Well installed SE filter and SE shotguns. 48 slow,2 shims,190 main, two turns on the mixture. Seems close, starts easy idles well. Took it out today on a long ride and just seems sluggish. When I bought the bike the guy had what looked like a stock pipes without baffles and she was LEAN. But ran very quick. The SE pipes have more back pressure but the overall ride is just even from off the line to all out....without any seat of the pants performance. Is this to be expected ? My wife's 1200 Sporty is quicker !!!! Whats next ? Ignition, coils...??? Another Roadstar LOL...just kidding.

Jim
'05 Softail

 

A few thoughts for you:
An air filter and pipes are not going to automatically give you a faster ride. If you think the old exhaust ran better, put it back on and see. Other than that, look in to more advanced carb tuning to matchthe current setup.
Running lean will make more power than running rich. Maybe why the first set up felt better.
I would expect a 1200 sportster to outrun a stock sotail most of the time - they are quick bikes. Especially if you outweigh your wife by much.
If you want a change in performance you can feel you should think about a good matched package including cams, headwork, and/or big bore.

 

I know I'm not comparing apples to apples. I'm just use to my other bike I quess.

Jim

 

To me it sounds like the symptoms of being a bit too rich, sluggish mid-range, what do your plugs look like? how did you determine it was too lean before?

K.

 

You need to play around with jets and needles a little more. A 48 slow jet was waaayyy too rich on my 03, I got best idle with the mixture screw 1/2 turn out. Shimmed stock needle felt really pathetic compared to an 88 Sporty needle, 27094-88. Did you change the slow jet and add shims when you changed the mufflers? What did you have before the muffler change? How do you know it was too lean if it ran so good?
First thing I'd do is put the stock 45 slow jet back in and adjust the mixture screw properly instead of 2 turns out because somebody said that's what you need.

 

If you warm up the engine and turn in the mixture screw all the way in, the engine should start to stumble and fall flat on it's face. If it dosn't then you are running to Rich. usally between 2-3 turns out is where it should be. But I'd try turning in the mixture screw while engine is fully warmed up and see if it falls on it's face. I'd bet your running to rich. If so try a 46 slow jet with one washer under the needle 2 1/2 - 3 turns out and I'd bet it would run alot better. Drag speciallty sells #46 slow jets if you need one.

 

Sorry for not getting back,out of town. Well the bike seemed lean because I had some coughing through carb and it wouldn't run right without plenty of choke.

 

When I got the bike it had what looked like stock pipes with removable baffles & SE air filter. I installed the SE short shots and they seem to have a LOT of restriction. When I opened the carb it had a 48 slow in it already but with the wide open pipes seemed lean and plugs were spotless. My bike had stock slow was 45 and main 190. It has the 48/190 and I added two washers to the needle. I do have a 46 jet maybe I should try that.

 

I happened to get a 46 from J&P before I started the job. I 'll try it. The plugs before were way to clean looking i thought. They now have black around the ring where strap attaches and the insulator very light tan.

Jim