| "How to get more power" is one of the most | | | | found the best deals on slip-on mufflers on |
| frequently asked question received about | | | | Ebay that were sometimes less than HALF of |
| improving the performance of your Harley | | | | what the item would cost new. To read more on |
| motorcycle. Some people are looking for more | | | | other exhaust systems check out the Harley |
| "get up and go" from their stock engines, | | | | Performance Exhaust page.Rejetted carburetor |
| while others are looking for higher dyno | | | | or remapped EFI. Once your engine is |
| numbers.For those who have a stock or mildly | | | | breathing it's going to need to do a better |
| modified Harley engine the answer is to move | | | | job at providing a stable fuel mixture. Your |
| up to the next "stage"... or a Stage 1 kit to | | | | carburetor or EFI will need to be corrected |
| be more exact. Before dragging out the | | | | to compensate for how differently the engine |
| catalogs and bolting on every gizmo claiming | | | | now breaths. On carbureted models this means |
| to make your ride go faster, let's start with | | | | rejetting. This is a simple operation that is |
| the basics of a Stage 1 upgrade.You've | | | | explained in detail under Harley Carb |
| probably heard terms such as Stage 1, Stage | | | | Jetting. Various kits are available to |
| 2, etc. Now depending on who you ask, a | | | | recalibrate the carburetor including those |
| Stage 1 upgrade could be anything from an | | | | offered by Dynojet, Yost, and the Stage 1 |
| exhaust upgrade to a new carburetor. I'm | | | | Carb Kit. EFI models are another story. Fuel |
| going to base the term "Stage 1" on what the | | | | injected models use a programmed map to |
| motor company typically terms for this | | | | regulate how much fuel is to be delivered. |
| upgrade. With that said, a Stage 1 upgrade | | | | Since you have changed the way the engine |
| consists of the following: 1. Free breathing | | | | breaths, those instructions may not supply |
| air cleaner.2. Free breathing exhaust.3. | | | | the proper stable fuel mixture under all |
| Rejetted carburetor or remapped EFI.4. | | | | conditions. Granted your bike will still run, |
| Upgraded ignition (if require*).There is | | | | but the only way you are going to get the |
| probably no greater beginning upgrade you can | | | | most out of your EFI bike is to have it |
| make than Stage One, which consists entirely | | | | remapped by a qualified shop. There are |
| of bolt-on parts. If you want you can take | | | | simple ways to do this yourself using devices |
| this upgrade one step at a time however, I | | | | like the Power Commander or SE Race Tuners |
| recommend going in the order listed above if | | | | kit.Upgraded ignition*. I placed a "*" next |
| not all at once.Free breathing air cleaner. | | | | to this last item because under certain |
| This is the simplest upgrade to perform for | | | | circumstances you can go without this upgrade |
| most Harley owners. Depending on your budget | | | | and still accomplish a Stage 1 upgrade. |
| this ranges from changing the air cleaner to | | | | Particularly with Twin Cam models, which |
| a K&N or other element, to installing higher | | | | already use a single fire ignition. |
| end air cleaner assemblies like Forcewinders | | | | Aftermarket TC88 ignitions offer higher rev |
| and Hyperchargers. At minimum you need to let | | | | limits and altered advance curves but unless |
| your engine breath by changing the stock air | | | | you plan on hitting 6200 RPM (you shouldn't |
| cleaner. You don't have to spend a fortune | | | | anyway!) then stock is just fine. Evo engines |
| but pick something that fits your bike well. | | | | and earlier models have Dual-fire ignitions |
| If your plan is to keep the look of your | | | | and can really benefit from the single-fire |
| current cover assembly go with Screamin' | | | | upgrade. Dynatek's very popular DYNA 2000 |
| Eagle or Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" assemblies. | | | | ignition was previously reviewed and is an |
| These allow you to use your stock cover but | | | | excellent performance upgrade for pre-1999 |
| the difference over stock is amazing.Free | | | | Evo engines.That's really the core to |
| breathing exhaust. As with the air cleaner | | | | performing a Stage 1 upgrade. The next step |
| this upgrade can be simple or extreme. Many | | | | is Stage 2 which includes installing a |
| choose to keep their stock pipes and go with | | | | performance cam, and Stage 3 (and 4 and |
| slip-on mufflers. These are easy to install, | | | | beyond) include upgrading your heads, big |
| maintains a stock look, and adds plenty of | | | | bore cylinders, and stroker kits. Before |
| performance. Popular slip-on models include | | | | tearing down your engine or spending your |
| HD Screamin' Eagle II, Cycle Shack, Bubs, and | | | | hard earned cash on modifications, try your |
| Khrome Werks to name a few. My favorites are | | | | own Stage 1 upgrade as described. You may be |
| the ones from Khrome Werks and Python, but | | | | surprised just how much power is lurking |
| the others are just as good. If your budget | | | | within your stock Harley engine.Enjoy the |
| is slim (join the club) then try buying used | | | | Ride! Ken Mendelson is the author of many |
| like on Ebay. There you will find many models | | | | articles on Harley-Davidson motorcycles and |
| from people who are upgrading to full exhaust | | | | performance tuning. In addition, Ken runs the |
| systems or another flavor of the month. I've | | | | popular Harley web site Harley-Performance. |