Yes but I only needed to buy extensions because Harley now uses two-piece cables as the stock setup. Really cool idea that prevents you from having to completely replace the cables with either new handlebars or risers.
Congrats on the updates. A Stage II cam really wake this bikes up. I am extremely happy with horsepower cam and Tab Performance mufflers on mine. Ride safe and enjoy!
Wow I love the sound wet cool I have the rinehart, it’s nice too but I have to say I love what you did with the pips, I have the 15” windshield and I like it I am 5.8 and it is definitely helps me, I am sure the 19” will be better protection, I also have the Cruz-control, it’s nice to have and the engine guard in Black the only thing that broke on my bike is the phone mount lol but so far it’s so much fun, ride safe and have fun
@@marylandmotorhead-johnonei6038 when I get my fatboy I'm gonna do a stage 2 like you did. Can you give me a figure on what it cost you and exactly what it was you had done? When you said the cames were for low tork, does that mean it preforms better at low reves or lower speeds. Sorry probably sounds like a dumb question
Hi John. Thanks for the video. Do you have a link to which riser you bought? There seems to be two six inch riser on H-D website. A curved handlebar riser kit and a curved pull back fat riser....
Hi John... Ive just ordered the same exhausts after watching your video.I hope V&H are giving you some commission $$$ 🙂 Ive got the same Anniversary bike too, and going to make it similar to your build. Do I need to do anything else once the exhausts are fitted? Didnt know if it also needs a remap? Also, does the screen make a big difference at 70 mph... I test rode a Fatboy 107 last week and loved it ( Not picked my bike up yet) but the wind blast was no problem at 60, but really strong at 70. Thanks again! Love your videos 🙂
Hi Chris....you will be very happy with these slip ons! Nice rumble that is just right with no highway drone. You will need a remap for optimal performance and no "popping" on deceleration. If you watch my entire May 13 Mother's Day video, I go into all of the details about the tuners (that's right, TWO H.D. tuners) that I chose because of the Stage 2 cam upgrade. You will just need the basic tuner, which the correct map can be uploaded from. Use all H.D. stuff to maintain your factory warranty. Also, the 19" windscreen for Softails that I have is the way to go. It ELIMINATED all windblast and head buffeting for me, even beyond 85 mph. Your results will depend on your height. I am about 5'-07" and the screen is almost as good as a fairing for me. I like it so much that I will probably never remove it. Good luck with your new Fatboy!
Great video just picked up my 2019 Fat Boy . With the hand bar riser did you have to change the throttle , brake or clutch cables? or was there enough slack in the original cables.
Can you tel me what the bags are - appreciate they are HD just wondering on the name. They look pretty rigid and lock which is exactly what I am looking for. I traded in my 2016 Fat Bob and was about to pick up my new 2019 Fat Boy up when the Govt locked us all down in the UK because of COVID-19😭😭😭
Hi Gary, I believe they are just referred to as "Softail bags." They are in Harley's Accessory catalog so when your dealer opens back up, just take a look, unless you have a catalog in your home to keep you occupied during the quarantine. BTW, I am a salesman at a very large Harley dealer in Gaithersburg, Maryland, District Harley-Davidson, just outside of Washington, DC and we have several brand new Fatboys here for sale including the new blacked out 30th Anniversary model. We are still open here, despite many Americans opting to or being ordered to stay inside. I'll ship one over to you!
@@marylandmotorhead-johnonei6038 Hi John thanks for the reply. I don't have a catalog so will have to make do with searching on-line. How much are the bags and do they require some kind of fixing kit? I will have a sissy bar, rack and back rest fitted once they get back to work!
