Service Department

Our technicians have completed advanced level PHD factory certified dyno training that included all the latest technology and electronic tuning tricks. The electronic control modules and sensors used on today's motorcycles continue to get more complex and require the latest in equipment and training to tune properly.

You simply cannot tune fuel injection by the seat of your pants and get decent results. Many of the so called tuners on the market try to fool the ECM but mostly they just fatten up the fuel curve. You need a dyno and sophisticated measuring equipment to do a professional job of tuning. The tuner from Harley® is the most capable module on the market. We have found the some of the after market products actually diminish performance and can cause ignition problems. If you want better performance, bring your bike in for some top notch dyno tuning. Call Slade in service for an appointment at (970) 259-0778.

Our service department is open Monday through Saturday to take care of all your riding needs. If your engine oil has some miles on it, consider changing the oil to get rid of the acids and combustion by products that the oil contains after extended use. If you have done a hard run through hot weather, changing the oil is cheap insurance for an oil cooled motor. Don't let it get too dirty. Like us, it does its best work when fresh. We recommend Harley® Syn 3 Synthetic motor oil. It is formulated specifically for your Harley-Davidson® and gives you better high-temperature protection.

Be sure to check you tire pressure before leaving for a long ride. Low tire pressure affects handling and tire wear. Low tires generate excess heat which causes them to wear faster. It can also cause cupping or other irregular tire wear patterns that may require earlier replacement of the tire. Your owners manual gives you the recommended pressure which is usually different for front and rear tires. If you are riding a bagger, don't forget to check your air shock pressure for a comfortable ride. If you "think" your tires will last the trip, you might want to change them anyway. If you are measuring 1/16 of an inch or less anywhere on the tread, it's time to replace it. We have dealt with the aftermath of "thinking it would make it" many times. A flatbed ride is way more expensive than a few extra miles you might get out of your tire.

If you are experiencing handling issues, check tire pressure and make sure the weight you are carrying is evenly distributed. Try to keep the heavy stuff down low. If you are packed way high, consider UPS to send extra gear to your destination. Weight up high negatively affects handling and balance.

Looking for Power in all the wrong places?? A dynamometer is a machine that measures the amount of torque produced by your motorcycle's engine. The computer then converts torque to horsepower using a mathematical formula. This data is printed in a graph that tells you how much torque and horsepower your bike produces at various engine speeds.

Better quality dynos (like ours) measure the ratio of fuel and air flowing through the motor. This value is important for properly tuning the engine so it doesn't run too rich or lean. It also measures air density, ignition timing, and engine speed. Providing this type of information allows a trained technician to tune the engine for maximum power on acceleration and improved fuel mileage/efficient fuel burn at constant cruising speed.

When all these measurements are viewed together, they explain where your engine is performing well and where it's not. Carb or fuel injection performance, exhaust performance, clutch slippage, drive belt problems, wheel balance, and ignition problems can all be identified from dyno testing.

The dyno also confirms or destroys many performance myths that have developed over the years. A good example is exhaust performance. Straight or so called "drag pipes" are very popular for their looks and sound. They are also some of the worst performing exhaust systems in the RPM ranges where Harley®'s are ridden. Sound does not always convert to power.

A lot of people just want to have a starting point for future projects. How is your engine performing? Looking for more power is the big motivator. If you want to improve performance, you need the base line to design the changes that will give you what you want. Most riders look at increased horsepower as the best measure of performance. Big horsepower is developed at very high RPMs. Motors that develop big horsepower don't necessarily perform well for normal street riding. A better strategy is to think about what type of riding you do most often and what you want the engine to do that it's not doing now. That's where the dyno comes in.

If you want that "grab you by the butt" type of acceleration, what you are really after is mid-range torque increases. The mechanical changes you would make to your engine would be different than those that would produce the highest horsepower number. The dyno will show you where the power comes on in the RPM range and what type of numbers a specific combination of pistons, heads, cams, carbs, and exhausts will produce. It can also show which systems perform well and which are mostly advertising hype. Some of the coolest looking exhausts perform very poorly at low and mid-range engine speeds. Since the low to mid-range is where the majority of riding is done, you may be happier with a different choice that delivers the power you want. The dyno helps you make informed decisions so you get the best combo of cool looks and increased power. Harley®'s Screaming Eagle exhaust setups are designed to give you optimum power while meeting all local testing and ordinance requirements.

For more information contact our service department They can show you how various engine components change your engine's performance. They will help you design the performance package that will light up your ride!