Is it necessary to have a Slim S re-mapped if adding V&H slip on mufflers? I have heard yes & no from 2 separate dealers.

 

Necessary?

Take what I am about to say from a guy who knows not so much about EFI bikes. I am just now learning about the two I recently bought. I've been running carved bikes for 30+ years and did a lotta hot rodding as a kid. But, I am OCD as all gt out and have been reading a lot about tuning and EFI.

I bought my wife a Sportster a few weeks ago. It's got about 1800 miles... It's got the stock exhaust and stock air cleaner. The header pipes are blueing. That tells me that its running lean for the factory, with factory accouterments... It also tells me I should probably pick up a a tuner for it pretty soon.

I also recently picked up a Slim. It had a high flow air cleaner and an free flowing exhaust... and a lot of pop and crack on decel. Plus, the pipes are really quite blued. I don't think he had it tuned. One of the very firs things I did was buy myself a V&H FP3 and been really happy with that decision. It really woke up the bike.

A lotta guys say you can get away with exhaust changes, the O2 sensors will adjust accordingly. I would probably agree that it will adjust and run just as well as it did stock... But, why not take a few extra bucks and make it run better? I dunno.... Just makes sense to me.

 

Get it mapped or purchase a after market tuner

 

For just slips, no it isn't necessary. An aftermarket tuner may help in a few areas and will be handy for future upgrades though.

 

I am by no means knowledgeable in this field, but I can tell you I have a Slim S with V&H Slip Ons, and also a Power Vision. I am happy with the perceived performace boost.

I say perceived because I have no real proof or reliable benchmark, but subjectively my bike feels stronger with the Power Vision, the map file 16S103002303.pvt (the map description reads "Year: 2016 Family: SOFTAIL High Flow Air Cleaner, Rinehart Slip-ons"), and a few auto-tune runs.

 

Dealer that said yes: They want to sell you a map.
Dealer that said no: They want to sell you a new bike.

 

Thanx for the feedback, purchasing bike today ,didn't want to spend unnecessary money on tuner, but sounds like that's way to go.

 

You don't need a retune for the V&H slip ons

I bought my Slim from the dealer with them fitted and they categorically stated I don't need to retune... But happy to set me up with one of I want the slight performance boost.

Ran just fine

 

If the dealer's installing pipes...they'll flash bike so no need to bother.

 

Even a bone stock bike can benefit from a tune, the general rule out there is that the stock O2 sensors and the closed loop area of the factory map can handle small changes such as slip ons or an air cleaner change but not both. What this does is put the sensors out towards the edge of what they can handle compared to operating in the middle where they have the full range of their ability. The affordability and the ease of use of newer devices such as Power Vision and FP3 make tuning so much easier than before. No mod compares to a well tuned bike and these devices will tune the bike right where you ride it. Just my opinion but the next bike I buy will get tuned as soon as I get home and the retuned as mods are made.