More Power wanted for Tri-Glide!

[NanaimoGrrl]

Hello all! I'm new, so I hope I'm posting this correctly.
We bought a brand new Tri-Glide back in 2009. My hubby had them install a Stage One kit and Reinhard pipes on it before we rode it off the lot. He wanted more power still so a couple of months ago, he had the Harley dealer install a SE 255 cam with a TC88 pushrod kit. I suppose this is a Stage Two kit?? This is what Harley recommended, but we don't really see much difference $1700 later! We don't know much mechanically about Harleys so we were hoping that you folks could recommend some upgrades to make this trike better. We'd rather hear opinions from people who have actually been there done that as opposed to the dealer just trying to sell Screaming Eagle parts!!
Thanks in advance!

 

[nytriker]

Welcome to TrikeTalk. I have similar upgrades installed on my 2011 Tri Glide. SE255 cams, Vance & Hines exhaust system along with a SE air cleaner and I can sure feel a difference. Also, some of the folks with the 2009 & 2010 models have replaced the stock front drive pulley from 32 to 30 teeth. The 2011 and up models already come with the 30 tooth pulley. From what I have heard on this forum this upgrade is well worth the expense.

 

[grapenuts]

Yup! Nothing added performance to my '09 better than a simple switch to a 30 tooth drive pulley.

 

[TheBobs]

Welcome to the forum! Wow, Nanaimo, BC. I spent about 2 weeks up there in 1979 while in the Navy testing MK-37 torpedoes on the Canadian exercise range. I loved that visit. Very nice liberty port ThumbUp

As for performance, what the others have said so far. Get the 30 tooth front pulley. It will match up real nice with the SE-255. I did the same thing on my 2010 when I had it.

 

[jcolson]

If you don't already have it,get the SE tuner. Not cheap but will make a difference. I install SE 100+ Portrd&Polished heads, 10:5/1 forged pistons, SE ajustable pushrods,259E cams,SE Pro Tuner, VH Power Duals, Hi-Out Put mufflers, automatic compression releases. I can do a wheelie in 2nd gear.

 

[Oldmsocko]

Welcome to the forum! Wow, Nanaimo, BC. I spent about 2 weeks up there in 1979 while in the Navy testing MK-37 torpedoes on the Canadian exercise range. I loved that visit. Very nice liberty port ThumbUp

As for performance, what the others have said so far. Get the 30 tooth front pulley. It will match up real nice with the SE-255. I did the same thing on my 2010 when I had it.

+ 1 on the 30 tooth pully. It is money well spent.

 

[icebite1]

I put the FuelMoto 107" kit on the wifes '10 TriGlide this past Feb.. Big difference but you may not want to go that much so at least change out the primary drive pulley to the 30 tooth.
A good tuner would help a bunch also, I only use the ThunderMax/Autotune tuners on all my bikes and know they work very well, several other good ones out there also.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard you have your answers above.

 

[msocko3]

Hello all! I'm new, so I hope I'm posting this correctly.
We bought a brand new Tri-Glide back in 2009. My hubby had them install a Stage One kit and Reinhard pipes on it before we rode it off the lot. He wanted more power still so a couple of months ago, he had the Harley dealer install a SE 255 cam with a TC88 pushrod kit. I suppose this is a Stage Two kit?? This is what Harley recommended, but we don't really see much difference $1700 later! We don't know much mechanically about Harleys so we were hoping that you folks could recommend some upgrades to make this trike better. We'd rather hear opinions from people who have actually been there done that as opposed to the dealer just trying to sell Screaming Eagle parts!!
Thanks in advance!

Welcome aboard, as you can see there are plenty of ways to skin the anemic Harley Triglide. You could consider the 30 tooth transmission sprocket which others have mentioned, it makes a good deal of difference. The down side to the sprocket change is your speedometer will be 5 mph faster than actual. There is a lot of information in this thread http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harley-trikes-6/changing-triglide-transmission-sprocket-7642/ covering the transmission sprocket replacement.

There other option is make more horse power & torque from the engine. There are plenty of directions you can go with engine work. The Fuelmoto 107 build which Icebite1 mentions is one direction you could go.

