Harley Sportster, Custom Pipes Conflict Help Needed

[SportsterKing]

I bought a 2007 Harley Sportster 1200 Low right out of the dealership last July with 3300 miles on it. It CAME with Reinhardt pipes on it, screaming eagle, hi-flow kit, and on the test drive it was perfect. Even after the first week it was great. But right after that I could feel MAJOR lag after 60 MPH and especially getting it up to 70 MPH. It was like pulling teeth and to really push it past 70 MPH was like it was stuck in a lower gear even though I was in 5th, although the engine was NOT screaming as though I was redlining. After riding the bike for an hour it actually starts to choke. I immediately took it into the shop and after being told three times nothing was wrong with it I finally got them to take it for a LON ride and the mechanic acknowledged there WAS a problem. Their solution? Strip the pipes off, put STOCK on (CHARGE ME FOR IT!!!) and if I wanted the noise level back (which I did) then they can order me baffles (and CHARGE ME FOR IT!!!). I fought with them on the charges and they removed everything and did all the services for free. One problem they found also was some blown fuses to which they thought it solved the problem, it didn't. I wound up moving out of state before they got all the parts in and I was NOT happy about losing my pipes anyway. They never offered to see if there was a power commander and, if so, replace it or remove it entirely (as I've heard that usually fixes a lot of problems as power commanders are faulty a lot). In Nashville, TN one HD dealership recommended something called "THUNDERMAX" but it would cost nearly $1200 for parts and labor. I don't mind putting something like that on the bike if it's REALLY worth the money and will fix the bike (although I'm still stewing over the fact that HD screwed me on this).

Anyone else have recommendations on solutions to this problem? I don't know much about mechanics of bikes but it's completely ruining all my rides and really slowing my speeds down and shortening the times I can ride because it starts to choke. NC is starting to get a spell of nice weather and the season will start soon enough, I'd really like to get my bike running the way it should. Thanks for any help. (If you can make suggestions on how to handle HD on this too it would be helpful.)

Jude

[totalmotorcycle]

Hi Jude,

to the site BTW.

It's fuel injected so this should be an "easy fix", from the sounds of it, it sounds like your engine is running to lean (meaning it's not getting enough fuel). Do you find it gets really hot after riding it for a while or at high speeds? I'm guessing when whoever put the aftermarket pipes on they used a different EFI map.

To fix a lean fuel problem with FI you have to bring it to a dealer and have the EFI map checked and reset to stock (if you have the stock pipes on it again). Should run fine after that unless there is something wrong with the injectors.

Also there could be 2 other issues you might want to look at first before going the EFI map ($) route. That's the air filter (replace it with a new one or clean it as per the manual if you can) and replace the 2 spark plugs.

Remember to make an engine go it's a triangle:

FUEL - AIR - SPARK

That's just my best guess from reading your post.

That's a nice bike, what color do you have?



Mike

[SportsterKing]

I refused to go with stocks when I knew they weren't taking the problem seriously and let them jack my Reinhardts LOL. The spark plugs will be the easiest thing to check - I should put new ones in anyway after doing a 1500 mile ride. A new air filter will be the easiest thing to do as well. I have no idea how to check if there's a commander on the thing or not, but I have no doubt that HD didn't check the readings or readjust anything for the custom pipes while it was in the shop. It does need a full maintenance on it so maybe I'll ask if they can hook it up and hopefully a different HD will be better but the "new" bike was in the shop for 6 of the 8 weeks I first had it and no solution. So upset.

Here's my baby