Any reason to EVER turn EITMS OFF?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
One of the downsides is you won't have the pleasure of seeing what happens when your motorcycle overheats. 
Before Daytona last year, I replaced my battery. I didn't stop to think that the default position on the EITMS is "off" and that's where it would be when the new battery was installed. We were heading to a pre-season baseball game in Vierra when a truck jackknifed on I-95 and we got stuck in stop and go traffic in about 100 degree heat on the asphalt. After a while it was belching oil and shutting down. After I got it restarted (and rode down the shoulder for a couple miles to an exit) I remembered that the EITMS was probably disabled. It was.
So yes, it sounds like crap at a stoplight when only one cylinder is firing, but I'm willing to live with that for the benefits.
Before Daytona last year, I replaced my battery. I didn't stop to think that the default position on the EITMS is "off" and that's where it would be when the new battery was installed. We were heading to a pre-season baseball game in Vierra when a truck jackknifed on I-95 and we got stuck in stop and go traffic in about 100 degree heat on the asphalt. After a while it was belching oil and shutting down. After I got it restarted (and rode down the shoulder for a couple miles to an exit) I remembered that the EITMS was probably disabled. It was.
So yes, it sounds like crap at a stoplight when only one cylinder is firing, but I'm willing to live with that for the benefits.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,644
Likes: 1,385
From: North Central WV
Mine is on, there is an audible difference when it activates. Blip the throttle and the back cylinder reactivates. If not you will stumble out of the gate. It's not an issue for me.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 62
Likes: 14
From: Midwest
It's new to me, sounds different (I've actually come to like the single sound on hot days when stopped). I think it's pretty smooth when active to roll on throttle and resume motion. In other words I've not stalled from stop yet. On an incline I blip the throttle first just as a precaution. It lowers the heat felt in traffic.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 55
From: Florida
Might want to browse your Manual.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 706
Likes: 32
From: Cypress,Tx
I have turned mine off and on to see how it works for one and second, seeing what all this sluggish talk is when taking off. I decided to leave it on, I'm done in Houston where the heat index is 108 today. As others stated, just twist the throttle as you would taking off from a signal light and you're back to both cylinders.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
Before I left the dealership with my new SG, my salesman, of course, went over a few things. One of the cool and new (to me) things was the EITMS--my older RK's and softails never had this, and although i'm inclined to split traffic instead of letting my engine roast, it was nice to hear that there was this protection available for my new bike. The salesman stated that while Harley calls it a "comfort" feature to avoid cooking the rider/passengers legs, many believe that it goes a long way toward protecting the engine during slow going on hot days.
My question is, why would anyone ever turn this feature off? Any downsides?
My question is, why would anyone ever turn this feature off? Any downsides?
I took care of that along with multiple perf issues all air cooled HD's experience in summer heat all at the same time when i installed an Ultracool
oil cooler (w-twin elec cooling fans) & Wards twin cooling fans both at
the same time working collectively together as a (kick butt cooling team) that reduced oil temp a whopping 50deg f in summer heat.
Post installing the 2 cooling mods @ the same time the bike / motor are like a totally diff machine thats much more responsive & quiet mechnically along with also being a bit more comfy to ride in summer heat post reducing oil temp 50deg f in summer heat which totally took care of the heat issues my HD's air cooler TC 96" was experiencing in summer heat esp when in traffic @ stoplights or when @ slow road speed too.
Scott
Last edited by wscott; Jun 15, 2016 at 05:00 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 285
Likes: 37
From: Idaho
As soon as you apply the throttle, it turns itself off and you are back to "normal".