What do I need to know before going to get my Bike Dyno'ed?

799 Views 21 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Scott7d, 3 d ago

Chopjaw

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago (Edited)

Now I don't pretend to know much, but I don't know what I don't know. I have a pretty good handle on what the dyno guy will give me with a dyno tune. ( I think I know...

What I want to know is, what should I be asking him to do?

Do I give him parameters of what I want?
Is there something I should be telling him what I don't want?
- What don't I want out of a tune?
Are there some things that I should look out for?
Will my Target Tune help the tuner during his Dyno run?
I will give him my build for Stage 2 just so he knows.

Thanks to you all for reading and offering help..
Chop.

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I think most of it depends on the motor and modifications you have made; primarily which cam, exhaust and intake you have.
I haven’t done mine, however, when I spoke to the dyno guy he was very clear that I should run a good exhaust like a D&D Billet Cat; I told him I wanted the TTS100 cam, which is what I installed in my bike, and he said that’s fine, but you’re not planning to go over 4k rpm, right? I agreed, since I rarely get up around 4000-4500 rpm.
So, it really depends on your build.
He also specified that I must have a very good tire on the back, no saddlebags or side covers when I deliver the bike. And of course a fresh oil/primary/trans change.

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rlaf75

· #3 · 5 d ago

What was done to the motor? Make sure you tell them what was done to the motor, cam,exhaust and intake or any other mods. Are you chasing dyno numbers or looking for a good running engine? They can tune it for maximum power but that may have a negative effect on daily riding. The results will vary

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Chopjaw

Discussion Starter · #4 · 5 d ago

rlaf75 said:
What was done to the motor? Make sure you tell them what was done to the motor, cam,exhaust and intake or any other mods. Are you chasing dyno numbers or looking for a good running engine? They can tune it for maximum power but that may have a negative effect on daily riding. The results will vary

I do want as much power as he can give me but keeping it in the safe range.

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smitty901

· #5 · 5 d ago

First figure out if it is really needed. Stage two with map from Fuel Moto and target tune.
Likely Dyno is over kill.

DYNO is only a good as the person running it.

There is a reason you have a disclaimer on bike damage. Blowing a rear tire on DYNO has happen.

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ToMang07

· #6 · 5 d ago

My guy just wanted the specs on the Cams.

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HellInABucket

· #7 · 5 d ago (Edited)

Chopjaw said:
I do want as much power as he can give me but keeping it in the safe range.

There is no "unsafe range" with a Stage 2. Stage 2 will give you a nice boost in performance, but its not like you've got a 142 kit with a blower (which, if you had that, limiting it (or for that matter, limitiing a stage 2) in some way would be wasting the money you spent on the hardware)

A Dyno tune is really just getting your bike performing optimally given the configuration.

As pointed out above, a Power Vision and a map from Fuel Moto that was created by dynoing your same configuration would likely be indistinguishable performance-wise from a dyno tune, and give you some flexibility to change things in the future (and monitor things you shouldn't be monitoring

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Caveman

· #8 · 5 d ago (Edited)

The last dyno guy I talked to just wanted to know what cam/engine mods, what type of riding and warned me that if the tires weren't in good shape, he wouldn't even look at the bike,

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Zedbra

· #9 · 5 d ago

Only thing I asked from the tuner was to eliminate the decel pop - which he did in 30 seconds after my first test ride around the block. Make sure your clutsch is adjusted properly.

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ksarauer

· #10 · 5 d ago

Full take of fuel (use what you normally fill it with), good rear tire, good air pressure, let them know whats been done to the engine. A lot of times they will ask about your riding style and what your looking to get out of it.
On the fuel topic, if you normally run 87/89 because that's all thats available in your area, fill up with that. Don't go out and fill the take with 93. Also, don't put any additives in because it's getting tuned.

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georgec

· #11 · 5 d ago

And I was told they will run it to redline, so if anything happens, the tuner is not liable.

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ToMang07

· #12 · 5 d ago

georgec said:
And I was told they will run it to redline, so if anything happens, the tuner is not liable.

