My 08' ultra's got 750 miles on it. It does run slightly hot to the point that the pipes are starting toturn blue between and under the heat shields. My question is will it hurt the engine or just turn the pipes blue if I leave it stock and running lean for another 1000 or so miles? or till I figure it out.
Your advice is appreciated. Thanks,Rick

 

Left my 07 SG stock for 2200 miles with no ill effects...except hot thighs.

 

Question is, why leave a bagger EPA lean? At the bare minimum, opt for a complete stage one upgrade. You will be amazed at the difference in performance & heat.

 

you can leave it stock, you will be missing out on some performance, it will continue to run hot, it will not have a true harley sound...... for about a grand, you can fix the small issues that our wonderful government created for us for our own good.... air cleaner, pipes and a fuel controller that we control......it will run fine stock, you will get better mileage, I would rather enjoy it and spend a few dollars more a month of fuel....how about you????

 

Like in the Dallas Fort Worth area, doIhave to go to a Harley Dealer to get this "Stage 1"?

 

Stage 1 is a generic term around here and evidently means upgrading everything external to the engine through which it breathes. A "full" stage 1 would be freer-breathing airbox, freer-breathing mufflers or pipes and mufflers, and a method of programming the engine control system to accommodate the changes.

If you go to the dealer and ask for a stage 1 all they can (legally) offer you is H-D Screamin' Eagle intake, mufflers, and ECU re-flash. It'll still be EPA lean but will give you a little more sound (not much - EPA covers noise as well as exhaust gases) and a little more power.

What these guys are talking about is something that will make the engine run like it would rather run if the EPA were just a nightmare instead of a real-life horror story. Unless you run afoul of the EPA you'll not be helping your engine's heat output any at all. In fact, with the "legit" H-D stage 1 you'll probably be making even more heat whenever you actually use that extra power.

 

I've to 1400 miles on my 08 Ultra.
I'm thinking about going with Rhinehart true-duals and a stage I kit.
Are your recommending use someone other that an HD shop?
My last experience going outside a dealership was a nightmare.
Nashville / Huntsville /Chattanooga area.

 

A considerable number of H-D shops will still perform an act of "civil disobedience" and make the bike run right using the common definition of "right" instead of the EPA take on the word. I predict that will all come to a screeching halt sometime not too far down the road when fines start getting assessed.

All I was really trying to do was clear up the definition a little for someone who asked what it meant.

 

Bike is lean from the factory,even just a fuel management system should help with lean/hot conditions

 

It won't hurt it, but like all the guys said, you'll be stylin' once you do the Stage 1. Makes it a whole different bike. Buy a fuelmoto package for less than $700 for K&N/PCIII and Rush mufflers and they preprogram the PCIII for you. It's a simple tie-wrap plug-in and off you go about 10 more hp/10ft lbs and nice sounds and lower liveable heat.

Here's my report-out on my upgrade.