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| Article | Transplants For The Ride! 2/1/2007
You see a lot of EVO and TC bikes on trade publications, classified and internet listings with extras too numerous to list. These machines are priced from absurd to very affordable. They will be from low mileage to very high mileage units. There will be a multitude of reasons given for trying to move this iron. We have seen some come through our shop asking what can be done for the old bike to make it pull hard and keep the reliability. If they only want a little more pull and the machine has not been heat cycled to death. Heat cycle is the amount of times the cast aluminum has gone through atmospheric temperature to run temperatures. The over heated conditions as experienced in parade or stop and go traffic will tally up on the distortional and destructive column of projected engine life or the lack thereof. So if you bring me something to work with and only want a little more pull a good air package consisting of an appropriate pipe and fuel air delivery is what you need.
There are exhaust pipes for different types of desired power applications. Choosing an exhaust system on looks, name brand, or sound can cost you the desired results you were originally looking for. We have seen machines come in for tuning with less power than stock because of poor choices of components. This is also true of air inlets and fuel systems. Air movement can also be massaged by manipulating valve opening and closing through cam choices. With these newly defined parameters a tunable Dyna 2000I ignition is a must, or in EFI applications Power Commander. Now all components must be married together and Dyno tuned to complement one another for a positive result.
Suppose you are one of the other riders who has either used up or abused up their engine. S&S has engine applications for high torque touring bikes pulling trailers being ridden two up and packed heavy. While other applications for bikes looking for good cruise with smooth operation and economy with a high fun factor. The other end of engine opportunities is quick throttle response with lots of horsepower and torque for those who want to be “Leader of the Pack”. All of these choices come in carbureted or electronic fuel injected (EFI) in either two runner or single runner systems. For you who bought EFI in the mid to late 1990’s this is just what you were looking for. This is new life for an old horse that will run better than its restrictive replacement. In 1995 an EFI 80 CID engine was capable of 45 to 55 horse power in factory trim. That engine can be replaced with a 124 CID EFI unit producing over 100 horse power and a one year warranty in your choice of finish. Now that old friend you have known for all these years has a new song to sing. This story works well with carbureted units as well.
There are many ways to achieve efficiency. Dyno tuning is the means of recording a base line to compare measured results as changes are made. Plotting a course through the tuning process helps to see if we are better or worse. If better, we move forward, if worse, then we go back to what works and apply different equipment or modifications until the desired results occur. Operational changes can occur gradually over time as the miles roll by or suddenly with a bad load of fuel. It is a good thing to know what condition your equipment is in. Regardless which efficiency enhancement you choose, engine swap you opt for, making sure you get all that is available, is smart money spent. You have a number of choices. It is nice to have options other than paint and chrome.
Good Riding and God Bless,
Steve Caldwell - steve@precisionvtwins.com
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