 

[GARYD]

Sure sounds like a lot of money just for a few more HP. I guess if you ride two up and in the mountains, it might be advisable.
I ride solo and my 2012 is way fast enough for me. Matter of fact all my motorcycles have been fast enough without spending thousands of $$$$.
I did do a few mods, but just for the heat problem.
Not interested in doing wheelies or getting to illegal speeds any faster then I do now.

I admit there were a couple times I daydreamed of doing a wheelie in front of the ladies to impress them, but I wouldn't spend over $200 to do it. LOL

 

[Trent]

Riding in the mountains 2 up is exactly what a lot of us out West do on virtually every ride. There is no choice. And 30 to 35 more HP is more than a few, and comes in very handy. If any of you that have not done any major engine mods for heat and power lived out here, and were regular riders, you would do the same, even if you only rode solo. You would be holding up traffic if you didnt, not to mention frying your leg.

 

[1852cc]

I live in Arizona, and there is only 2 roads out of where I live, both go over mountains that are 7,000 feet or more. I ride 2 up all the time, and travel in the west mostly, more mountains, and still 2 up, and fully loaded down.
My trike is not a factory trile its a conversion, 2009 RoadGlide/Lehman with Campion reverse, not much different than the Tri-Glide at all.
I have added Big-Sucker intake, SE-255 cams, push rods, SE slip on mufflers, and the ThunderMax tunner, ofcourse alot of other stuff that has nothing to do with power, but makes me feel good.
The point to this is, the power is fine, and the gas mileage is fine average 39 to 40 mpg. Less heat ofcourse!
You can do more ofcourse, but if you use the gears the way you should, stay above 2500 rpm in any gear, you dont need more.
I have been riding 50 years 80 per cent of it a Harley, and have never rode a stock one ever.

 

[kimber45]

30 tooth sprocket will solve it now.

 

[TheBobs]

I had the SE-255 cams installed on my 2010 TG first then the 30 tooth. Was very happy with that combo. Then got my 2012 with the 30 tooth stock. Between the two, gearing had way more impact on riding enjoyment.

 

[NanaimoGrrl]

If you don't already have it,get the SE tuner. Not cheap but will make a difference. I install SE 100+ Portrd&Polished heads, 10:5/1 forged pistons, SE ajustable pushrods,259E cams,SE Pro Tuner, VH Power Duals, Hi-Out Put mufflers, automatic compression releases. I can do a wheelie in 2nd gear.

I'm dumb but does this mean you put headers on your bike too? Would headers make a difference for a trike? My Harley dealer said don't bother but I don't know!

 

[TheBobs]

Nanaimogirl, you said you have a 2009. Since you are outside California, your header should be fine. Only California TGs had catalytic converters that year. With your parts already installed, your best bet is the 30 tooth pulley. I don't remember your speed limits being much over 85-90 kph. Those speeds are horrible for 6th gear and not much better in 5th on a 2009 or 2010. With the 30 tooth used on 2011 and up you can cruise around very nicely in 5th and sometimes 6th. The other caution is the octane quality of your gasoline. If you can't run 91 octane, those SE-255 cams may make you ping at sub-2800 rpms. Luckily you don't have the hot temps we have here in California. So for around $400, you can run the 30 tooth pulley and make everything work in harmony.

One more thing, you have to be running the HD stage-2 ECM flash. The one you need should be noted in the screamin' eagle catalogue for the SE-255 cams. It won't run right if they don't install that tune.

 

[icebite1]

TheBobs, I absoultly did not know the Cali TGs had a catted headpipe, or are they in the mufflers?

 

[TheBobs]

TheBobs, I absoultly did not know the Cali TGs had a catted headpipe, or are they in the mufflers?

Ice, ya, the 2009 California TG headpipes have the cat in them. The other 49 states did not. Starting in 2010, everybody got to share our pain and all 50 states' TGs got cats in the headpipe.

Sometime back, and maybe on other California bikes the cats were in the mufflers. I don't know for sure which and when as I was riding a 2006 Triumph Rocket III which had a huge cat converter... But I digress, back to TGs