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:

Tuner...XIED...Remapping????????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 05:30 PM
  #1  
dice2010's Avatar
dice2010
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Michigan in Summer & So. California Winters
Default Tuner...XIED...Remapping????????

What to do, I am really confused. First of all let me say that I am not a mechanic type guy. Here is where I am at. I live in So. Calif. during the winter only. I have a 2012 ElectraGlide Classic, that is still bone stock. The heat from the cat converter doesn't bother me because I am not there during the hot months, so I am leaving it in place.But, the bike has no sound, and lacks power. So, I am going to do a stage 1 kit and some new slipons.
Here is my problem. I have decided on the Arlen Ness Big Sucker stage 1, haven't decided on the slip ons yet. I can put on the stage 1, and I can swap the pipes. From this site I know I have to do something now about the fuel/air mixture. I read to get a XIED from some, get a tuner from others, and some just say to have the dealer do a remap. I am not going to get a Dyno, because I don't need to have it be perfect and don't want to spend the extra $$$. I just want a little more sound and a little more power.
So, do I do an XIED, a tuner, or what. Is their an advantage a tuner has over an XIED? Which do I go with? I know tuners can be pricey, definitely more than an XIED.
Can someone help me out with difference between these?
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 06:21 PM
  #2  
Pine Tree's Avatar
Pine Tree
MODERATOR
Veteran: Marine Corps
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,108
Likes: 1,964
From: New England
Default

Originally Posted by dice2010
...So, do I do an XIED, a tuner, or what. Is their an advantage a tuner has over an XIED? Which do I go with? I know tuners can be pricey, definitely more than an XIED....
Do you want mediocre or a better, more responsive and efficient machine? If mediocre, go with the "ied" things.

And if you decide to go with the "ied's" then skip the air cleaner...you won't get any performance results from it.
 

Last edited by Pine Tree; Jun 4, 2012 at 06:33 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 06:25 PM
  #3  
speakerfritz's Avatar
speakerfritz
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 3
From: NYC
Default

Your in california...do they emissions check bikes there...that could influence what your options are.


I have been the XIED route and was happy with that while I was at stage I. But then I jumped to stage III and needed to go for a more robust solution so I went with the thundermax with auto tune.....primarily because of the wide band sensors and non dealer dependency on remapping going forward.
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 06:29 PM
  #4  
Mick's Avatar
Mick
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 7
From: Rochester N.Y.
Default

I just had the stage 1 download done on mine and I'm pretty happy with it.
The intake will make a difference even with the stock mufflers.
My plan was to do the download and xieds later if needed.
The mods (in my sig) worked well for me so far and I get great mileage and it sounds pretty cool , but not loud enough to bother the neighbors.
A tuner would be able to wring out every last bit of tuning power for you , but to just make up for the intake/muffler combo , the download and maybe later the xieds would work pretty well.
Fuel mileage was more important to me than ultimate power output.
Mick
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 07:01 PM
  #5  
Ronp42's Avatar
Ronp42
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Default

Originally Posted by dice2010
What to do, I am really confused. First of all let me say that I am not a mechanic type guy. Here is where I am at. I live in So. Calif. during the winter only. I have a 2012 ElectraGlide Classic, that is still bone stock. The heat from the cat converter doesn't bother me because I am not there during the hot months, so I am leaving it in place.But, the bike has no sound, and lacks power. So, I am going to do a stage 1 kit and some new slipons.
Here is my problem. I have decided on the Arlen Ness Big Sucker stage 1, haven't decided on the slip ons yet. I can put on the stage 1, and I can swap the pipes. From this site I know I have to do something now about the fuel/air mixture. I read to get a XIED from some, get a tuner from others, and some just say to have the dealer do a remap. I am not going to get a Dyno, because I don't need to have it be perfect and don't want to spend the extra $$$. I just want a little more sound and a little more power.
So, do I do an XIED, a tuner, or what. Is their an advantage a tuner has over an XIED? Which do I go with? I know tuners can be pricey, definitely more than an XIED.
Can someone help me out with difference between these?
It all depends on what you want now and plan to do in the future. The newer Harley's have a great ECM on them. They will adjust to small changes. If you are going to leave your stock header on and just want some sound and intake to let it breathe better, plus run cooler, the Xied's will work great. I've been running them on three different touring bikes now. I have over 25K on the RK in my sig pic. All those miles are with slipon's, Arlen Ness BS a/c and Xied's.

