hi there, I am not liking the gearing on my 2015 Heritage Softail especially 1st gear, and low RPM 2nd gear, I know the stage 1 (with cleaner and full exhaust replacement and tuner) wont affect the gearing at all, but I am wondering if the engine will rev more freely in first gear and have more low revs torque in second gear so I can corner at low speed without having to change into first gear, which currently I find annoying for low speed cornering. I ride 2 up all the time so I just like to chug around when riding the neighbourhood. Any real world advice will be appreciated, because I am considering trading the bike on one of the Rushmore Project bikes that has taller gearing, david and dianne

I had a similar issue with my fatboy,even though it had the slip on pipes and breather.

I got a dyno tune done "WOW" changed the bike,takes off so much easier and smoother,chugs around in top gear now as low as 60km hr.

 

 

When I got my 2007 softail it was already fitted with stage 1 equipment so didn't know how a stock softail rode. But I only ever started off in first and ALL low speed cornering and take off from a slow roll was done in second gear without any issue. And the gear boxes and ratios are the same. Essentially same engine all over except cylinders and pistons are slightly larger obviously in the 103.

Would be a shame to offload a good bike

thankyou so much, i was hoping dearly that the stage 1 could help, really dont want to sell the heritage, it's too beautiful

hi, many thanks for sharing your experience, maybe it is your stage 1, becuase my bike lugs badly in 2nd at low revs

Stage 1 and tuned properly will make a difference, don't just let the shop flash a stage 1 cal in and call it tuned, cause it really isn't.

Look into a cam change and Dyno.

I had the exact same complaint on my 07 Road King I bought 4 months ago. 96 Cube 6 speed. I bought second hand and it had S&S slipons on it. No other changes. I hope this doesnt turn into a controller debate as I think their are plenty of threads already. And because I'm thrifty(cheapass) my decision was to install a Nightrider VIED. I haven't looked back since. Much better throttle response, idles better, no backfiring at all. Its only set 50% I figure when I get around to a High Flow Air Cleaner ill set it to the recommended 75%. Not sure if the best solution for 2015 bike but for a second hand 07 model I was very happy with such an inexpensive solution.

Maaaate. I had my bike tuned on a dyno and was told by the owner that it would now run better, ie: smoother once it'd been done. Pay the money and do it!!!! Heaps better at 100 km/h in 6th on the Hume. BUT !!!!     It's still revving too low. We all know that chugga chugga equates to clunka clunka..........bad thing.??????.

I tuned my mates new streetglide with the SEPST on the weekend, he has a real big sucker, v and h power duals and 4.5 inch hi output mufflers, made a big difference to how well it runs compared to the stage one canned cal the shop flashed in. A dyno tune from a good tuner would obviously be better but he does not like dyno's. Got a streetbob to do next weekend as well, short shots and breather, he don't like dyno's either. Fuel adders work for stage one's and do make an improvement in most cases but mapping the VE's is a far better option, in my experience anyhow.