Question for those with the "Parade engine", what's it sound like at the stoplight with aftermarket mufflers on it? I know you can disarm it but that kind of defeats the purpose. I am assuming it sounds as bad as I can imagine, which leads me to the next question, what's the feedback on the partiot defenders? To be honest (I must be gettin old) I kind of like the sound level of the stock exhaust around town and in the parks, but it is way to quiet on the freeway........

**Apologies if the partiot defenders debate is a dead horse, I forgot to search for it before I started this post.............

 

I guess I should re-word this, does anyone else have the parade engine? I assumed it was standard on the 09s. Mine kicks in at the stoplights the last couple of days when its up over 90 degrees. It does seem to reduce the heat slightly, sounds like a damm tractor when it does it though, lol.

 

By "parade engine" are you simply referring to the EITMS "feature"? i.e. when the engine hits a certain temp while the bike is stopped and idling it can stop firing the rear cylinder.

 

Its hard to even notice it on mine. Very little change in the sound. When i say little i mean it. Its hard to even notice. Someone else had posted on here that there is a slightly different smell to the exhaust when it goes into parade mode. I think i can notice that too.

 

The only differences I have seen is the oil pressure goes to almost nil and I tend to stall more leaving a stop light.

 

It does have a little bit of an odd odor, no big deal. It does change the idle a little, it lopes a little more.

 

I thought that was just me! I noticed an odd smell too, but didn't believe that the smell came from it because it was just hitting on one cylinder! Glad to know I'm not crazy!

 

And by the way, mine's an '08, and it came standard on mine, so I believe that at least all touring engines have it as standard equipment from '08 on up.

 

I think the low oil pressure is due more to the oil temps and the fact you're idling, mine goes to near zero at idle when the bike is really warmed up. I blip the throttle just before pulling in the clutch to leave a stop light. That instantly turns the EITMS off.

 

I thought I was done blipping the throttle when I'm not on the sporty, but I guess I'll just have to keep that habit.