Expert: Mike Wells - 12/10/2008

Question
I'm thinking about buying a 2009 Road King and would I like the idea of getting the SE stage I upgrade to bump it up to 103ci. My intention is to use the bike for true long distance touring ( i.e. many miles over trans-continental trips# so miles per tank is an important issue for me. My questions are these -

1. How will the Stage I 103ci kit affect performance and mileage?

2. Would I be better off just getting the Stage I SE air cleaner upgrade with performance exhausts # and how would that change affect performance and mileage? ) ??

3. I know the dealer will need to dyno-tune the bike after any of these upgrades...is a PCIII also necessary or is the stock ECM with the HD Stage I download up to the task?


Answer
Anytime you go for more horses you will give up some gas milage. With the current motor on the 2009 I would go with the performance exhaust and air cleaner. You will have plenty of power to go touring. You will get more throttle responce with the SE setup above, but you will need to remapp. The download should work fine with the pipes and air cleaner
Good luck and happy riding
Mike