@@garyogden5873 Here's the link....yes, they come with all of the hardware necessary for installation. They are quick detach as well but look so good that I never take them off. Not sure why the 2 star rating; I LOVE mine! You will have to click on "Shop for your bike" and sort on your model year and Fatboy 114. mstore.harley-davidson.com/shop/motorcycle-saddlebags#!pageSize=45|category=10670|searchTermScope=-99
Hi John, I’m looking for the same satin finish mufflers you have, but I’m finding it hard to source them, I can get chrome ones no bother but the satin ones seem to be very scarce, did you get yours online or in store, cheers Mark.
Mi Mark, Vance & Hines has finally gotten the correct satin finish pipes for the FLFB and FLFBS into production and filled the back orders so by now, you should have no problem. Most dealers order them through Drag Specialties but you can order them (or have your dealer order them) directly through Vance & Hines as well. Initially, even though I had my dealer specify the correct part number, we were sent the incorrect chromed ones by some knucklehead and we had to send them back. It was well worth the wait though; my bike sounds incredible with a stealthy resemblance in appearance to stock.
Hi John, I too like many of the people below have this same bike. I also did the eliminators in the stage one but have more recently considered the stage 2 torque cam. Do you have any comparisons of without to with and was it worth it? I mean these 114's are great straight out the box. Pipes add iconic sound and bit snappier throttle, just wondering if you notice the delivery of the torque with the new cam over stock. Thanks for you time enjoy your videos
Hi Steven....yes sir, I can definitely feel the increased torque and horsepower over stock. Horsepower and torque are related exponentially, of course so the bike is not only supremely snappy off idle, even more so than stock but the midrange and top end pull are improved as well. I have no regrets in choosing the Stage 2 high-torque cam whatsoever. The bike is super quick and pulls hard to well past the stock limits. Go for it!
Hi John from the Great Russia, i'm owener Harley Davidson Fat Boy 114 , and thanks for yours videos about Harley. tell me please whether to completely replace the muffler or is it enough to change only the nozzles?
Hi Art! I was in Russia many years ago as a teenager. Glad to see our friends in Russia buying our Harleys! The Fatboy 114 is one hell of a motorcycle, isn't it? You need to change the two stock mufflers with slip-on mufflers, such as my Vance & Hines Series 300 Eliminators. You will also need the Harley Pro-Street tuner with the Stage 1 download to compensate for the additional air flow. Enjoy!
Hello again Art! I saw the beauty of the Russisn countryside while I was there and I'm sure it's every bit as beautiful now if not more so than it was back in 1978, when I was there as an American student. I remember how the Russian and Soviet people loved American culture. Happy to hear it is still that way. Let's pray that our two governments can find the same compassion for each other as our peoples have. That is very cool that the love of our Harley-Davidson culture runs deep in Russia. If you ever come to Washington, DC, which I live close to, you can rent a brand new Harley and I will show you our national capital area on the bikes!
what is the link for the turn and brake lights you have? also which risers did you go with on the hd site? love the blue paint on your bike!! I went with the rawhide paint for 2019, that blue almost makes me wish I went with your color!
Hi Nick, the LED lights are from Dynamic Ringz, if I remember correctly. If you watch the video, I actually talk about that. I can't give you a part number for the risers but they are a Harley part and are 6" pullback risers. The bike is now ergonomically perfect for me. As far as the paint, it was only available on the 2018 model as a limited production 115th Anniversary option. It wasn't available on the 2019 model. Thanks for the compliments!
Hi John..Did you add a Hi Volume Oil Pump or does that come with the Stage 2 upgrade ? Also John, what differences were made, if any, to the 2019 FLFBS compared to your 2018 FLFBS model ? Thanks for the uploads John, I'm learning alot just following you !!
Hi Lew, No, the high volume pump is not necessary with either Stage 2 build (torque cam or hp cam) and does not come with either kit. Put your money into the auto tuner, which dials in the bike perfectly after the cam swap.
Also, there are no mechanical differences or changes between a 2018 model and a 2019; just paint. I love my 115th Anniversary paint scheme though....which of course was for 2018 only.
