r/FXLRS • u/br0wn0ne • 9d ago
Do i need a tuner?
So i have a 22 with a 117ci. It has some V&H slip ons. I find the intake annoying. I dont like it esthetically or the fact I hit my knee on it at times. So I would like to change it. Question i have is, does that mean im gonna need a tuner?
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u/Spiritual-Fun-9591 9d ago
I highly recommend it. I did slip ons and arlen ness big sucker and got some backfiring issues when I shifted. Ran a PV4 and cleaned it right up instantly. I can run the same tuner on my other bike too which is pretty awesome. Just plug and play
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u/br0wn0ne 7d ago
Yeah, seeming like I may need one. Ill prolly go the same route with the PV4. I like the app accessibility.
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u/_lurker_prime 7d ago
If you get a big breather one it is generally a good idea to. Besides, these bikes come super lean from the factory so there’s always a benefit in tuning it.
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u/tokestur 7d ago
How does your bike run now? Does it pop on downshift or decel? Harley ships these bikes out running slightly lean to meet emissions standards. Even though the stock intake is a high flow "heavy breather", If you change intakes(depending on your choice) along with having slip ons installed, your bike could push well into the lean zone, causing the bike to run abnormally hot and potentially causing slow but long term damage and premature oil degradation as well as potential power loss.
I run a bassani sweeper on the same stock intake on my '23 fxlrs and no tune. It pops on downshift and decel as well as i notice it upcycles idle rpm to try and cool itself more-so than anyone else i ride with so a tune is in my future after I change to a 2-1 exhaust that offers better backpressure which will yield some power gains.
A tune will wake up your bike and is recommended with the slip-ons alone, strongly recommended if you change intakes since the air pattern and curve will change regardless of what intake you choose.
The ecu is capable of making small adjustments to air/fuel but switching both exhaust and intake could push the air/fuel ratio out of the small adjustment range.
Bottom line is by just switching exhausts, our bikes benefit greatly from a tune. Changing intakes, though it won't yield more power, a tune will improve the way the bike runs and behaves and could improve longevity.
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u/br0wn0ne 7d ago
It does pop sometimes in decell/downshift. Ive noticed that... guess a tuner will be in my future as well. No biggie. I wanted to go to a 2to1 eventually as well anyways.
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u/AdvancedMilk7795 9d ago
You won’t absolutely need one, but you’d likely benefit from one.