Softail Custom Thread

[Citoriplus]

OK, then I'm not going to worry about it. I just wasn't sure if the heavy shifts were normal or not. Like I said most of my biking experience has been with smaller nip bikes. The smaller, lighter, trannys and gears somtimes make it a guessing game till you let the clutch out if your in gear or the next gear. Lots of false nutrels too with them. I like this a LOT better, no doubts about it going into a gear at all.

Is putting on SE pipes and intake going to affect your warranty any? I would like to do that too, but I don't want to screw that up if I can avoid it, at least for not that is. Later after its broken in and has a couple of thousand miles is another issue.

BTW anyone have any recomendations for a good tach? I miss having one and with a red line far lower than most of the bikes I have used, I think it is important to have something like that till I get a really good feel for how the engine sounds and feels in the upper rpm range.
I kind of like the handelbar mounted 2 5/8" mini that's avalable from Harley. First I was thinking of the combination speedo/tach they have, but I'm not too keen on a tach that I have to take my eye's off the road to see.
Just my luck I'll be looking down at it and some poor mother will be reaching around to smack her kid in the back seat and drift into my lane at 60mph.

[bobdar]

Pics of my '07 FXSTC.

[bobdar]

Originally Posted by Citoriplus

Is putting on SE pipes and intake going to affect your warranty any? I would like to do that too, but I don't want to screw that up if I can avoid it, at least for not that is. Later after its broken in and has a couple of thousand miles is another issue.

BTW anyone have any recomendations for a good tach? I miss having one and with a red line far lower than most of the bikes I have used, I think it is important to have something like that till I get a really good feel for how the engine sounds and feels in the upper rpm range.
I kind of like the handelbar mounted 2 5/8" mini that's avalable from Harley. First I was thinking of the combination speedo/tach they have, but I'm not too keen on a tach that I have to take my eye's off the road to see.

Having them installed by dealer. They assure me no warranty issues. Could install them myself, but EFI needs remap with the changes so I figured I'd have them do it all. That way its all covered by warranty. Been thinking about a tach myself, but I'll probably go with the combo. By the time you buy the mini tach, the housing and the mount you're almost up to what the combo costs anyway, and I reall don't want anything else cluttering up the bars. Already moved the front signals to the forks, and am going to change the bars over the winter to internal wiring.

[Citoriplus]

Originally Posted by bobdar

Having them installed by dealer. They assure me no warranty issues. Could install them myself, but EFI needs remap with the changes so I figured I'd have them do it all. That way its all covered by warranty. Been thinking about a tach myself, but I'll probably go with the combo. By the time you buy the mini tach, the housing and the mount you're almost up to what the combo costs anyway, and I reall don't want anything else cluttering up the bars. Already moved the front signals to the forks, and am going to change the bars over the winter to internal wiring.

The mini tach is only $149 with another $49 for the housing, plus the mounting bracket. Where the combination gauge is either $449.95 or $499.95 for the fancier colored one. The only problem is that when I was looking through the catalog I forgot to read the fine print. Seems that the mini tach kits fit everything EXCEPT for the 07 FXSTC and 07 FLSTF.
So it would appear that at least for now we're stuck with the same face combination gauge PN=74549-07 for the MPH version, or 74555-07 for the KPH version at $449.95.
The accessories catalog I have doesn't say if it has the same odometer, trip 1, trip 2, and clock functions. But if you do the install yourself, you need to have the dealer reinstate the mileage on it to stay legal. Think its because the Feds frown on people messing around with any vehicles odometer settings.

[Heritage07]

Congratulations on your 07 custom! I almost bought one 10 years ago and could never understand why they discontinued it. I picked up a 07 Heritage Classic 6 weeks ago and love it. Needed bags and a windshield! (Getting old I guess!) Anyway have the Sert, Se 07 slipfits, and SE air box on since the 1000 service and loving the usable increased HP. Have 1550 mile so far and everything is working great. The only thing I found weird from day one was 5th gear. Seems like the bikes chugs in it below 50. The bike wants to hit 6th above 60 and cruses at 85 smooth as butter.

