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08-25-2015, 07:52 AM | #1 |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DBQ Iowa
Posts: 1,807
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EJK – BAK – V&H observations
Greetings All,
For those thinking about doing these modifications, what follows are my observations. Your mileage may vary. Just hoping someone will find it useful. Parts: Chuckster’s BAK, V&H Slash Cut slip-ons, Dobeck EJK and Thunder Mfg. Throttle Body gasket. When I started on this journey, there were a few goals in mind. A:] Allow the engine to run cooler. B:] Improve fuel economy (MPG). C:] Reduce the popping on deceleration. The intention of the changes was to help the bike be healthier overall. Lessen the factory lean condition of the fuel and reduce the overall operating temperature. Hopeful side benefits were D:] Better performance. E:] Improved exhaust tone. Less desirable side effects, increased noise from the engine area. Specifically in the 2400 to 2900 RPM range, especially under a load. The engine does run cooler, mission accomplished. Noticeably cooler at medium and cruising speeds. In town and in traffic of course she still gets warm quick. It is comforting to see the temp gauge hover at the 10 O’clock position and not pointing straight up at noon or higher while cruising. Fuel economy is a wash. Before the modifications, the average was 40~42 MPG. Since the modifications, 38~40. I blame my right wrist for the drop. Not sure that the MPG will surpass the previous average after the newness wears off. Decel Popping, improved. It is not eliminated, however, the frequency has reduced. With the V&H those occasional pops are more pronounced. Performance is where the biggest benefit appears. WOT is a kick, she no longer feels like she is working to get rolling. Now it is more of a hang on, here we go! Been to 100 mph maybe once in the first 10k miles. Been there three times in the past two weeks. About that fuel economy… The V&H Slash cuts do sound good. Mostly deeper at lower RPMs. They put out some volume at higher RPMs. At cruising speeds they rumble nicely. The radio can still be heard, other ambient sounds (sirens, horns, etc.) can still be heard. The negative is the various noises that can now be heard from the engine area. Not sure if it is valve train, or throttle body operations or all of the above. Once the factory air boxes are removed, there are a lot of sounds which were previously muted by all the factory components. These peak in volume between 2400 and 2900 RPM. Which is RPM range most frequently used by me for cruising… If your goal is cooler running temperatures and to correct the factory leanness, then the efforts are worth it. Alternately, if you are going for a performance boost, they are worth it. If you are focused on improving MPG’s, this may not be the modification package to get you there. If you like a quiet ride and do not want various engine noises distracting you. This is not the path to go down. Again, the above is IMHO. Ride safe, Smokier
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You only get one, so "Make it the best day ever!" 2014 Victory Cross County Tour Blue Fire Gloss (BFG) "Cruella" Brides Ride: 2012 Victory Crossroads in Sunset Red "Ruby" Previous Vulcans: '15 Vaquero, '12 Vaquero, '10 1700 Nomad, '04 1500 Classic, '01 1500 Classic, '88 Vulcan 750 VROC # 10967 | VBA # 3115 Login or Register to Remove Ads
Last edited by smokier; 08-25-2015 at 07:54 AM.
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08-25-2015, 09:19 AM | #2 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: VA
Posts: 566
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Nice write up - Thanks!!
Is you mileage displayed or calculated?? Either way, it will probably level off and increase once your wrist adjusts . . .
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2011 Voyager ABS Thunder Air Kit Power Pro Cobra Tri-Ovals Wrapped Header Pipes Heat Deflectors (from ebay) CB/Rear Speakers Avon grips with Throttle Magic by RACNRAY Shiny Chrome stuff Michelin Commander IIs Kury T/S Mirrors Sagebrush Design tank bib w/pouch Russell Day Long Seat w/Backrest Lots of Miles and Many More Smiles! Blue Knights - Virginia II Ride With Pride |
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08-25-2015, 09:42 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: S.E.WI.
Posts: 159
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That's the kind of Info. people look for. Before I joined V.B.A. I was searching the past threads for things like this. Perhaps we should have a spot on the board for people to post year, bike, set up & what they think of the change it made to the bike.
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08-25-2015, 09:57 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DBQ Iowa
Posts: 1,807
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Quote:
Calculated via APP on phone. I am hopeful that when the wrist calms down, MPGs will go up! :) Enjoy that lower 48 trip! Ride safe, Smokier
Last edited by smokier; 08-25-2015 at 10:01 AM.
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08-25-2015, 10:00 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DBQ Iowa
Posts: 1,807
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Quote:
I appreciate that this section is partially that. However, finding those gem posts is the trick. Ride safe, Smokier Login or Register to Remove Ads
Last edited by smokier; 08-25-2015 at 10:03 AM.
