Stage 1 Upgrade Road King
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Stage 1 Upgrade Road King
thinking of upgrading my 2013 Road King (103 Cu) to Stage 1. I already have the screaming eagle pipes so only need the air cleaner and power commander.
Any comments or advice, is it worth the dollar spend? Will the performance be worth it? Appreciate any comments, thanks Pat
Any comments or advice, is it worth the dollar spend? Will the performance be worth it? Appreciate any comments, thanks Pat
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 908
Likes: 96
From: Red Deer, AB
My RK is currently stock except for a SE AC. This past spring I installed a PV supplied by Fuel Moto with a map they provided. I should have done it years ago. The bike runs way cooler and has more oomph. I did not dyno the bike as I am very happy with the new state of the tune. I have some trinkets that I will be installing over the winter. I will email Fuel Moto for a new map and download it to my bike. If the bike doesn't meet with my expectations I will seek out a Dyno tuner. YMMV.
Last edited by RevBlk; Nov 27, 2016 at 12:40 AM. Reason: sp
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I would suggest that you look at the ness big sucker with chrome backing plate- this runs us about $120 in the US on ebay from easterpc
this is less expensive than the S/E
has a washable, oiled filter media ( similar to but not K&N brand)
the throttle body brace stays in place, so easier install
the chrome complements the black and chrome motor vs the S/E cast grey
both flow about the same.
tuning:
the nightrider.com xieds/vieds give a great bang for buck. simple and easily intalled
3.) many remove the catalytic convertor from the header- these can be bought on ebay for under $150 ( again, here in the US).
these forums have tutorials- you need someone who can cut open the header, remove the catalytic material ( and the palladium is valuable)- and weld it shut.
these 3 things will give you a horsepower gain of about 15%...10 or so.
you fuel economy should stay good- only a very slight decrease
Mike
this is less expensive than the S/E
has a washable, oiled filter media ( similar to but not K&N brand)
the throttle body brace stays in place, so easier install
the chrome complements the black and chrome motor vs the S/E cast grey
both flow about the same.
tuning:
the nightrider.com xieds/vieds give a great bang for buck. simple and easily intalled
3.) many remove the catalytic convertor from the header- these can be bought on ebay for under $150 ( again, here in the US).
these forums have tutorials- you need someone who can cut open the header, remove the catalytic material ( and the palladium is valuable)- and weld it shut.
these 3 things will give you a horsepower gain of about 15%...10 or so.
you fuel economy should stay good- only a very slight decrease
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 27, 2016 at 12:46 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 166
Likes: 34
From: Prospect, CT
Hey Bud,
Great start! My only thought would be to ask yourself if you're a guy who rarely spends time in the garage and really doesn't have a lot of interest in motorwork (so this will be the only upgrade), or if you're a guy who has puttered in the garage for years and finds motorwork enjoyable.
If you're the latter, you might want to take the money you're thinking of spending on a Power Commander and put it towards a TTS Mastertune setup. The TTS will cost you more up front, but once you feel the changes from the exhaust and intake, (and if you keep reading these forums), you might start thinking about heads and cams and gear ratios and overbores and and and.....
The TTS program will give you a LOT more control over your tune if you keep upgrading, and will let you actually collect data from your changes, so you can fine tune it according to what's actually going on. I haven't looked at a Power Commander for a while, but unless they've gone through some big changes, I don't think you'll get as good a tune with it.
Great start! My only thought would be to ask yourself if you're a guy who rarely spends time in the garage and really doesn't have a lot of interest in motorwork (so this will be the only upgrade), or if you're a guy who has puttered in the garage for years and finds motorwork enjoyable.
If you're the latter, you might want to take the money you're thinking of spending on a Power Commander and put it towards a TTS Mastertune setup. The TTS will cost you more up front, but once you feel the changes from the exhaust and intake, (and if you keep reading these forums), you might start thinking about heads and cams and gear ratios and overbores and and and.....
The TTS program will give you a LOT more control over your tune if you keep upgrading, and will let you actually collect data from your changes, so you can fine tune it according to what's actually going on. I haven't looked at a Power Commander for a while, but unless they've gone through some big changes, I don't think you'll get as good a tune with it.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 717
From: Pennsyleffinvania
Ride more, accessorize less.
The bike weighs over 800lbs. How much HP do you have to add to feel it by the seat of your pants?
The bike weighs over 800lbs. How much HP do you have to add to feel it by the seat of your pants?
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Joe Kucinski
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
Likes: 64
From: Manitoba, Canada
When I bought my 2012 RK it had the stage 1 that the dealer installs. The screaming eagle mufflers were way too quiet for me. I ended up putting on a Cobra Powerpro Black tuner, full Rinehart exhaust, and A/N Big Sucker. Happy camper now but yes that's some $. I later removed the cat converter from the stock headers, as described above, sold them for $120 to offset some of the cost of Rineharts. Looking back I likely could have just kept the de-catted headers myself and got slip ons, but I do really like these Rineharts.
I still have the stage one reusable air filter and the chrome cover, if you go that route PM me I would sell to you cheap.
I still have the stage one reusable air filter and the chrome cover, if you go that route PM me I would sell to you cheap.