far as what I should be looking for. Thanks!

 

First off, Welcome to the forum.

The answer to your question is not a simple one, since your bike is fuel injected.
I would suggest you use the advanced search function. Search the Sportster forum with key words like "Tuner" or "Tuning". There is a lot of information here on the forum if you look.
Good luck and enjoy your ride for awhile before you start spending money on a bike you are not familiar with.
Ride Safe

 

Welcome to the forum Drabman!

As a new 'harley owner you've got lots and lots of reading and [re]searching to do, and there are so many suggestions it ain't funny, but to make it simple, the very first thing you should do is get yourself a service manual for your year and model bike. It is filled with just about everything you need to know about it from engine rebuild to fluid changes and everything inbetween.

And as you read up and get edjumicated on the basics and become familiarized with your bike, it's then that you can start with the mods or dare I suggest [!gasp!] that you keep it stock...

But to your question...to get started, the basic rule of thumb is this...if you add just one or the other of exhaust or intake, there is no reason to "tune"...however, since the 'harley's run lean from the factory, some type of fuel management is helpful regardless, because lean means more heat generated by the engine and exhaust. This heat does no damage and stock bikes have been running for years since the inception of EFI, but cooler is better. So, what to do about it? Well, on the least expensive end of the spectrum are a device called "XiED's", which are placed in-line between your factory harness and your O˛ sensors, which, through a simple resistor, lesson the numbers the O˛ sensors are actually sending to your ECM, in essence "tricking" the ECM into providing more fuel and reducing the lean condition. And that's it. Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum are the tuners, which are beneficial even for the stock bikes, and are definately an advantage from a performance standpoint when coupled with a free flowing exhaust and intake. There are three types of tuners...ie., Power Commander [x] - FuelPak - types which piggy-back up to your factory ECM, Power Vision types which attach to your diagnostic port for the initial "flash" tune of your factory ECM yet does not have to remain on the motorcycle, and lastly, the ThunderMax type which completely replaces your factory ECM. All the afformentioned have their advantages in either cost savings, touch screen displays, wide band O˛ sensors, "auto tune [basic]" abilities or additional "auto tune pro" module w/wide band O˛ sensors, etc. You will learn more and more about your needs and what's out there as your knowledge, abilities, and desires expand. Let's hope your wallet expands expotentially too, LOL.

All in all owning a 'harley is a great learning experience. If you never wrenched before there are many here in the community who would gladly whip over in your direction to help you get learned or at the least offer advice, suggestions, and pictures to help you out. Just provide beer! Oh and the occassional outburst of humor here is highly recommended whenever the opportunity presents itself, HA!! We're a rather ecclectic bunch and at times a thick skin is required to keep your cool during pursefights and to prevent bunched up panties, but that's what makes it interesting, 'never a dull moment around here!

That said, again, welcome to the forum. Stick around and post up some pics of your bike when you can, we love pics.

=8^)

 

What's a "Nee Guy?"

Pipes on your Sporty are fine...no need to re-tune until you get the bug/ca$d for added motor mods. Also...proper introduction is in order!!!

 

New* guy. Sometimes I type faster than I can read.

Thanks for the input. I was leaning more towards the power vision. If I don't need it with these slip ons then I'll wait till I add something else.

Introduction? I'm originally from Pennsylvania but now live in Silverdale, Wa. Moving to San Diego next summer though. This is my first Harley. Got tired of driving a car everyday. I hadn't rode a bike in like 7 years before purchasing this one. Its weird how you never forget some things.

 

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your first HD!

If all you're ever going to do is a Stage 1, and want to go the budget route, the XiED's will make the bike run better (you know that slight hesitation/stutter you feel on low rpm acceleration?...that will go away). However, you are not damaging the bike by riding it with the stock tune and the slip-ons.

Click HERE for more info and Dyno charts.


For a full tuner, I don't think you can do better than a Power Vision.