On normal bikes without the cam kit, it's very hard to down shift at higher speed or higher RPM. You will have to slow down till u be able to down shift but once u upgrade your bike to stage 2 Cam kit, it's going to be smoother for you to down shift at higher RPM. Have u ever ridden a Moto- Racing bike before? it's more like it. Once you down shift, you will notice your RPM reaching the maximum level and your exhaust making those sound NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA. And better to have a nice loud exhaust to enjoy this upgrade and it's very useful for aggressive riders who like to accelerate alot Excuse my bad English as it's my second language. Hope i explained so will to you
Yes, the Harley Stage kits are Harley's Screamin' Eagle parts dept's. factory engineered performance upgrades in "kit" form, in order of mild to wild. Stage 1 is what most riders go for because it is the least expensive Stage kit and provides a lot of bang for the buck with increased sound and performance over stock. The stages get progressively more expensive with commensurate increases in performance. Stage 2 is probably has high as you want to go (with your choice of emphasis on massive torque, like I did, or greatly increased top end, high rpm hp) without sacrificing smoothness. Once you get to Stage 3, you are looking at making major changes that on paper look great but unless you ride aggressively and hammer your bike hard in the upper rpm levels, you may not be pleased with the loss in smoothness and relaxed demeanor. Stage 4 will make the new Milwaukee Eight an absolute beast but at the sacrifice of any and all traces of smoothness, mpg and probably reliability as well.
I did not notice much of a difference from stock in terms of what you are describing; however, I certainly DID notice the huge increase in power, torque, sound and acceleration! The nice thing about the Stage II torque cam is that the bike maintains most of the factory smoothness and driving characteristics, albeit it with a heavy dose of additional performance. It ROCKS now!
Hi John, I have a question, and I hope it’s appropriate to ask you this on your Chanel, so if it’s not I understand, how much approximately one should expect to pay for the stage 2 upgrade will the stage one is already in place, and it’s for the 2018 fat boy 114? Thank you for everything you are doing.
Hi David and thanks for your question. I paid about $3,600 after discounts, including all parts and labor but that was taking the bike from dead stock to Stage II (torque cam, which I highly recommend.) Subtract about $1,300 from that figure....so $2,300 or so. Remember, that includes the Auto Tune (Smart Tune Pro) module, which is a must if you want the bike to produce maximum output and have perfect fuel metering under any conditions. Make sure you NEGOTIATE with the dealer for a better price or they will not give it to you!
Hey Johno, does the cam you had installed make the idle lumpy? Have you lost “smoothness”? I had a stage 4 put in a 2014 Street bob and hated it. Fast but a pig to ride.
Hey Paul, No; the idle is not noticeably lumpier and I have lost ZERO smoothness. Also, the counter-balancer "whirring" that these Milwaukee Eights exhibit with stock exhaust is now masked by the much more authoritative exhaust note, making it sound like we want our bikes to sound, not like a sewing machine. I don't think I'll ever do a Stage 4; too much loss of low end torque, smoothness and more than likely, longevity and durability as well. One thing to remember though; the new single cam, 4-valve per cylinder Milwaukee Eight, especially in 114 and 117 cid displacements from the factory, are much more inherently smooth and powerful than your old Twin-Cam on your 2014. A Stage 2 or 3 114 Milwaukee Eight will probably outperform your Stage 4 Twin Cam and be much more pleasant to ride as well. Technology is an amazing thing.
