How to get More Power out of your Harley Davidson?
If you are a new Harley Davidson owner then no question you will quickly be bitten by the upgrade bug that affects us all. I don't know if I have ever seen a stock Harley Davidson outside of the dealership. Everyone wants to make their bike their own and upgrades are how you do it.
One of the most common issues facing new Harley riders is how to get more power out of the Harley Davidson. These aren't the most powerful motorcycles right off the showroom floor and the stock mufflers are sure to disappoint the Harley rider longing for that distinct Harley Davidson exhaust note.
If you check out any of the Harley forums or talk to the more seasoned Harley Davidson riders then you will inevitably run into terminology that you may not understand. When someone mentions doing a Stage 1 upgrade or a Stage 2 upgrade to your Harley Davidson then inevitably you will nod your head like you know exactly what you are talking about. Nobody wants to be a Harley Dummy so keep reading and find out what these guys are talking about.
One thing you must know is that everyone and their brother has a different opinion of what makes up a Harley Stage 1 upgrade but these are the most commonly accepted versions.
Stage 1 Harley Upgrade
A stage 1 Harley upgrade involves changing the following parts:
- Free flowing AC - the stock Air Cleaner stinks.
- Pipes - Replacement pipes or slip ons if money is tight.
- Rejet Carb or Remap ECM
- Ignition Upgrade if applicable
Stage 2 Harley upgrade
A stage 2 Harley upgrade will involve everything in Stage 1 plus:
- Camshaft Upgrades - tread lightly. Get advice from someone who knows.
Stage 3 Upgrades
A stage 3 upgrade is Stage 1 and 2 plus:
- Ported Heads
- Increased Compression
- Assorted Blueprinting work.
How to get More Power from your Harley
If you are like most new owners then you will ask this question inevitably. The recipe for more power for your Harley Davidson is right here. Most riders do a quick Stage 1 upgrade and they are happy with the results there. All bikes are different but you can probably expect about a 10-20 hp gain from a Stage 1 kit. This, combined with the much healthier exhaust note, is enough to make most Harley owners quite happy.
A lot of new owners tend to agonize over which AC to get or which pipes but I have to say that if you are doing a Stage 1 upgrade, just pick the ones you like the looks of the most. If truth be told and despite what the manufacturers will claim, most of the Stage 1 stuff is going to perform pretty much the same.
Where you want to really be careful is once you venture into Stage 2 territory. The cam selection can make or break the power curve of your Harley Davidson motorcycle. Make sure you speak with someone who is very skilled at camshaft selection for Harley Davidsons.
Thundermax EFI Autotune
If you are the proud owner of an EFI Harley Davidson then you face another set of issues when it comes to adjusting the fuel mixture that a Stage 1 upgrade will require. I would strongly recommend you check out the Thundermax Autotune EFI ECM. It is the way to go in my humble opinion and won't require any dyno time or disappointment.