I'm doing a lot of touring with my '05 RoadKing/TLE. We, (my dog and I) are really loaded down. Camping gear, T-bags, 90 lb. Lab., etc. Add a head wind or put us on a steep hill and little old church ladies are flipping me off as they pass us.
Does anyone have a stage one kit installed? How's it working for ya? Any other ideas?.....I don't wanna split the cases and loud pipes disturb the pooches naps.
The Stage I kit won't help much. It'll be noisier and use more gas.
The Stage I and II conversions help out on the top end HP but don't do much if anything for midrange torque.
You can raise your final drive ratio by playing with drive pulley sizes and get more grunt in 5th gear but you will sacrifice top end speed and gas mileage.
About the only other way you're going to be able to maintain 60+ (loaded and uphill) in 5th gear is with more cubic inches. Say 96 to 103.
Or maybe trade up to a 96" 6 speed model if you want to stick with Harley.
Lonnie
Thanks a bunch Lonnie.....25+ years ago, when I was in the Marines, on our first big hump through 29 Palms, the trail was littered with equipment that we just dumped. That's how I felt crossing New Mexico this year. I would have done almost anything for another 5 mph.
I think I may just trade up for an 08 rig.
Originally written by ditch on 12/5/2007 9:40 PM
Thanks a bunch Lonnie.....25+ years ago, when I was in the Marines, on our first big hump through 29 Palms, the trail was littered with equipment that we just dumped. That's how I felt crossing New Mexico this year. I would have done almost anything for another 5 mph.
I think I may just trade up for an 08 rig.
upgrade to a BMW..not necesarily a new one... :o)
Hey Bob,
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......I can't consider a BMW. I'm totally committed to spending way too much money on underpowered old technology....I just love the look of my Road King....and 9 out of 10 dumb blonde's with huge boobs agree!
no problem, Ditch,
Just a thought :o)
Some rigs when underpowered will go faster in 4th than in 5th. No rush to shift... let the bike be as happy as it can in whatever gear you are in.
What's 5th?...lol
i went from a 2000 95" stage II bike to a 07 96" stock bike with the legal 4" se mufflers - the 96" is MUCH stronger pulling the sidecar. on long big hills with a headwind i need to use 5th, under 60 or under 65 when loaded really heavy i use 5th. but 6th at 80 with the cruise on works just fine 99% of the time. however i use a LOT more gas above 65 - the one full tank i ran at 90 per loaded i got 25mpg out of it.. [we needed to make a resort before the 10pm check in - so i found a volvo in a hurry and followed it - i can make about 92 mph sustained fully loaded got there on time.]
up hills with a head wind id like to go 103 or 110 if i had the bux - but the need for more torque is so rare i cant justify it. [well i dont have the bux *pout*]
if you look at the dyno charts on the latus site you will find that the stock new 96" or [103" or 110"] with the 255 cams and stock head pipes and 4" se mufflers or vance and hines mufflers make the MOST usable torque of ANY combination - and that is what will pull a sidecar in a big hurry. those charts are really useful. what you will find upon careful reading is that the factory harley head pipes give the most real power, the street legal 255 cams the same for 103/110 sizes. all the other combinations make more top end horsepower but that wont pull the sidecar.
if you want to stay stock get a se 110 road king - most power - good gas milage - fully legal with full warranty. AND the 110 road king comes with radial tires
to
LDuck who posts here from time to time has a 103" Harley rig that I had the pleasure to try out. It did have decent power and was a nice ride.
NO sidecar rig ever has too much power though.
Ditch,
I'm ridin a 06 flhtcui. I'm a good size guy and yup i to could use more power... i did get a set of wild pig pipes...great sound, not to loud and i gained about 7 to 8 more hp...milage did improve a little to(about 1.75 mpgs) I know this isn't a complete answer to the problem but even a little hp helps.... Ed
All great responses.....thanks you guys!
I agree that I'm not looking for torque...getting off the light in a zip isn't my concern.....getting out of the way of 50,000 lbs. of semi is.
Now....keep the current rig and upgrade to a monster motor and 6 speed tranny or trade up for a stock '08? The '08's have some pretty nifty tricks for H-D.
I'm gonna go down and visit my dealer today.
And another thing....I'm so glad I no longer have a wife I need to get "permission" from! 🙂
Hey Ditch we are located in central Pa. in a town called Penns Creek. If you ever jouney out this way give me a call. My number is in the link below. David ( Doc) who posts here sometimes is also near us In milheim. He has a Harley with a Motorvation Spyder on it and is a long time rider.
See attached for picture of doc
My 04 FLHRSI/TLE has the stage II kit (95 ci, FI map, cams, intake mods and screaming eagle slip ons) and it runs along at 65~70MPH comfortably with 425 LBS of pilot and passenger. The pipes are not offensive and have a nice bark.
Hey Ditch, Doc here, I don't have toooo much trouble with my Motorvatin, I think it weighs alot less than an HD sidecar, I also have a camper I tow with this outfit, and I sure could use some more ooommph then, Iv'e thought of gearing it down but haven't made up my (?mind?) I'm gonna work on raking the front forks first, over the winter, guess I'm gonna send them to Liberty, I have a springer, later, Doc.
