What is the best download for a HD 2011 Limited. I have visited several dealers and get different answers from each dealer.

1. One dealer told me that Stage One download only changes the timing.

2. Another dealer wants to install a race download

3. Another dealer suggests a street download.

4. Another dealer suggests Stage One download.

5. Another dealer wants to install an after market download.

I am not looking for more horsepower. I am just a cruiser. I am looking for to get more fuel to the rear cylinder and keep the engine running cooler and a little better performance.

Signed Confused

Welcome to the forum Scott,

If you are just a cruiser the best program is the one that came with it. I would leave it alone and ride it until I got a season in and it was well broken in. IMHO. They do run better after you get some miles on them.

By installing a chip you may have to open the intake and unrestrict the exhaust so that it breathes better. I don't know how much horsepower you will get by just adding the chip to your stock bike. I don't think that it will be that much. Will it be worth the cost? Depending on what you want to spend that will start to add up to $$$$$$. Then if your not satisfied you can add cams and on and on and on! Talk to anyone this can get to be an addiction.

I think that they got the new stock program working well, I have many friends that have new bikes and they change out the mufflers because they like it a little louder and they ride all over the country.

I personally keep them stock, I want to ride the thing not wonder why it's in the shop all the time.

Hope this helps.

Lenny

What is wrong with it now/is it not running right? is the rear cylinder not getting enough or you just want more? what are you measuring the temp with? Better performance as in more mileage?

Sometimes the best is what comes with it and you just have to try it out and let it break in.
I'm with the thinking that maybe the dealers just hype the extra stuff to get you.

The newer bikes do run hotter, for my money far too hot. The problem as I see it is to make 'full spectrum' modifications. Let me explain.

In the days before fire was invented, lots of my friends just bolted on the latest hyped carburetor of the day. Not much happened, other than the carburetor salesmen got richer. However, if you balanced the air/fuel mixture (the hype term at that time was "volumetric efficiency") the bike not only performed better (smoother, easier starting) but found a few new ponies. I believe in that idea.

Now everyone tears off the stock Harley exhaust system right away because everyone else does. Louder, yes. More efficient, probably not by itself. You need some back-pressure.

I change out the air filtration system, get a good moderate replacement exhaust and talk to my mechanic about the proper factory download or what I expect from my tuner/dyno work. I also seek out low/mid range cams and accompanying pushrods and lifters (if appropriate).

My Sportster is getting a benefit from being somewhat cooler, but it is still like riding a barbeque grill on some days. Sitting in traffic is something I avoid. I'm planning on an oil cooler, but need to do more research. I am openly concerned that I do not fully understand just what gains an oil cooler can provide, and perhaps infer it will operate like a car's radiator.

HEAT is the killer, any part with "cooler" in it's name can't be a bad thing

Sorry Scot I got confused! See that you stated that you are NOT looking for more horsepower. First time I ever saw a Harley owner say that! Again I think that the MoCo has got the program down. Don't mess with it ride it and enjoy. They got that problem solved a couple of years ago, when everyone was complaining about how hot they ran. If you have a problem with it bring it back to the dealer.

My Sportster is a 2010. Even with the best mods they got she still runs hot. Even if her engine is running on spec, it's still a human that has to ride it. On the dressers they put shields to re-direct heat from the rider. And the new bikes still have them. For my money, the problem has not been solved.