I run mine past the redline almost every day.

Weirdly enough, it's right next to that guys house with the big pee-pads/knee-pads sign on his lawn.

Rev limiter however, less frequently. If you're playing that game....be sure your tune has one.

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boggart

· #13 · 5 d ago

Great advice above. Full tank of gas, lowest common denominator of what you typically use. Tell the tuner what was done. Answer his questions. If you have things you're looking for, tell him what that is. Ask if he works the timing tables. (If he answers no, find a different tuner). How does he connect the widebands? If he says he uses sniffer tubes shoved up the mufflers, run again. Do you like engine braking when riding in twisties? Tell him that, so he can make sure to adjust decel fuel. Do you want a choppier idle? Tell him that. He's your bikes doctor, be open and honest with him with your tastes, and wants/needs. Don't have unrealistic expectations of results. And don't under any circumstance get worried about a dyno sheet. You don't ride a dyno sheet.

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DGLIDE20

· #14 · 5 d ago

boggart said:
Great advice above. Full tank of gas, lowest common denominator of what you typically use. Tell the tuner what was done. Answer his questions. If you have things you're looking for, tell him what that is. Ask if he works the timing tables. (If he answers no, find a different tuner). How does he connect the widebands? If he says he uses sniffer tubes shoved up the mufflers, run again. Do you like engine braking when riding in twisties? Tell him that, so he can make sure to adjust decel fuel. Do you want a choppier idle? Tell him that. He's your bikes doctor, be open and honest with him with your tastes, and wants/needs. Don't have unrealistic expectations of results. And don't under any circumstance get worried about a dyno sheet. You don't ride a dyno sheet.

Exactly true about the dyno sheet. The dyno is a tool to get you the best ride according to your requirements and your build. The dyno sheet is an indication of performance at an instant. The most important criteria is when you get out and ride does the bike do what you want.

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Vinnie

· #15 · 5 d ago

For me the guy that does the build does the Dyno it’s his until I have the sheet then he gets paid.

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MORider

· #16 · 5 d ago

Vinnie said:
For me the guy that does the build does the Dyno it’s his until I have the sheet then he gets paid.

That’s the route I went when I chose to dyno. Dropped all the metal off so he knew what was on the table. He did a great job. I still smile when I ride and it’s been a year-ish. 112/119 for my 107. Not a monster, but damn, it’s a Glide!

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rlaf75

· #17 · 4 d ago

Chopjaw said:
I do want as much power as he can give me but keeping it in the safe range.

Then get to a tuner that knows what they're doing and let him have at it. The harley "performance" upgrades are in my opinion very restrictive due to laws they have to abide by. You can almost always get more bang for your buck with an aftermarket tune done by someone that knows what they're doing. Like already mentioned, fuel moto has a lot of maps available that they've already perfected on other builds. Add I good tuner and one of their maps and you'll be pretty damn close to where we it needs to be. Of take yours to a tuner and let them do what they do

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HellInABucket

· #18 · 4 d ago

rlaf75 said:
Then get to a tuner that knows what they're doing and let him have at it. The harley "performance" upgrades are in my opinion very restrictive due to laws they have to abide by. You can almost always get more bang for your buck with an aftermarket tune done by someone that knows what they're doing. Like already mentioned, fuel moto has a lot of maps available that they've already perfected on other builds. Add I good tuner and one of their maps and you'll be pretty damn close to where we it needs to be. Of take yours to a tuner and let them do what they do

Again, no such thing as "unsafe range" with a stage 2. Optimize your build.

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Vinnie

· #19 · 4 d ago

MORider said:
That’s the route I went when I chose to dyno. Dropped all the metal off so he knew what was on the table. He did a great job. I still smile when I ride and it’s been a year-ish. 112/119 for my 107. Not a monster, but damn, it’s a Glide!

Perfect more
Power and worry free
Enjoy

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rlaf75

· #20 · 4 d ago

HellInABucket said:
Again, no such thing as "unsafe range" with a stage 2. Optimize your build.

Whatever. I'm sure an aftermarket tune will yield better results than a canned HD map

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