Tune or not?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,272
From: West Central Florida
You dont need a tuner with just slipons. The factory tune is lean to satisfy the EPA. A tuner will richen it up. I wouldnt waste the money on a tuner unless you replace the header pipe and put on a different air filter, then you will feel a difference.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,618
Likes: 290
From: Johnstown, PA
All I have on mine is slip-ons And ran it that way for a couple years. I bit the bullet and bought an FP3 for the main purpose of cooling it down. WOW, not only did it cool it down, it added seat of the pants power, and it also sounds better.
I was kicking myself for for not doing that sooner. It was as well worth the coin.
I was kicking myself for for not doing that sooner. It was as well worth the coin.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
You ask about exhaust tips, but what mufflers do you have? If they are aftermarket your bike may benefit from a tune, regardless of what tips you change to!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 351
From: MO
My 2014 Road King was the first bike I tuned myself. I bought a Power Vision tuner because of the auto tune feature. My bike has modified factory mufflers and a decatted head pipe. The auto tune feature lets you ride the bike and fine tune the tune. I did the auto tune feature maybe 10 times. This is the best running Harley I’ve ever had. As noted, the bike will run cooler and better with a tune. I recently purchased a 2015 Road Glide and have a Power Vision for it, also.
Trending Topics
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 175
Likes: 98
From: Indiana
All I have on mine is slip-ons And ran it that way for a couple years. I bit the bullet and bought an FP3 for the main purpose of cooling it down. WOW, not only did it cool it down, it added seat of the pants power, and it also sounds better.
I was kicking myself for for not doing that sooner. It was as well worth the coin.
I was kicking myself for for not doing that sooner. It was as well worth the coin.
You said reduced heat off the bike. Can you explain please?
Did anything change with the new map? Better cold start, cold start idle, reduced deceleration 'popping' etc ?
Been on the fence for awhile about jumping into the game.
Been any regrets ?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
If you tuned an all stock, OEM engine... you would notice a difference in how it runs.... not a "big" difference, but it will run better
That said, you don't need to tune for changing exhaust tips (which change nothing) or if changing just mufflers (not also the air cleaner)...
So to answer your questions: "did a tuner make a big difference in how the bike ran and sounded?" The answers are..
"Yes" you will feel a difference on how it runs, maybe not a "big" difference and "probably" on how it sounds, but the amount of sound change will be directly related to the mufflers used.
That said, you don't need to tune for changing exhaust tips (which change nothing) or if changing just mufflers (not also the air cleaner)...
So to answer your questions: "did a tuner make a big difference in how the bike ran and sounded?" The answers are..
"Yes" you will feel a difference on how it runs, maybe not a "big" difference and "probably" on how it sounds, but the amount of sound change will be directly related to the mufflers used.