If you plan to do header, cams and maybe bigger motor later, go with a tuner. If you are **** about getting every ounce of performance and want to get stoplight to stoplight 1 second quicker, buy a tuner! Do some research, you will know what you want. It's confusing on here because guy's usually push what they have.
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 07:18 PM
  #6  
RockerMike's Avatar
RockerMike
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 927
Likes: 17
From: Spotsylvania, VA
Default

I have the Ventilator A/C and Bub 7 Slip-ons. I had a PC V and had the bike dynod. It ran very well but was very bad on MPGs. I know it was the tuner, but I decided to sell the PC V and went with VIEDs. I will say power is down slightly, but I am happy with both the performance and the MPGs. I went with the VIEDs so I could adjust the fuel ratio a little. I would highly recommend them over the XIEDs. You may not think you will adjust them, but I think you will (I think they were an extra $10). It is one little screw on the VIEDs - you can adjust them by the seat of your pants method and get the bike just how you want it. Give them a call at Nightrider.com, they will be happy to talk to you (I think his name is Steve).
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 07:24 PM
  #7  
bigdumbnoitall00's Avatar
bigdumbnoitall00
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 713
Default

call fuelmoto.
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 07:30 PM
  #8  
TUCCI's Avatar
TUCCI
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Default

Let me give you another perspective. For 5500miles slip-on's and no cat with a VIED worked just fine. When the miles started getting closer to the 6k area I started noticing what appeared to be a ping in the higher rpm range that is slowly getting worse. All my research points to 1) there's a problem with my fuel delivery. 2) In spite of a cooler plug and douching the bike with Seafoam, nothings going to reverse the pinging unless I can remove some timing. I researched timing adjustment options and 1)I'm just not taking it to a dealer, that's a big fat no. 2)What happens to the pinging has to be done by either a dyno or a tuner. I researched tuners factoring cost, usability and proven performance and popularity and there's just no way around the fact that I've got to be able to manipulate the fuel delivery and the timing in the area I'm getting the pinging. After being a strong advocate against tuners, I am unable to dispute the necessity of one to change what's happening to my motor and a tuner is the only way. So, I'm going with a Power Commander V where I can access all areas of the map to manipulate it. Fuel Moto is inserting a map for my setup and I'm going from there. Do I expect to solve the pinging from the get go: that would be nice, but I have no illusions. It's likely I will need to gradually alter the map until the pinging is gone. You'll have to make the same decision for yourself and I hope you don't find the need for a tuner but you'll have to keep an open mind because you never know what tomorrow will bring.....let us know which way you go....
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 07:40 PM
  #9  
flhtupser's Avatar
flhtupser
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: The Peach State!
Default

I had a dyno tuned pc III on my '06 and it ran fine. Mpgs were in the upper 30's. On my '09 I'm running fuelmoto's billet ac, Vance & Hines twin slash slip ons, xieds and stage one download. Mpgs are upper 30's to low 40's and runs real good. I don't plan on future mods so went with xieds and am very happy with the results.
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2012 | 08:06 PM
  #10  
cdemarse's Avatar
cdemarse
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: IL
Default

Originally Posted by Pine Tree
Do you want mediocre or a better, more responsive and efficient machine? If mediocre, go with the "ied" things.

And if you decide to go with the "ied's" then skip the air cleaner...you won't get any performance results from it.
This is simply not true at all!! Please tell me how xied or vied somehow make an a/c change pointless.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:31 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE