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Alright, so I guess I finally broke down and traded in my Wide Glide for a Road Glide. Never figured I'd own a rolling couch, but damn... its so nice. Radio? WTF is a radio doing on a motorcycle!?
So now I'm back on this forum except asking the masses, Whats a good exhaust upgrade... and changing out pipes, will I need a fuel management system? Wont that **** with my mileage?
Congrats on the new scooter and welcome back. You can swap slip ons with out a tuner and be just fine, but with an aircleaner modification you need a tuner. Also look into getting rid of the cat converter on your bike, its very hot with it . I happen to prefer Vance and Hines slip ons myself. Everyone has their own opinions though.
Must be something in the air this season. Even thou our local dealers said sale are down you wouldn't think so by these kind of stories.....then there's me who hangs on to his bikes/cars for decades, yet I also pulled the trigger this year. If only I hadn't seen that damn sedona orange beast in the show room.
As you may have already read in the bazillion threads on this subject, the new scoots come running very lean from the factory. You will likely notice the heat.
If you like the scooter the way it is, from both an aesthetic and performance standpoint, you need do nothing. Believe it or not, there are plenty of stock bikes running around and doing just fine.
Sound is pretty subjective, so you may want to look and listen - stop by a dealership or two and check out other scoots in the parking lot, listen to them and talk with their owners. Maybe hit a bike night. Soon you'll discover what appeals to your ears and eyes.
Just changing the mufflers won't necessitate any fuel management mod. However, if you decide to introduce more air, via a high-flow air cleaner, or eliminate the catalytic converter by getting new headers, then you will want to address fuel management.
Your options come down to having a dealer load a canned map, getting a tuner that flashes your ECM or adding a tuner that works dynamically (usually affixed to the ECM).
I opted to yank the stock head pipes for Vance & Hines Power Duals which I mated to Monster Ovals. Nice sound, but not too loud. Replaced the stock a/c with a Performance Machine Super Gas air cleaner, and have a SE Pro Tuner (which I'm still using to refine my tune).
Going from stock to a Jackpot catless 2-1 header and Nightstick muffler I found it got a little leaner. I next changed to a Ness Big Sucker AC and changed the muffler to a Jackpot as well and it went so lean it was almost unrideable. It's at the dealer now getting dynoed with a TTS Mastertune. But just losing the cat reduced the heat at my feet A LOT!!!
Yeah, I've felt the heat already from the pipes. This thing runs way hotter than my Wide Glide. Do the optional deflectors by the thighs work?
Road Couch is definitely much more comfortable than the Bar stool... And now, I can bring the bar with me in a saddle bag! I've been missing out.
So then, I'm getting the vibe, that I should change out the CAT. Sweet. But what about mileage? have you guys noticed a drop or gain in MPG? Every mile counts!
Yeah, I've felt the heat already from the pipes. This thing runs way hotter than my Wide Glide. Do the optional deflectors by the thighs work?
Road Couch is definitely much more comfortable than the Bar stool... And now, I can bring the bar with me in a saddle bag! I've been missing out.
So then, I'm getting the vibe, that I should change out the CAT. Sweet. But what about mileage? have you guys noticed a drop or gain in MPG? Every mile counts!
I can recommend the Crotch Cooler from Captain Itch - had one on my last two scoots. Doesn't make it run any cooler, but ya' won't have any chestnuts roasting on the open fire.
Over my first 1,000 miles, during which the bike was completely stock, I averaged almost 51 mpg. Now, with stage 1, I get mid forties... unless I get crazy with the right hand.
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