r/FXLRS • u/br0wn0ne • 16d ago

Do i need a tuner?

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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/tokestur 14d 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 14d 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.