Trying to upgrade in stages.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Merrimack, New Hampshire
Trying to upgrade in stages.
Hey all, Got a questions and was hoping I can get some feedback on it. I have a 2008 Ultra Classic with the cats still attached, I was talking to my local service tech and he said that if I wanted to cool it down I will have to change the air filter, pipes, add a tuner and some other things and the bill will be roughly 2 grand. My question is this. Can I do things in stages so i can minimize the wallet hurt and what are your ideas. I'm trying to get the ride a little cooler so any ideas will be appreciated.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
or if you are handy a few hundred bucks...
1.) ness big sucker hi flow air cleaner is about $120 on ebay from easternpc.
install time 45 minutes at most
difficulty about a 2
2.) nightrider.com xieds can take the place of a tuner. about $125 and just plug in to the o2 sensors
15 minutes and difficulty 1
3.) you should have stock headers with no cat, pick mufflers you like based on other bikes you hear...determine too loud vs too quiet.
the 2010 + stock style mufflers can be under $100 and will work well with your headers ( these mufflers seem to flow well, as the cat was moved to the headers for 2009 CA and 2010+ models)
or other muffler choice, based on your wants, will determine the final price.
2 X torca clamps to mount them
takes under an hour
difficulty of 3 or 4, in that you must be patient and not lever on the mufflers too much, which can damage the headers
helps to have someone help eyeball the mufflers to ensure they are hanging straight and symetrical before tightening
expect to gain 7 to 10 horsepower from your new "stage 1"
It much depends on what you want to do, or if it's a matter of riding in, opening your wallet and riding out...
Mike
1.) ness big sucker hi flow air cleaner is about $120 on ebay from easternpc.
install time 45 minutes at most
difficulty about a 2
2.) nightrider.com xieds can take the place of a tuner. about $125 and just plug in to the o2 sensors
15 minutes and difficulty 1
3.) you should have stock headers with no cat, pick mufflers you like based on other bikes you hear...determine too loud vs too quiet.
the 2010 + stock style mufflers can be under $100 and will work well with your headers ( these mufflers seem to flow well, as the cat was moved to the headers for 2009 CA and 2010+ models)
or other muffler choice, based on your wants, will determine the final price.
2 X torca clamps to mount them
takes under an hour
difficulty of 3 or 4, in that you must be patient and not lever on the mufflers too much, which can damage the headers
helps to have someone help eyeball the mufflers to ensure they are hanging straight and symetrical before tightening
expect to gain 7 to 10 horsepower from your new "stage 1"
It much depends on what you want to do, or if it's a matter of riding in, opening your wallet and riding out...
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; May 28, 2012 at 06:58 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 9
unless your bike was sold in california, it should not have cats. add some xied's and you should be good to go. do not get the download from the dealer...it will not help your heat problem in any way. cost a little over $100 if you buy new. dealer is not telling you the truth.
I agree with what's been said I will however add one thing.
Is this all you plan to do to your bike. If you plan on adding cams or any other performance mod then you are going to pay twice if you buy xied's. Because they only add fuel.
I have a pair of chrome v&h slip ons for sale. Straight shots. They are slim,not the big barrel type. Pm if interested. 100 bucks plus shipping.
Is this all you plan to do to your bike. If you plan on adding cams or any other performance mod then you are going to pay twice if you buy xied's. Because they only add fuel.
I have a pair of chrome v&h slip ons for sale. Straight shots. They are slim,not the big barrel type. Pm if interested. 100 bucks plus shipping.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 320
Likes: 48
From: Mobile, AL
Ditto on what mkguitar said. I did mine in stages as time and money permitted.
First thing was gutting the cat. I actually bought a used set of headers and gutted them so I could save my originals. Running stocks pipes. Ran like that for months without issues.
Picked up a set of used vieds on the forums a while back and just put them and the Ness Big Sucker on this past weekend.
Very pleased with the results and done on a budget.
FWIW....
First thing was gutting the cat. I actually bought a used set of headers and gutted them so I could save my originals. Running stocks pipes. Ran like that for months without issues.
Picked up a set of used vieds on the forums a while back and just put them and the Ness Big Sucker on this past weekend.
Very pleased with the results and done on a budget.
FWIW....
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 940
Likes: 3
Yes you can! In fact, it's better that way because you can wait for some really good deals like I got.
First mod: 2011 CVO slipons: $150 from craigslist. Completed September 2011
Second mod: Fuelmoto PCV: $200 from for sale forums here: Completed January 2012
Third mod: Vance & Hines Dresser Duals: $200 from craigslist: Completed May 2012
next mod: Screamin' Eagle A/C: $65 from for sale forums here (should get to me sometime this week)
upcoming mod: Wardspartswerks fan: waiting for my number to come up.
Anyway, did all the work myself, $14 for the new exhaust gaskets and I think I'm set with a stage I for about $629 and some "me time" with the bike.
Cheers
First mod: 2011 CVO slipons: $150 from craigslist. Completed September 2011
Second mod: Fuelmoto PCV: $200 from for sale forums here: Completed January 2012
Third mod: Vance & Hines Dresser Duals: $200 from craigslist: Completed May 2012
next mod: Screamin' Eagle A/C: $65 from for sale forums here (should get to me sometime this week)
upcoming mod: Wardspartswerks fan: waiting for my number to come up.
Anyway, did all the work myself, $14 for the new exhaust gaskets and I think I'm set with a stage I for about $629 and some "me time" with the bike.
Cheers
Last edited by Mike_M; May 28, 2012 at 09:08 PM.
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I would go in this order:
1. slip-ons (get the sound right away)
2. Power Commander (or similar) won't do much at this point, but it is a
necessary part before going on
3. Air intake (pick your flavor - SE, Big Sucker, etc)
4. Headers
This helped me minimize my wallet hemorrhage and I was able to feel like I was riding a Harley instead of a Honda right away by the improved sound. Even if the performance gain was either minimal, or imagined, it greatly increased the fun factor having a bad a$$ sounding bike.
1. slip-ons (get the sound right away)
2. Power Commander (or similar) won't do much at this point, but it is a
necessary part before going on
3. Air intake (pick your flavor - SE, Big Sucker, etc)
4. Headers
This helped me minimize my wallet hemorrhage and I was able to feel like I was riding a Harley instead of a Honda right away by the improved sound. Even if the performance gain was either minimal, or imagined, it greatly increased the fun factor having a bad a$$ sounding bike.