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08-25-2015, 10:49 AM | #6 |
Jr. Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Evans,Colorado
Posts: 30
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I as well like your write up. Its nice to see it broke out the way you did it. I wish I had all the money back I have spent doing mods on motorcyles over the last 30 plus years. Im over it now and I just want to ride. Sure there is little things I have done to mine such as improve the lights for night riding but I have only just changed out bulbs to brighter ones. Stock is good enough for me anymore as these accessories have become way expensive. Not at all dishing what you or others do to your bikes its all up the bike owner. For me I like the quiet and it runs good enough as it is. YMMV Al
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"A man can never have too much red wine, too many good books, or too much ammunition."Rudyard Kipling Once I was young and now I am old and everything in the middle went way to damn fast |
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08-25-2015, 11:33 AM | #7 | |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: South Florida
Posts: 710
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Quote:
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2004 Vulcan 1500 Classic "Sasha" (SOLD) 2014 Vulcan Vaquero ABS SE "Candie" On the 1500, too much to list. On the Vaquero: V&H slash cut slip ons Power Commander 5 and Ivan-ized ECU Chuckster's BAK Aux Audio adapter with bluetooth receiver. Mustang 2 up Touring Seat w/ driver and passenger backrest Kuryakyn Longhorn highway pegs. Kawasaki 12 volt charger Longer 1600 meanstreak SE kickstand Full LED Daymaker light mod. |
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08-25-2015, 12:31 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DBQ Iowa
Posts: 1,807
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Quote:
It's mental thing for sure. Had seen some of your other posts on the topic. I was just a little surprised when it was experienced it first hand. Hopefully the immune part will kick in as well. The cooler running temps and the performance will help offset it! Thanks for your help on this. Ride safe, Smokier |
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08-25-2015, 01:04 PM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: S/E Michigan
Posts: 54
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I went the Cobra Tri-ovals (thanks PO) and the PCV with ignition timing route on an 09 Voyager. I have the same BAK as you and the Thunder gasket. My experience has been exactly the same. Thanks for the great write up.
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08-25-2015, 01:15 PM | #10 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SOUTH FLORIDA
Posts: 1,210
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SMOKIER...you are correct. Removing the factory a/boxes allow engine mechanical noise to be heard that those boxes help to mute. One additional noise is "injector click" which can be quite noticeable to our ears, sounds like valve tick.
No doubt ur skoot is now so much more fun to ride....YEEHAW!!! RACNRAY
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"TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE HEART, NOT IN THE OUTSIDE FIXES" WITH OVER 46 YEARS AS A MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN/HI-PO SHOP OWNER I AM A PURVEYOR OF FACT NOT FICTION! "WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN CHAINS NEVER KNOWING WE HAD THE KEY" |
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08-25-2015, 01:32 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DBQ Iowa
Posts: 1,807
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Quote:
Urah! |
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08-25-2015, 03:29 PM | #12 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: South Florida
Posts: 710
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I have been helping my buddy build out his new 2014 Vaquero. He also is coming from a 1500 classic like me. He keeps telling me he is hearing noises (the bike only has 400 miles) I keep telling him it will be a completely different bike after break in and a few more mods. I rode it a couple of times and can't believe how far my bike has come. The no throttle mod thing is weird. The bike is so quiet with stock exhaust. Man she runs warm. The noises he is hearing are just the sounds of a different motor. It is nice when you can really tell the difference from stock to stage one mods.
So far I installed an LED headlight, Aux lights are being shipped this week, passenger floorboards, longer kickstand, Lowering Links should be here this week. New 2 up Mustang touring seat with backrests. He is holding off on performance mods since has spent over $1400 in a 2 week period.
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2004 Vulcan 1500 Classic "Sasha" (SOLD) 2014 Vulcan Vaquero ABS SE "Candie" On the 1500, too much to list. On the Vaquero: V&H slash cut slip ons Power Commander 5 and Ivan-ized ECU Chuckster's BAK Aux Audio adapter with bluetooth receiver. Mustang 2 up Touring Seat w/ driver and passenger backrest Kuryakyn Longhorn highway pegs. Kawasaki 12 volt charger Longer 1600 meanstreak SE kickstand Full LED Daymaker light mod. |
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08-25-2015, 07:21 PM | #13 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SOUTH FLORIDA
Posts: 1,210
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HEY KEN...please send me the links for those nice LED bulbs you have, I wanna burn some retinas!!!
RACNRAY
__________________
"TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE HEART, NOT IN THE OUTSIDE FIXES" WITH OVER 46 YEARS AS A MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN/HI-PO SHOP OWNER I AM A PURVEYOR OF FACT NOT FICTION! "WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN CHAINS NEVER KNOWING WE HAD THE KEY" |
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08-25-2015, 10:00 PM | #14 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: South Florida
Posts: 710
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I PMed you the headlight bulb link a week or so ago . Let me get you the Aux light bulbs.
__________________
2004 Vulcan 1500 Classic "Sasha" (SOLD) 2014 Vulcan Vaquero ABS SE "Candie" On the 1500, too much to list. On the Vaquero: V&H slash cut slip ons Power Commander 5 and Ivan-ized ECU Chuckster's BAK Aux Audio adapter with bluetooth receiver. Mustang 2 up Touring Seat w/ driver and passenger backrest Kuryakyn Longhorn highway pegs. Kawasaki 12 volt charger Longer 1600 meanstreak SE kickstand Full LED Daymaker light mod. |
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08-25-2015, 10:02 PM | #15 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: South Florida
Posts: 710
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281724150476...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
__________________
2004 Vulcan 1500 Classic "Sasha" (SOLD) 2014 Vulcan Vaquero ABS SE "Candie" On the 1500, too much to list. On the Vaquero: V&H slash cut slip ons Power Commander 5 and Ivan-ized ECU Chuckster's BAK Aux Audio adapter with bluetooth receiver. Mustang 2 up Touring Seat w/ driver and passenger backrest Kuryakyn Longhorn highway pegs. Kawasaki 12 volt charger Longer 1600 meanstreak SE kickstand Full LED Daymaker light mod. |
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