Enjoy your chopper, the pics are awesome.

[bobdar]

Originally Posted by Heritage07

Anyway have the Sert, Se 07 slipfits, and SE air box on since the 1000 service and loving the usable increased HP.

How do they sound? I'm still waiting for mine. They tell me they won't be available til late sept or early oct. I hear they're supposed to be quieter and deeper sounding than the old ones.

[Citoriplus]

Originally Posted by Heritage07

Have 1550 mile so far and everything is working great. The only thing I found weird from day one was 5th gear. Seems like the bikes chugs in it below 50. The bike wants to hit 6th above 60 and cruses at 85 smooth as butter.

Enjoy your chopper, the pics are awesome.

I noticed the same thing. If your calmly upshifting without pushing it, it will run just happy as hell if your in 3rd in the 30's 4th for 40's that 5th in the 50's.
But beware of higher throttle settings below those speeds and especially 6th below 55 or so. It doesn't like that kind of crap AT ALL, and will let you know it fast.
First time I did it in 6th at about 45mph it scared the crap out of me, it sounded and felt like it was trying to come out of its mountings.
I have yet to try it for any length of time over about 60 or 70 yet, it only turned over 600mi today. I'm trying to be "nice" to it. But as soon as its broken in and has its 1000mile checkup I plan on taking it out on the NYS Throughway to see how we both get along at 70+ speeds for distance.
If everything goes as well as it has so far I'm sure its going to be a much nicer bike than my old Yamaha was. With that old POS I couldn't go more than 20 miles before I wanted to get off, shove it in the nearest ditch, and walk home without it.
That's not completely fair, the old bike was just that, an old bike. To ride it I had to lean over where it hurt my back, the mid controls made my legs cramp up, and the small throttle grip along with the buzzing of the 700cc 4 banger engine made my hands go numb and my arms cramp up. But the brakes worked reasonably well, it handled fairly nicely, and the seat was nice.
That the Custom does all that at least as well or better, except really tight cornering, is amazing to me. Considering its nearly two feet longer and out weighs the Yamaha by over 200lbs. I still have no trouble at all dodging around pot holes and junk in the road at any speed. Sure the engine is over twice as big, but I think the HP ratings are actually nearly the same. Just one does it at 3000 rpm and the other does it at nearly 9000 rpm.
Overall I'm VERY pleased with it.

One funny thing happened the other day. I was out riding with a friend who has an older 80's Yamaha 650 twin. We were on a deserted section of road and I decided to see how fast I could "S" turn between the painted strips in the road. I got it up to nearly 55 before I decided that the pegs were getting a little too close to the ground for my taste. When he caught up to me at the next light he said that he was shocked I could do that at a speed he couldn't keep up with. Now I'm not that good a rider, and this is a new bike that's heavier and longer than anything I have ever ridden before so it isn't a case of a better rider. Just a really solid chassis and tight suspension working the way its supposed to.

[Heritage07]

Originally Posted by bobdar

How do they sound? I'm still waiting for mine. They tell me they won't be available til late sept or early oct. I hear they're supposed to be quieter and deeper sounding than the old ones.

Yes allot quieter then the old ones. You will still be able to hold a conversation with a passenger. They are loud enough to drown out the mechanical engine noise which at low rpms or idle I like. They sound the best when you get on it, but in no way will they offend any one.

[Breez]

I finally got the Rush slip-ons , chromed lowers, and the led tailight installed.

[Citoriplus]

Thanks for sharing the pics. Now I know what my bike would look like with the same "options" on it.
I like what you have done so far, too bad you didn't take a pic of the rear while someone held the brake on so the leds would show better. In that pic its hard, for me at least, to actually see the tail light at all.
Did you also change the turn signal lenses for the smoked ones? I just changed mine for the clears. But instead of using the normal colored bulbs I put a set of the Silverstar bulbs behind them. They seem to be a bunch brighter than the original stock clear bulbs with amber lenses, as well as the amber bulbs that come with the clear lenses.

