Pros and Cons of Power Commander vs Race Tuner

[tivonkaden2]

I ride a 2005 Heritage Softail EFI. I have a stage 1 kit with Screaming Eagle II
slip-ons and a stage 1 download. I want to put a 2 into 1 pipe (either VH Pro Pipe HS or a Bassani
Road Rage). The Harley dealer recommends the race tuner and the Local
Harley Drag shop recommends the Power Commander. Is one that much
better than the other? One Shop or the other will do the work.

[MegaGlide]

First, who's gonna tune it and what do they do their best work with?

[SFTL-1]

Originally Posted by MegaGlide

First, who's gonna tune it and what do they do their best work with?

Agreed, the SERT won't do you any good if your tuner in not competent with it and the same goes with the PC.

[tivonkaden2]

Either the Harley Dealer or the Drag shop will do the work

[BryanL]

If you go to Latus, they prefer the SERT. I think Paradise prefers the PCIII. Does the Drag shop have a dyno? If not, you may be paying for a lot of guess work. Mike Stedman (or Stegman) is the tuner for Latus, He's one of the best in town. Unfortunately he's going on the road this summer with the race team, but he's been training another guy on the dyno for quite awhile.

[Fire4Effect]

Originally Posted by tivonkaden2

Either the Harley Dealer or the Drag shop will do the work

Check your PM please.

[OrangeTJ]

I always thought that the advantage of the PCIII was that you didn't really have to futz with having the bike dyno tuned, since they have so many canned maps available for different combinations of parts. Will a bike run good with one of the PCIII canned maps for a relatively stock build (i.e. aircleaner & pipes) or do you really need to get it dyno tuned?

[Fire4Effect]

Originally Posted by OrangeTJ

I always thought that the advantage of the PCIII was that you didn't really have to futz with having the bike dyno tuned, since they have so many canned maps available for different combinations of parts. Will a bike run good with one of the PCIII canned maps for a relatively stock build (i.e. aircleaner & pipes) or do you really need to get it dyno tuned?

DynoJet has maps available for download on their website for most builds now. Most of the time those maps are very close and often there is no "need" for a dyno tune for a Stage-1. I use the word "need" because in the hands of a competent tuner you will usually eek out a bit more HP/TQ if you DO get it dyno-tuned though.

As you add more (heads, cams, etc) the "need" for a dyno tune increases.

It is only 1 - 2 hours of dyno-time (so here that would be $90 to $180) for a tune and custom map made for your bike under your area conditions (altitude, etc.) I believe in that even with a stage 1 because I am a perfectionist.

Will a typical Stage 1 run well with a canned PCIII map? Normally - YES.

How do you know what "good enough" is without paying for a custom map? Read the plugs after 500 miles, no "popping" or missing, and monitor your fuel mileage. Those will tell you if your canned map is good enough.