When I had my 05 dyna, I put V&H Big shots on it and immediately threw on a fuelpak because everything I read recommended it. I just put the big radius pipes on my breakout and took it out of a few rides, I have not noticed any problems with power or sound (popping). Seems to ride smooth overall. Is it detrimental that I get a fuelpak/dyno? Or is it more a matter of preference on how your specific bike feels? Generally I am not the kind of person who gets geeked out about tuning/performance. All bikes I have had I have never really messed with anything like that and all have run fine with minimal issues. Just don't want to do anything that would hurt the engine.

 

If you read closer in here It's been said for yrs that if you only change the pipes and not the A/C, there is no need for a Tuner,,, but you'll still be stock Lean,,meaning it'll run a little hotter than it would with a Good self Tuner or a good tuner and a dyno that can adjust the A/F ratio...

Even a good self tuner or a good tuner and a dyno on a Stock bike will run better and cooler..

 

Appreciate the info. Still a while out for a new AC...so will see how it goes. Though the BO engine runs hot for sure. Maybe by mid summer I might be forced to jump on the FP3.

 

I put slip ons and a stage 1 air kit on my 2012 Heritage classic and was told I would I have to tune the bike.. It was gonna be 4 or 5 hundred bucks. I had a dyno pull done on Friday and everything is in perfect line with the recommendations. No tune or reflash needed..

 

Whomever told you that you "would have to turn the bike" didn't know what they were talking about.
The modern system is more than capable in compensating for the changes in air and exhaust.

However a fuel turner (not a stage 1 tune) will produce some minor performance changes such as cooler running, better low end response and slightly better mpg.
Now is the performance changes worth the cost of a tuner?
That's a question everyone has to decided.

 

I believe from what I've read that just changing the exhaust, even deleting the catalytic converter, should not need a tune. However, my 2015 FLSTC ran so hot in traffic last year that my right leg felt like I was sitting on a toaster. I went to Vance and Hines duals and a Fuel Pak 3. It now runs cooler and I think it may get a little better mileage. Harley makes a good motorcycle that you really don't have to mess with, but what fun is that?

 

Just my opinion from my personal experience.... Auto tuners seem to be OK for stage 1, bike will run cooler, better throttle response and better mpg. May not be 100% efficient like a dyno tune but good enough. I ran a Cobra FI2000 with my stage 1 and could tell a difference.
If you do more mods (cams, heads) I would get it tuned.