List of upgrades needed?
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 2
From: N/A
List of upgrades needed?
Have been waiting a while for funds to upgrade my completely bone stock '08 Ultra. (currently 9700 mi.) Well, that day has finally arrived and now am looking for help in putting together a complete list/suggestions of things I'll need for a slip on exhaust, air cleaner, etc. I'm going to have an independent that I trust to do the work, but am just complying a list that I'll need for the parts I want. I would love to do the true dual system, but not quite enough funds for that. Thanks for any advice given.
Last edited by mkekid; Jun 16, 2018 at 11:32 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 27
From: Toms River, NJ
10 inch MMB, upgrade saddle and back rest, rear shocks, hi way pegs to name a few.
Good luck with your project, keep a eye on the for sale section and ebay for extras, prices are coming down on pre 09 bike parts and close outs.
Be Safe JIM
Good luck with your project, keep a eye on the for sale section and ebay for extras, prices are coming down on pre 09 bike parts and close outs.
Be Safe JIM
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 192
Likes: 3
From: FBI Surveillance Van, UT
I lump things into three buckets: comfort, performance and longevity.
I'd fix longevity first by making sure any known issues are taking care of like:
I'd fix longevity first by making sure any known issues are taking care of like:
- Compensator nut (I don't know if that is an issue on this year but its something to check)
- Heat - If running hot, add an oil cooler or wait until high flow ac and decatted pipes/high flow exhaust are in and see if that cools things down. A good tune will also decrease heat.
- Is the seat good for you and your passenger?
- Once the seat is sussed out, how about the hand/arm placement. Risers or new bars
- Higher/lower/recurve windshield?
- Floorboard extensions/passenger boards if not there
- Heat again with all the above suggestions. The crossover pipe is a big deal on the dressers, I think.
- Suspension (front and rear)
- New air cleaner
- New exhaust, decatted the headers and high flow slipons
- Tuner (Talk to your local dyno tuner and see what s/he prefers and use it) I prefer TTS Mastertune and the good thing about that is you can auto tune a simple stage 1 with it, flash it and remove it from the bike. Do yourself a favor and at least get a flash tuner instead of a piggy back one.
- Anything below here probably exceeds your budget but something to think about for the future
- Cams
- Displacement
- Headwork
- All the other internals needed depending on how much more performance work you do
Last edited by Dan.1977P; Aug 4, 2015 at 01:24 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 286
Likes: 24
From: West Louisiana
For my 08 RK. The first things I did that made the most improvement in performance for me without modifying the engine. If your going to hot rod it, then probably disregard these two for more elaborate mods.
1) K&N air filter (no big air kit) around $70. The oem is restrictive and I noticed better throttle response. Do it yourself.
2) Fuel Moto Micro Tuner ($200). It runs cooler and smoother. I did loose about 2 mpg, but worth it. Do it yourself for some.
I tried slip-ons, but went back to the oem's. Personal preference.
The rest is just personal preference on seats, handlebars, lights etc.
1) K&N air filter (no big air kit) around $70. The oem is restrictive and I noticed better throttle response. Do it yourself.
2) Fuel Moto Micro Tuner ($200). It runs cooler and smoother. I did loose about 2 mpg, but worth it. Do it yourself for some.
I tried slip-ons, but went back to the oem's. Personal preference.
The rest is just personal preference on seats, handlebars, lights etc.
Last edited by King-a-ling; Aug 4, 2015 at 02:35 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: california
I have a 2015 Road Glide Special. This is my 4th bagger. The only things I change are; First--seats. I have a HD Hammock now, but the sundowner was extremely comfy as well. I have a Wood 777 cam with a jackpot 2 into 1 and a PV all from fuel moto. Amazing set up. The rest are all little changes that are completely individual like grips, floor boards vs pegs for passenger, back rest, luggage rack etc.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
First thing you will need for a stage 1 is a proper tuner. After that, pick the slip-on sound ya like and A/C ya like the looks of.
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,682
Likes: 8,414
From: Utah
Old Hippie nailed it. If you're going to add Slipons, and a high flow air cleaner you need to change the map and the best way to do that is a flash tuner. The one I use and recommend is the DynoJet Power Vision. Around $420 on eBay.
