Stage 1 for 2017 Freewheeler . . . Worth the cash???

[ZooMan55]

I’d be interested in thoughts on the topic. I picked up my first Harley and it is a Freewheeler 2017. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the stages and just learning about them. I did exhaust, air cleaner and jetting in my last ride which was a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. It did run a lot better and stronger, but the 107 on thisbtrike seems like a pretty good puller as is.

Looking for advice please.

 

[52edub]

The M8 motor reacts very well to HD's stage upgrades and its not that expensive to wake up the motor like it was on the twin cam

 

[MDO]

I’d be interested in thoughts on the topic. I picked up my first Harley and it is a Freewheeler 2017. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the stages and just learning about them. I did exhaust, air cleaner and jetting in my last ride which was a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. It did run a lot better and stronger, but the 107 on thisbtrike seems like a pretty good puller as is.

Looking for advice please.

I have a 2017 FW also & I can tell you what I did in regards to the motor & performance.

The 1st. thing I did was install an external breather system & installed a K&N air filter element in the stock box. The performance boost was noticable. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten an air cleaner from DK Custom Products. I like the stock exhaust, so I left it alone. The other performance upgrade I did was replacing the stock plug wires with Thundervolt 50 wires from DK Customs. They are amazing & really wake up the M8. For heat management, I installed a 1.5" deluxe tank lift & air wing deflectors, both from DK Customs. They together helped cool the M8 & helped with wind buffeting on my FW with a 20" HD windshield. While my tank was off for the plug wire install, I replaced the OEM plugs, but they looked good (2 years use).

The beauty of these upgrades is that they can all be had for well under $500.

Good luck with your ride. I love mine & it's fun to make it your own

 

[Jack Klarich]

Michael already stated, Get a breather set up to keep the oily oxygen depleted air out of your throttle

See this thread and links from D K Customs

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/47844-***DK-Custom-DIY-Head-Breather-System-Touring-Softail-Dyna-Sportster***

Not to worry as your M8 engine does NOT run lean from the factory

You can easily get away with a complete air cleaner with EBS system with out risk of damage to your engine

I would suggest giving D K a call and discuss the options with them

They are GREAT folks to deal with (662) 252-8828

 

[Old Road Dog]

Stage 1 ( which I did) will get you maybe 5hp more. Better sound with street canons and more intake air flow( I guess) nothing dramatic. Added the retarded Screaming chicken street tuner for warranty

purposes. Like has been said the best thing for the money is a breather modification. To really see a performance difference you'll need a cam - Stage 2. But to what end? What's the posted speed limit out there, not fast enough to die?

 

[ZooMan55]

I guess that’s why I am hesitating. I don’t need the speed, as I just putt around anyway. I do like the exhaust note of the V&H Straightshots I put on my Vulcan and the Kuryakyn ram air helped throttle response. But on that carbureted beast I just changed some jets and was all set. With this new one and all the computer stuff, kind of hesitant to do anything to mess up a smooth ride.

Thanks

Stage 1 ( which I did) will get you maybe 5hp more. Better sound with street canons and more intake air flow( I guess) nothing dramatic. Added the retarded Screaming chicken street tuner for warranty

purposes. Like has been said the best thing for the money is a breather modification. To really see a performance difference you'll need a cam - Stage 2. But to what end? What's the posted speed limit out there, not fast enough to die?

 

[Mcmister]

Stage 1

I did stage 1 to my 2016 FW

Runs cooler, smoother and more power

I’d do it again over and over

 

[ZooMan55]

Did you have to have it returned after these mods?

I have a 2017 FW also & I can tell you what I did in regards to the motor & performance.

The 1st. thing I did was install an external breather system & installed a K&N air filter element in the stock box. The performance boost was noticable. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten an air cleaner from DK Custom Products. I like the stock exhaust, so I left it alone. The other performance upgrade I did was replacing the stock plug wires with Thundervolt 50 wires from DK Customs. They are amazing & really wake up the M8. For heat management, I installed a 1.5" deluxe tank lift & air wing deflectors, both from DK Customs. They together helped cool the M8 & helped with wind buffeting on my FW with a 20" HD windshield. While my tank was off for the plug wire install, I replaced the OEM plugs, but they looked good (2 years use).

The beauty of these upgrades is that they can all be had for well under $500.

Good luck with your ride. I love mine & it's fun to make it your own

 

[MDO]

Did you have to have it returned after these mods?

No re-tuning in my case.. The new M8 motor does not run lean from the factory & all the mods I listed gave the motor an immediate and noticeable performance boost with improved cooling.

 

[x18d40]

I’d be interested in thoughts on the topic. I picked up my first Harley and it is a Freewheeler 2017. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the stages and just learning about them. I did exhaust, air cleaner and jetting in my last ride which was a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. It did run a lot better and stronger, but the 107 on thisbtrike seems like a pretty good puller as is.

Looking for advice please.

I have a 2017 Freewheeler with the M8 107. I added a K&N high flow breather and Cobra 909 slip-ons specifically for the Freewheeler. That simple change netted me 5 hp and 12 lb/ft of torque. So it seems the M8 responds nicely to even minimal modifications.

I did not flash the computer, I didn't see the need. The little bit of extra oomph was what I was looking for. This year might consider a drop-in cam, but will ride it like this for a few months before thinking about that.

 

[JTJersey]

I've got a '21 Free with the M8 114 and did the same thing, including the Cobra 909's. Didn't do any dyno's or ecm flash and noticed a definite performance boast. No backfiring or popping out of the exhaust, plugs look to be burning just fine, no unusual heat. DK Custom has a vid about it.

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

As has been stated a few times . Slip ons , an external breather and a good high flow air cleaner will give you a bit more pep and 99% of the time you get by without a tune . It will run better with a tune but it’s not necessary. My 21 TriGlide ( same drivetrain) rode two years just fine without a tune , then I went Stage two with cam n other than xtras and had it tuned with Powervision . Runs great now!!!!!

 

[Noodles107]

I have the 17FW as well. I did the DK Transformer EBS, Outlaw 606 Air Intake and Vance & Hines Twin Slash exhaust.

The improvement to the bikes overall performance is very obvious. Really glad I did it!

 

[Noodles107]

Sorry … got stuck in this box somehow and saved it with a pic

 

[mrbob]

Do it I installed on my 2017 by myself. Grab the throttle and you better hang on. I love it. Be sure to keep the stage one tuner with the bike, its married to the bike once you install the breather.

 

[x18d40]

I’d be interested in thoughts on the topic. I picked up my first Harley and it is a Freewheeler 2017. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the stages and just learning about them. I did exhaust, air cleaner and jetting in my last ride which was a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. It did run a lot better and stronger, but the 107 on thisbtrike seems like a pretty good puller as is.

Looking for advice please.

Hey, I know this is an older thread, but let me throw my two cents in here. I did the following to my 2017 Freewheeler/107:

• I pulled the original airbox and installed a high flow K&N filter unit.
• I replaced the stock mufflers with Cobra 909s, which are made to match the profile of the bottom of the Freewheeler's box.
• I installed a Legends 1.5 in lift to change the angle of the shocks and add compliance to the suspension. The difference is magical.
• Changed stock plugs with NGK CR9EIX plugs.
• Changed stock plug wires with Twisted 12 mm wires.

Net change (dynoed at my local shop) was 13 Hp and 17 ft/lbs torque (avg. 3 runs).

I had no wherefores and whys to what I added other than my budget and word of mouth. I can say the M8 responded nicely to some tasteful upgrades, and I am quite happy with the outcome. I have no issues staying with the 114 trikes in our group.

V/r,
Doc