Is dyno always required?
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Is dyno always required?
I have a 03 Road Glide that came with a stage one upgrade when I bought it used in 09. The engine only has about 20,000 miles on it and I'm pretty satisfied with the performance from my little 88ci motor.
Problem is my wife now enjoys going on rides with me, and although she only weighs about 135 lbs, the performance drops noticeably when we ride two up. I ran the issue by my local Indy and he suggested installing a better cam to pick up a little more power and low end torque. He broke the whole set up down to me and I was all on board until I discovered that it cost about $400.00 to dyno tune the setup afterwards!
He quoted me $1900 for the entire install, which means that the tuner (TTS Master tune) and required dyno eat up about $800 alone! I know you get what you pay for but that seems a little steep, doesnt anyone make a tuner that doesnt require a dyno to dial it in?
Problem is my wife now enjoys going on rides with me, and although she only weighs about 135 lbs, the performance drops noticeably when we ride two up. I ran the issue by my local Indy and he suggested installing a better cam to pick up a little more power and low end torque. He broke the whole set up down to me and I was all on board until I discovered that it cost about $400.00 to dyno tune the setup afterwards!
He quoted me $1900 for the entire install, which means that the tuner (TTS Master tune) and required dyno eat up about $800 alone! I know you get what you pay for but that seems a little steep, doesnt anyone make a tuner that doesnt require a dyno to dial it in?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,149
Likes: 6,172
From: SE Michigan
you can save some money by buying a Power Vision instead of a TTS from Fuelmoto. Roughly the same price as a TTS, but they will give you a map for your exact combo which will be 98% spot on.
Fuelmoto will give you free maps for life, and you can do tuning runs which record your riding and the software will suggest tweaks to your tune, or you can send the data to Fuelmoto and they will tweak the map for you.
This approach saves you the $400 for the tune.
Jamie's maps come from bikes he's tuned with your same parts, so the tune will be very very close.
Fuelmoto will give you free maps for life, and you can do tuning runs which record your riding and the software will suggest tweaks to your tune, or you can send the data to Fuelmoto and they will tweak the map for you.
This approach saves you the $400 for the tune.
Jamie's maps come from bikes he's tuned with your same parts, so the tune will be very very close.
Last edited by Keithhu; Mar 12, 2012 at 06:31 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
I feel your pain..it's pathetic that these $20,000 bikes need help pushing two average sized passengers uphill....I went through the same thing...imagine if people had to take brand new cars they bought, to their mechanic and have them sink $2000 to get them to run decent?...there would be class action law suits flying...I WILL NOT but another new Touring bike from HD until it has at LEAST 90HP, and 90 TQ in STOCK form. I don't care if it's water cooled either...
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 3
From: North Georgia
Just got back from Florida (the MASTERS place.) www.docsperformancetuning.com
You won't know what your missing if you don't go...
Yes it's expensive.... but it's WORTH double the money.
You either KNOW, or you DON'T.
Traveled 969.7 miles round trip from Canton Georgia to Minneola Florida.
Now that I KNOW, I'd have traveled twice as far, and payed double the money.
Are you a fan of the "smoke and mirrors b/s hype?" Forum sponsors pay advertising fees to push their products. Extremely knowledgeable folks have been banned for pointing out flaws in those products. Greed for the almighty dollar has cost us all a vast knowledge base of information.
I haven't drank any koolaid, but I've seen the facts, and they are verified.
To answer your question, YES... you need a dyno tune (TTS is absolute best) by a COMPETENT TUNER.
Your bike will run with the others... but will not out perform the TTS mastertunes abilities.
If you go another route, you may be completely satisfied. I went the "best" route, and have absolutely no regrets. Money well spent. I got the value per dollars spent.
Your money, your bike, your call...
You won't know what your missing if you don't go...
Yes it's expensive.... but it's WORTH double the money.
You either KNOW, or you DON'T.
Traveled 969.7 miles round trip from Canton Georgia to Minneola Florida.
Now that I KNOW, I'd have traveled twice as far, and payed double the money.
Are you a fan of the "smoke and mirrors b/s hype?" Forum sponsors pay advertising fees to push their products. Extremely knowledgeable folks have been banned for pointing out flaws in those products. Greed for the almighty dollar has cost us all a vast knowledge base of information.
I haven't drank any koolaid, but I've seen the facts, and they are verified.
To answer your question, YES... you need a dyno tune (TTS is absolute best) by a COMPETENT TUNER.
Your bike will run with the others... but will not out perform the TTS mastertunes abilities.
If you go another route, you may be completely satisfied. I went the "best" route, and have absolutely no regrets. Money well spent. I got the value per dollars spent.
Your money, your bike, your call...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,014
From: King George, VA
If the bike doesn't run half way decent with you and your wife on it, there is something more wrong than just needing a dyno tune. Take it to an indy and avoid a dealer at all cost. Yeah, a dyno tune is going to be several hundred dollars but it will be well worth it.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 285
Likes: 4
PCV with autotune will retrofit on your 03
A dyno tune is only as good as the tuner, and how much time($$$) you/he is willing to spend.
Having AT ability gives you the freedom to make changes without having to worry
A dyno tune is only as good as the tuner, and how much time($$$) you/he is willing to spend.
Having AT ability gives you the freedom to make changes without having to worry
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 621
Likes: 3
From: N CA
I have a stage one - went with a "FUELPAC" from Vince & Hines - 225 bucks - DIY - bike runs great - Install is less than an hour - plenty of How to's on you tube - If you make a lot of changes to your bike there might be better choices - tom
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
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
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
you can save some money by buying a Power Vision instead of a TTS from Fuelmoto. Roughly the same price as a TTS, but they will give you a map for your exact combo which will be 98% spot on.
Fuelmoto will give you free maps for life, and you can do tuning runs which record your riding and the software will suggest tweaks to your tune, or you can send the data to Fuelmoto and they will tweak the map for you.
This approach saves you the $400 for the tune.
Jamie's maps come from bikes he's tuned with your same parts, so the tune will be very very close.
Fuelmoto will give you free maps for life, and you can do tuning runs which record your riding and the software will suggest tweaks to your tune, or you can send the data to Fuelmoto and they will tweak the map for you.
This approach saves you the $400 for the tune.
Jamie's maps come from bikes he's tuned with your same parts, so the tune will be very very close.