Performance Increase

I'm curious, the Harley guys are always doing tweaks to increase performance (high air flow filters, Vance and Hines pipes,etc.).

What are the best "enhancements" out there for the FJR? What have you guys done to your bikes that really works? Do you have pictures and/or sound files?

Thanks.

Nick2 said:

<snip>....tweaks to increase performance... Do you have pictures and/or sound files?

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:huh: :blink:

The HD guys 'tweak' performance so they have some.

The FJR already has performance. So - no 'tweaks' necessary.

Some basic things are to address breathing in and breathing out and then balancing things in the EFI to adapt to those changes.

That means:

A decent, foam air filter, since the intake box is about as good as it gets.

A complete header and can replacement (so that you lose the cat/con as the main constriction in the breathing out bits).

A PC3 and a good dyno tune so the EFI understands what's happened.

Beyond that, you're getting into serious money and deminishing returns for your investment. 80% of your total cost will go into the last 20% of your performance enhancements.

In some people's minds it's better to invest in getting the OEM power to the ground better BEFORE trying to add more power. That means:

suspension tuning, tire selection, and rider skill improvement.

the black arts are in the first 2 while the 90% persperation is in the last.

Bounce said:

Some basic things are to address breathing in and breathing out and then balancing things in the EFI to adapt to those changes.
<snip>Beyond that, you're getting into serious money and deminishing returns for your investment. 80% of your total cost will go into the last 20% of your performance enhancements.

In some people's minds it's better to invest in getting the OEM power to the ground better BEFORE trying to add more power. That means:

suspension tuning, tire selection, and rider skill improvement.

the black arts are in the first 2 while the 90% persperation is in the last.

Click to expand...

Makes sense. Some of what I thought. I ain't gonna push it that far anyway. The FJR is a beast, but everything can be tweaked. My thought was that some air flow enhancement via high flow air filter and exhaust mods (with consequent EFI adjustment) might add a bit. I was just curious what folks had tried, found that worked, and would reccomend. I'd also like to see and/or hear mods (like exhausts).

I liked the picture on the first post - - I'm just not good enough to ride a wheelie with a turbine for the front wheel!

Later.

By all accounts you can spend $1300+ on full exhausts and Power Commanders and gain a whopping 8-9 horsepower. Not exactly good bang for the buck I'd say. You'd be better off spending money on something worthwhile like booze and hookers. B)

evil_henchman said:

By all accounts you can spend $1300+ on full exhausts and Power Commanders and gain a whopping 8-9 horsepower. Not exactly good bang for the buck I'd say. You'd be better off spending money on something worthwhile like booze and hookers. B)

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I like the way you think, but folks are talking about spending 900 on a GPS! A GPS is cool, buy hey, more power, great sound - - pipes might be alright too (I'm reading the thread on GPS's as well - - might as well go all the way).

Keep in mind that the cat/con is the main exhaust constriction point so slip-ons (by themselves) have little impact on performance.

Considering the total investment in a header/can swap along with the PC3 and the cost of a custom dyno session (excluding the filter for now), you could have a killer suspension upgrade and cash left over.

This winter I'm gonna work on a big-bang 1300 motor, ala Rossi's I-4 in MotoGP, wanna help with the project? 200HP at the wheel. Interested? We'll need a Sunoco sponsorship, of course. :fans:

Being fuel injected would simplify a turbo install and that area behind the chin spoiler looks like a perfect home for one.

If they can do it to an R1 I don't see why it couldn't be done on an fjr.

Bounce said:

A decent, foam air filter, since the intake box is about as good as it gets.

Click to expand...

Absolutely no need to do that; the stock filter provides all the air a stock engine needs. Just for comparison, the Hayabusa has about 1/2 the filter area, revs to 11K, and makes 175hp. This bike has the biggest filter I've seen, and nothing filters like a stock filter, so why people put filters that allow more dirt into their engines thinking performance will increase is beyond me.

Yes, a 'racing' filter flows more air, but air the motor doesn't need, and since nothing is free in this world, more air = more dirt, as simple as that. Later.

JC

interesting ideas that I don't agree with at all ---> "This bike has the biggest filter I've seen, and nothing filters like a stock filter, so why people put filters that allow more dirt into their engines thinking performance will increase is beyond me.

Yes, a 'racing' filter flows more air, but air the motor doesn't need, and since nothing is free in this world, more air = more dirt, as simple as that. Later."

evil_henchman said:

By all accounts you can spend $1300+ on full exhausts and Power Commanders and gain a whopping 8-9 horsepower. Not exactly good bang for the buck I'd say. You'd be better off spending money on something worthwhile like booze and hookers. B)

Click to expand...

'Lemme see, at ~$20 a piece (all puns intended), minus a couple of six packs of good Oregon beer, that works out to about 64 hookers. Wow, that's one hell of a night on the town! :yahoo:

ELP_JC said:

Bounce said:

A decent, foam air filter, since the intake box is about as good as it gets.

Click to expand...

Absolutely no need to do that; the stock filter provides all the air a stock engine needs. Just for comparison, the Hayabusa has about 1/2 the filter area, revs to 11K, and makes 175hp. This bike has the biggest filter I've seen, and nothing filters like a stock filter, so why people put filters that allow more dirt into their engines thinking performance will increase is beyond me.

Yes, a 'racing' filter flows more air, but air the motor doesn't need, and since nothing is free in this world, more air = more dirt, as simple as that. Later.

JC

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I think you've made some assumptions there Hoss. I don't think Bounce is talking about some chunk of foam he stole from his college futon and takes to the racetrack on a Saturday night in his Pinto Mini-Stock. He's *probably* talking about something like a K&N filter. K&N flow rates are higher than stock with equivalent or superior filtration.

It's going to be a small increase to be sure, but if one gets a 1% or .5% increase in VE at higher flow rates, it's a cheap way to get performance. 1% for $50 is going to be a far better return than 5% at $1000 for an exhaust.

Anecdotally, I will add my highly calibrated butt dynomometer and testify that the front wheel comes off the ground in a more rapid fashion after a K&N than before a K&N (and yes, it was still a clean stock filter). Plumb surprised the crap out of me and I almost made a dookie as that front Avon aimed for the sky. Repeated in second gear and noticed it was liking having an 11 on the throttle.

If one were to change only the air filter (K&N to be sure) and replace the stock cans with slip-ons providing a bit more personality (Remus, Staintune, etc.) and, hopefully, to get the bike breathing better, is an FI re-map required..? With most cars, the answer is "no". Is it the same for bikes - specifically the FJR?

MLCavassa said:

If one were to change only the air filter (K&N to be sure) and replace the stock cans with slip-ons providing a bit more personality (Remus, Staintune, etc.) and, hopefully, to get the bike breathing better, is an FI re-map required..? With most cars, the answer is "no". Is it the same for bikes - specifically the FJR?

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The heck with air filters and slip-ons. The power gains are minor. I want to hear about stroker motors and/or turbos or other *real* power gains. What does it take to get 150-160 rear wheel horsepower in an FJR or 190-200 for the fringe guys.



Mark

mmonroe said:

The heck with air filters and slip-ons. The power gains are minor. I want to hear about stroker motors and/or turbos or other *real* power gains. What does it take to get 150-160 rear wheel horsepower in an FJR or 190-200 for the fringe guys.

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It's going to take you to do it.

Three years on this forum and I have yet to hear of an FJR with a modified motor, turbo, etc. Several people have come along asking, saying they were going to do it, but never did it.

We'd love to hear how it goes! :yahoo:

It don't get easier than this do-it-yourself grenade kit:



Add a PCIII and some dyno time for a N[SIZE=8pt]2[/SIZE]O map. Too bad the FJR spark map isn't accessable.

MLCavassa said:

If one were to change only the air filter (K&N to be sure) and replace the stock cans with slip-ons providing a bit more personality (Remus, Staintune, etc.) and, hopefully, to get the bike breathing better, is an FI re-map required..? With most cars, the answer is "no". Is it the same for bikes - specifically the FJR?

Click to expand...

I have a Uni-Filter with Leo Vince slip-on cans and I have removed the stock air filter "horn" on the outside of the airbox and the bike DEFINITELY runs better and has more mid-range power - and I did not re-map anything.

It runs great this way. At most gained 3-5 hp from those mods but you can feel it.