Nice Job

[Breez]

Originally Posted by Citoriplus

Thanks for sharing the pics. Now I know what my bike would look like with the same "options" on it.
I like what you have done so far, too bad you didn't take a pic of the rear while someone held the brake on so the leds would show better. In that pic its hard, for me at least, to actually see the tail light at all.
Did you also change the turn signal lenses for the smoked ones? I just changed mine for the clears. But instead of using the normal colored bulbs I put a set of the Silverstar bulbs behind them. They seem to be a bunch brighter than the original stock clear bulbs with amber lenses, as well as the amber bulbs that come with the clear lenses.

Nice Job

I actually took the smoke ones off my sporty. It looks great with the blacked out light...when stopped anyway. My buddies tell me that my bike looks awesome at night time when they are behind me.

[qu@s@r]

Originally Posted by bobdar

Having them installed by dealer. They assure me no warranty issues. Could install them myself, but EFI needs remap with the changes so I figured I'd have them do it all. That way its all covered by warranty. Been thinking about a tach myself, but I'll probably go with the combo. By the time you buy the mini tach, the housing and the mount you're almost up to what the combo costs anyway, and I reall don't want anything else cluttering up the bars. Already moved the front signals to the forks, and am going to change the bars over the winter to internal wiring.

Can you tell me the manufacturer and part number for the turn signal relocation kit? I talked to a dealer today who said I would need a Dyna-like clamp system to do that since there are no outside pinchbolts on the triple tree. From your pics it looks like you found a bracket that fastens on the bolt at the rear and wraps around somehow. I would also like to hear about wiring issues; did you cut and splice ar did you re-run back to the plug under the tank.

Thanks (seriously looking at getting either the Custom or the Heritage Classic).

[qu@s@r]

How do the Rush Slip-ons sound? I have V & H on my sporty and they sound awesome.

[Citoriplus]

Originally Posted by qu@s@r

Can you tell me the manufacturer and part number for the turn signal relocation kit? I talked to a dealer today who said I would need a Dyna-like clamp system to do that since there are no outside pinchbolts on the triple tree. From your pics it looks like you found a bracket that fastens on the bolt at the rear and wraps around somehow. I would also like to hear about wiring issues; did you cut and splice ar did you re-run back to the plug under the tank.

Thanks (seriously looking at getting either the Custom or the Heritage Classic).

What factory parts you need to use, for a Softail or a Wide Glide to relocate the turn signals is different than that for the Dyna and Sportsters. The HD part number you need for 88 and later Sporty's, and 91-05 Dyna's is 68517-94A.
Kinda strange that your dealer doesn't have the catalog to look it up in. Only took me about a minute to find it. It should also be easy enough to find on the HD web site.
Not sure if its the same on the Sportsters, but on the Softail's the only cutting needed is the cable ties holding them to the other cable for the control buttons in the grips and move them. Its a seperate wire from the rest and has more then enough wire to reach the bottom of the tripple tree.

BTW its listed on page 133 in the 07 parts and accessories catalog as item "F". Its MSRP is only $28.95.

[softail07]

I just bought my 07 last Wednesday. Installed the SE slip ons Friday night for a ride I was going on Saturday. I was hoping for more sound since I've been riding a Gold Wing for the last year!! I called the dealership to see if it was OK to remove the baffles and it sounded like he was reading a disclaimer. I couldn't read between the lines.......still wondering if it's safe to remove them without hurting the bike......not the ears or the laws. Other than that I am absolutely ecstatic over this bike. It handles better than anything I've ever ridden, including a sport bike or two (in my opinion). I can lean into a turn with confidence and roll on the throttle to set the bike upright with no problem. I've only got 480 miles so far but it's already seen interstate and 75-80 mph....6th gear makes it chug right down the road effortlessly. All I need is a little more noise and I'll be a 100% happy Harley owner!