Why is it my bike doesn't come from the factory all set for top performance in that I have to spend MORE money to make it run right...PCIII, download, DFO or whatever. If it's all EPA stuff then how can the dealers change it without breaking some law and if not why isn't it done in the first place.

I guess I'm gonna' get all kind of answers.

Thanx

Greg

 

It's normal, they're all like that.

 

The factory ships the bike under EPA compliance. The dealer modifies it for off-road / track use only for you.

 

As someone else said...most modifications are for "off road use". I go on dirt trails all the time. If you like a modified bike I wouldn't be questioning whether a dealer is violating EPA laws. It sucks that the bikes are so lean from the factory...my newest one pinged ridiculously from the factory. Welcome to the club.

 

The bike comes from the factory all set to run. Ride it as is if you want, it'll work just fine. But if you hang out with malcontents who think the stock bike is beneath them then you're going to get their opinions. And if those opinions become your own andmake you decide you want to spend money on unnecessary --albeit cool --modifications, that's your choice. Don't blame Harley. "Honest, Judge, they MADE me go get them loud pipes! If they hadda gimme them 10 horsepower stock, I'd a never put 'em on."

 

In order to build an air-cooled v-twin, Harley has to set them up very, very lean to meet EPA requirements. The only other option would be to go liquid-cooled and that ain't a Harley. The basic reason is, the more controlled the combustion chamber variables are, the easier it is to control emissions. A big variable is combustion temperature. You can keep the combustion temps in a much more narrow band using liquid-cooling than you can using air-cooling. This is obvious when you think about the difference in air temperatures that these engines may operate in. When liquid-cooling, all you have to do is open and close a thermostat to keep the temperature fairly constant. Therefore, let's all thank Harley for continuing to do the hard thing and allowing us to still enjoy an air-cooled machine. This allows us all to enjoy our hobby. That being discussing upgrades and doing the upgrades. We all love it! The EPA is trying to make it illegal for us to make the upgrades so watch for that in the future.

 

Rumor has it that ALL STREET MOTORCYCLES will be water cooled by the year 2010 to comform with EPA Regulations[:-]

 

Unless you're paying way too much for something, like a new harley, there's always room for improvement, and that's what makes the world go round. I guess that's also what made the phrase FTW so popular as well
I do agree with you though. For the money spent, there should be a lower cost on the initial set up after buying the bike.

 

your car doesn't come from the factory set for top performance. why should you expect that your harley would? you can, and many do, run their harley stock with no problems.

 

Performance is fine for a stock Harley, at least for the 96'. It's the frigging heat that's the problem. They should make the bastards at the EPA ride stock Harleys to work every day.