Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Road King Exhaust

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 06:03 PM
  #1  
murtsworld's Avatar
murtsworld
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default Road King Exhaust

Just ordered a new Road King, my first HD. Want to change the exhaust. Dealer stated that if the exhaust is changed a Stage 1 kit has to be done as well as the computer download. He quoted me $300 for the Stage 1 kit. Is this needed and is the price comparable or do I need to shop around?

Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 07:04 PM
  #2  
CHEYENNE's Avatar
CHEYENNE
Road Warrior
20 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 5
From: NEW LENOX, IL
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Do NOT do the HD Download it's crap. You can change out just the exhaust BUT I have noticed that when I ONLY did my exhaust I got a little backfiring and popping on deceleration.

Some people will say you can just do the exhaust, but with the experience I had I wouldn't leave it that way for to long.

Instead of going with the HD Dowload buy some sort of programmer SERT/PCIII etc. It may cost a little more, but you will be happier in the end.

If your not sure about the programmer check out the DYI section of the forum or a search for SERT or PCIII.

Btw CONGRATS! on the new bike and Welcome to the forum. There are alot of great people and ALOT of useful and not so useful information here
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 08:12 PM
  #3  
murtsworld's Avatar
murtsworld
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Thanks. Do I still need to change to the Stage 1?
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 08:16 PM
  #4  
jdag's Avatar
jdag
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Congrats on the new bike!

I agree with Cheyenne. The slip-ons are a good start, but to really let the engine breathe I would recommend you invest in a SE Stage 1 air kit, and SERT, PowerCommander, or other management device. You will not be disappointed.

I know some people will disagree, but I consider the pipe/air kit/manager nearly required on a new bike. I rode my Street Glide for a week waiting for the parts to arrive...and it was like the bike had asthma.
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 09:44 PM
  #5  
pilot1996's Avatar
pilot1996
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
Likes: 34
From: Cedar Point, NC
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

To up the power on the stock bike you need to do the Stage I. If you intened to do future upgrades, buy a tuner. If you don't, and you will be happy with a basically stock motor, I would not spend the money on the SERT. If you buy a SERT and install one of the programs, you will be doing what the dealer does...you then have the option to "tweak" your settings...however, unless you have access to a dyno, you are only guessing, and you may or may not be making the engine any better. The bikes are lean from the factory, and the download is lean...to get a good tune, take it to a dyno.

Mac
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2005 | 04:13 PM
  #6  
allikanbe's Avatar
allikanbe
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Yorktown, VA
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Yesterday, had my 04 Road King fitted with SE slip ons, SE air cleaner, and a Vance and Hines Fuel Pak. What an amazing improvement! It's like a new bike. The stock RK was slow and powerless. These changes give the bike much more power and i can cruise at 70mph in 4th gear. I am sold on these changes.
The local dealer doesnt' install PCIIs any more. They said they had problems with them. They said the V&H Fuel Pak is far better than the RevTech also. Personally, I have no clue. I just know it's a much better bike.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 12:10 PM
  #7  
Kraigo's Avatar
Kraigo
Novice
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Stage 1 mapping on my '06 RK classic. I believe I've posted something like this before. Harley installs what they call a "1450 stage 1 map" when you have exhaust and intake changed(stage one). IT DOESN'T WORK. Insist on a 1550 map, buy new plugs set the gap 40-45 your ready to rock and roll. The 1550 map fattens the fuel mix. The bike will really haul the groceries from 60 to 90 + miles an hour, and very satisfactory performance in the lower numbers.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 02:32 PM
  #8  
BigJohn's Avatar
BigJohn
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

I have a 2006 RK Custom, SE slip-ons, Stage one air cleaner, SE race-tuner , all is well. Bike runs great, Do it right the first time and save yourself the diddling around. It may cost more, but time and trouble will be saved.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 16, 2005 | 11:56 AM
  #9  
3Dog's Avatar
3Dog
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Road King Exhaust

Couple of things.....
My buddy changed to V/H pipes without stage one kit or rejetting..they voided his warranty on carb!

H-D downloads are for H-D products......When I changed to my Rhines, all they could do was a 1550 dl and hope for the best. I changed to a Power Commander...wow, like a whole new bike!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kingman81008
Touring Models
6
Jan 9, 2013 08:28 PM
kevjo
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Oct 31, 2012 09:40 PM
KWC6
Touring Models
5
Dec 20, 2011 06:55 PM
kerigoff
Sportster Models
2
Nov 6, 2011 07:48 AM
0204665J
Touring Models
3
Nov 1, 2007 06:00 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:17 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE