Been busy travelling with very little riding, but managed to spend a little $$$ and upgrade some mods on the BMW (Black Magic Woman), 2015 FLXHS in Denim Black, so here goes:
• Added the Vance & Hines Power Duals- In black of course. Thanks to the tips on this website, I managed to install them myself without any exhaust leaks and using the SE exhaust gaskets. Couple of tips: The OEM exhaust flanges- with 4,300 miles on them- were a PITA to remove as they are mashed in there pretty good- always use new exhaust gaskets, the SE ones cost about 5 bucks. I also bought new retaining circlips (about 5 bucks), just cuz they were cheap and the existing ones were deformed. They were very difficult to get onto the new headers. You have to be really patient with a pair of snap ring pliers. The bottom retaining bolt on the header pipe has to be really loose when installing, and it is still not easy to get the header pipe flanges onto the studs within the exhaust ports. Tighten flange bolts to spec!!! I used serrated star washers to keep them tight, then finished with acorn nuts on top of the OEM exhaust flange nuts so there’s no chance of them loosening up. The header really opened up the tone of the Rinehart 4” mufflers- this baby has a deep aggressive growl now. I just love the sound!
• Arlen Ness Big Sucker air filter kit (#18-442), with black back plate. Did lots of research and decided that this one was better than the HD kit you can put on. Went with this style so I could keep the OEM air filter cover.
• Vance & Hines FP-3 to tune the bike. As read on this website, this unit is very, very, I repeat… very easy to use. The only custom change I have made to it was to change the throttle response to the modified mode. Not sure if I will even attempt to Autotune as the bike is running so damn good now.
Cost of these mods was:
o V&H Power Duals: $608, ordered from American Motorcycle Repair- Oakley, CA
o Arlen Ness Super Sucker: $149- shipped, bought from somewhere online
o V&H FP3: $335- shipped, bought from somewhere online
• Finally got the pinstripes painted onto my Tour Pak: $125, Fuher Custom Painting, Antioch, CA
• Painted Gloss Black, 3 coats plus 3 coats clear coat, buffed to high gloss:
o Headlight ring
o Horn cover
o Air cleaner cover
• Kuryikyn ¾” Driver Floorboard Spacers, just wanted a little more foot room.
• FLHX gear shift linkage (PN 33857-09), been wanting this for a while. Solid billet with gloss black paint- nice looking, simple install. Got it from Surdyake.com- $123.28- shipped
• Timer Cover, Motor Co. Collection, PN 32047A-99A, to match the Derby Cover
• Front Axle Nut Covers, Motor Co. Collection, PN 44148-07A, carrying on with the motif.
• Finned Headbolt Bridge, black, PN 43859-00, fills in the left side of the motor- good finished look.
• SE 10MM Plug Wires, Red, PN 32318-08. I also put in a set of new plugs with the new header and plug wires.
• JBL DB 651 Speakers. I changed out my Pioneers with these. The overall improvement is not much to speak of. At least I do have good, rocking sound at 80 mph. I don’t want to have to change speakers again, but… I have heard the HD BOOM Audio II speakers and they sounded really good. But at $330???
• Ordered Gloss Black powdercoated Tank Console, Fuel Door, Push Button: $105, Fuher Custom Painting, Antioch, CA, to compliment the rest of the loss black parts.
• 5,000 mile service. I will be adding Mobil V1 full synthetic for the crankcase.
OK, NOW I’m ready for Sturgis! Bike is the Harley of my dreams! Looks awesome! By adding the header/intake/FP3, the bike runs super, can really feel the difference in the way it pulls- strong! The pick-up and power particularly in the 2,800 – 5,000 rpm range is phenomenal- I really have to grip the bars tighter, and the throttle response has no lag- this is the way these babys should run.