Thanks mate, I bought a new Fat Boy and it’s awesome, riding that tidal wave of torque is so much fun but a cam and a tune sounds great. I’ll start saving 😎👍
Hey John yes, it’s just a matter of booking it in to the dealer for the cam and then to the dyno tuner. The dyno guy who is a guru with HD tuning said to go for the HP cam over the torque cam 😊 She’s in for her second service today, love this bike. They gave me the Fat Bob as a loaner I don’t get how the Fat Bob’s gears are sooooooo much smoother to change than the Fat Boy considering they both have the same 114 engine and gear box 😳
Hey Paul...your dyno guy is offering his opinion of personal preference, which of course will be the cam that makes more hp. After all, he is paid to produce the highest possible hp #'s. I have had many guys tell me that they love the Stage II hp cam too but you have to make the choice based on your riding style. I LOVE instant, neck snapping torque (think 1987 Buick Grand National style) as opposed to high rpm power at the expense of low speed response. Keep in mind also that the Stage II torque cam actually makes slightly more hp than the Stage III cam, if I am not mistaken. I have heard guys are getting as much as 117 hp out of the Stage II torque cam with explosive mid range as an added benefit and I have no reason to believe that mine is putting out any less. I did not have access to a reputable dyno tuner that I trusted where and when I bought the bike and had the work done so I just went with the Auto Tune unit. I am EXTREMELY pleased with the INCREDIBLE performance of my bike. I think that you can't lose, either way!
Hi Green Bullet. My wheels are stock but appear to be brighter and shinier than the wheels on other '18 Fatboys. I am not certain why this is the case. Have you decided on which model you want?
Green Bullitt - On the '17 and '18 touring bikes, you can do a big bore kit on the 107 to upgrade it to a 114 but it will not be of the same bore and stroke as a factory '18 factory Softail 114. The Softail iteration of the 114 has a longer stroke crankshaft than the 107 engines so an upgraded 107 to 114 will have a bigger bore and a shorter stroke than a factory issued S spec 114. As you know, I like torque rather than the ultimate horsepower number and the longer stroke produces more torque. Since you can wait, it's worth it to see if they make the 114 standard or at least optional on the non-CVO Touring models for 2019. The factory 2018 CVO Touring model 117's use both the larger bore of the Stage 3 kit and the long stroke of the factory S Model Softail 114's. Therefore, it is possible to upgrade my 114 to a 117 in the future but you can't upgrade a factory 107 to a 117 unless, possibly, you spend a gazillion dollars to split the cases and install the longer stroke crankshaft. For right now, a Stage II 114 with the high torque cam upgrade is MORE than enough for me!
Hey John thanks for posting your latest video ! I bought the same Anniversary model a month back number is 747 and got the same bags and engine guard as yours ! Planning to get 19 inch wind shield as am 6.1 and also VH eliminator 300 slip ons same as yours but not going for Cam or any other changes ... do you think I will get the same sound ? I also heard rinehart which equally sounds great but bit confused between the two ... any thoughts or views ?
Hi Anupam and you are welcome. I knew that there were guys like you out there waiting for my update. Yes, the 19" screen will help (the 15" screen is useless, in my opinion) but at 6'-01", you still may get some wind buffetting. it will be better than no screen at all though. Even at 5"-08", the 19" screen sits comfortably below my direct line of sight but you may need an aftermarket screen of at least 22" (if anybody makes one yet) to be completely shielded from the wind at freeway speeds. The HD 19" screen I have looks fabulous too with a sporty, narrow style as opposed to something like, say, a Roadking windscreen and it really compliments the bags. Don't forget to add the cruise control if you do a lot of touring and maybe a sissy bar and back rest like mine for your gal to complete the look and functionality? As far as the Rineharts vs. Vance & Hines, I will tell you that there was a guy picking up his new Heritage 114 with brand new Rineharts on it at the same time I was picking up my bike and he asked me to fire mine up. He smiled and commented that he wished that he had had the patience to wait for the release of the Vance & Hines 300 Eliminators. His sounded good but mine sound GREAT! Then his wife starting giving him @#%^&*!!!! for not making the right choice! Go with the Vance & Hines. Sound should be about the same as mine but just warning you; they are fairly loud! You will be twisting the throttle harder just to hear them bark. You may want to think about the Smart-Tune Pro piggyback tuner unit.....even with the stock cam. It will eliminate any possibility of exhaust "popping" on decel and may net you a few hp and lb. ft.. Good luck!
