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:

" Tuned " Slip-Ons ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 08:19 AM
  #1  
tbonz51's Avatar
tbonz51
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default " Tuned " Slip-Ons ?

Do slip-on pipes need to be "tuned" to a bike or can you just install and ride ? Want to put a set of Rush Slip-ons,2.0 baffle on my 08' Road King. Catalog recommends after market EFI control module. Don't know if I need to do this !!!
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 08:56 AM
  #2  
Lass7711's Avatar
Lass7711
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

When you change either the slipons or the air cleaner, you change the design air flow through the engine and the stock ECM may not be able to adequately compensate. I'm not an expert, but I've read that changing either the air cleaner or slipons, but not both, will not change the air flow enough to significantly affect the fuel mixture. I suppose the general thought is that only a slipon change does not require a change to the fuel injection setup.

Many of the stock bikes with fuel injection come from the factory running lean so you might be able to cool your engine a little and improve throttle response slightly by adding a fuel injection module even if you don't change anything else.

You'll probably get several different opionions on this topic.
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 09:02 AM
  #3  
paguy's Avatar
paguy
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Berwick, Pa.
Default

HD will tell you no, you do not have to mess with the ECM when changeing slip ons. The reality is even with stock pipes after enough miles, engine wear in, baffles wear, the stock Ecm needs to be reflashed.
The dealer will want over $100 to flash the ECM. So it would seem to be prudent to purchase something like a power commander and even better to contact Fuelmoto where the PC can be tuned to your existing set up.
By the way if you haven't purchased your pipes yet look at the jackpot tuned power package.
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 11:01 AM
  #4  
Leftcoaster's Avatar
Leftcoaster
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Default

Originally Posted by tbonz51
Do slip-on pipes need to be "tuned" to a bike or can you just install and ride ? Want to put a set of Rush Slip-ons,2.0 baffle on my 08' Road King. Catalog recommends after market EFI control module. Don't know if I need to do this !!!

The answer is no. You tune your motor to the changes you make in airflow such as the air cleaner and exhaust, not the reverse. If, after you install those slip-ons, you notice the bike runs worse instead of better you may need to change the settings of the ECM by means of a tuning device.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Feeeeg
Touring Models
11
Aug 25, 2011 12:00 PM
TKDKurt
Sportster Models
8
Aug 10, 2011 04:43 PM
big cahuna
Touring Models
11
Feb 29, 2008 09:02 AM
2ForTheRoad
Touring Models
10
Oct 30, 2007 08:34 PM
SaBiGe
Touring Models
11
Dec 15, 2005 02:34 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:38 AM.

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