Thanks John much appreciate your great tips ! I was so impressed by your choice from your first video that I decided to get the FB ANV 114 ! Forgot to tell you I have got a short upright sissy bar which works well for me . I now need to get the windshield and VH eliminators 300 slip ons , can’t wait to hear the throating sound !! Once again thanks
Hey John just wanted to share with you that today I got VH eliminator 300 satin chrome slip ons fitted to my Fatboy and I must say I am very happy about it and made the right choice after seeking your views ! The sound is so deep and throating and at the same time not tearing ... equally got the 19 inch windscreen ... extremely happy with the choices I made and thank you so much for giving the best advice !! Take care and ride safe !
I have a 2018 Fat Boy, I want to put saddlebags on it, I would like to get those same bags. I also know I will need to move the license plate and rear lights. Any advice?
Hi Joe, Yes, my advice is to just go to your dealer, tell them you want these specific bags and let them worry about it! They will already know how to relocate the license plate and the rear lights with specific relocation kits that Harley already has for this purpose. Don't try to re-invent the wheel!
Hi John, .. what height is your screen? I rode a 2018 Fat Boy with the short screen and it really buffeted at 80klm/hr! I'm 5'6" Do you get much turbulence from your screen? Your bike is looking great. As of today, I now have 4275 klms on mine, I'm very glad I bought the Fat Boy. I look forward to your reply and thank you in advance. Baz
Hi Barry and sorry for the delayed response. There are only two screens available through Harley; your short 15 inch screen and the one I have, which is 19 inches. Just tell your dealer you want the taller screen! There is virtually no head buffering, even at high speeds. I highly recommend the 19 inch screen, which is lightly smoked and beautifully styled.
Waiting on my 19" screen to come in and did some post purchase online reviews and the horrors I found about buffering made me almost regret not investigating earlier. Sounds like you don't have problems so gonna have to wait and see.
No, these slip ons have no inserts....but trust me, they sound just right. Not too loud when riding conservatively but WOW, when you crack the throttle, they ROCK!
I'm running the two Harley tuners with the first one being the Smart Tune Pro, I believe it's called, which is what everyone gets with the Stage 1 kit. Since I went further and changed the cam (Stage 2 hi-torque), I wanted perfect throttle mapping ALL the time and the only way to do that is to add Harley's "Auto Tuner", which is a MUST HAVE. Well worth the extra money and dials the bike in to run PERFECTLY, everytime and under any and all circumstances, elevations or conditions.
John did you have to buy additional cables for the auto tuner install? Dealer installer said additional cable set is required for their installation. I thought the computer cable was for self installer and HD service had their own cable for tuning. Was a dyno necessary after installation of your Stage 2 and auto tuner? I was quoted 2 hours required dyno tuning!
Hi Jacek, Harley now makes two piece cables so that all you have to do is replace the bottom half of the cables. They have a coupling that joins the new longer sized cable that you will need to purchase for use with the existing factory OE cables that connect to your brakes, clutch, etc.
Hi Jim. The exhaust definitely is not quiet but there are louder exhaust systems available. To me, it sounds so throaty that I have not changed it since this video was shot over 3 years ago.
Yes but I only needed to buy extensions because Harley now uses two-piece cables as the stock setup. Really cool idea that prevents you from having to completely replace the cables with either new handlebars or risers.
Congrats on the updates. A Stage II cam really wake this bikes up. I am extremely happy with horsepower cam and Tab Performance mufflers on mine. Ride safe and enjoy!
Thank you sir! Always a pleasure to hear from you.
Where do you see the power gain with the hp cam? I’m torn between going with the torque or hp cam.
Beautiful Bike!! Love the emblem!! The Pinstriping is really good too. Enjoy your ride and Happy Trails!!
Thanks!
Wow I love the sound wet cool I have the rinehart, it’s nice too but I have to say I love what you did with the pips,
I have the 15” windshield and I like it I am 5.8 and it is definitely helps me,
I am sure the 19” will be better protection, I also have the Cruz-control, it’s nice to have and the engine guard in Black the only thing that broke on my bike is the phone mount lol but so far it’s so much fun, ride safe and have fun
David, thanks for the compliments. Good luck to you and be safe as well!
Can you quick detach those bags and sissy bar both?
Beautiful bike, I wish you all the luck in the world with it. I'm looking at purchasing a fatboy of my own. I love the bags, are they lockable
Hi Dan. Thanks for the compliments. Yes, the bags are lockable.
@@marylandmotorhead-johnonei6038 when I get my fatboy I'm gonna do a stage 2 like you did. Can you give me a figure on what it cost you and exactly what it was you had done? When you said the cames were for low tork, does that mean it preforms better at low reves or lower speeds. Sorry probably sounds like a dumb question
Have you considered putting a heal shifter back on or are you happy with the way it's supplied
Hi John. Thanks for the video. Do you have a link to which riser you bought? There seems to be two six inch riser on H-D website. A curved handlebar riser kit and a curved pull back fat riser....
Hi John... Ive just ordered the same exhausts after watching your video.I hope V&H are giving you some commission $$$ 🙂 Ive got the same Anniversary bike too, and going to make it similar to your build. Do I need to do anything else once the exhausts are fitted? Didnt know if it also needs a remap? Also, does the screen make a big difference at 70 mph... I test rode a Fatboy 107 last week and loved it ( Not picked my bike up yet) but the wind blast was no problem at 60, but really strong at 70. Thanks again! Love your videos 🙂
Hi Chris....you will be very happy with these slip ons! Nice rumble that is just right with no highway drone. You will need a remap for optimal performance and no "popping" on deceleration. If you watch my entire May 13 Mother's Day video, I go into all of the details about the tuners (that's right, TWO H.D. tuners) that I chose because of the Stage 2 cam upgrade. You will just need the basic tuner, which the correct map can be uploaded from. Use all H.D. stuff to maintain your factory warranty. Also, the 19" windscreen for Softails that I have is the way to go. It ELIMINATED all windblast and head buffeting for me, even beyond 85 mph. Your results will depend on your height. I am about 5'-07" and the screen is almost as good as a fairing for me. I like it so much that I will probably never remove it. Good luck with your new Fatboy!
Great video just picked up my 2019 Fat Boy . With the hand bar riser did you have to change the throttle , brake or clutch cables? or was there enough slack in the original cables.
Can you tel me what the bags are - appreciate they are HD just wondering on the name. They look pretty rigid and lock which is exactly what I am looking for. I traded in my 2016 Fat Bob and was about to pick up my new 2019 Fat Boy up when the Govt locked us all down in the UK because of COVID-19😭😭😭
Hi Gary, I believe they are just referred to as "Softail bags." They are in Harley's Accessory catalog so when your dealer opens back up, just take a look, unless you have a catalog in your home to keep you occupied during the quarantine. BTW, I am a salesman at a very large Harley dealer in Gaithersburg, Maryland, District Harley-Davidson, just outside of Washington, DC and we have several brand new Fatboys here for sale including the new blacked out 30th Anniversary model. We are still open here, despite many Americans opting to or being ordered to stay inside. I'll ship one over to you!
@@marylandmotorhead-johnonei6038 Hi John thanks for the reply. I don't have a catalog so will have to make do with searching on-line. How much are the bags and do they require some kind of fixing kit? I will have a sissy bar, rack and back rest fitted once they get back to work!
@@garyogden5873 Here's the link....yes, they come with all of the hardware necessary for installation. They are quick detach as well but look so good that I never take them off. Not sure why the 2 star rating; I LOVE mine! You will have to click on "Shop for your bike" and sort on your model year and Fatboy 114.
mstore.harley-davidson.com/shop/motorcycle-saddlebags#!pageSize=45|category=10670|searchTermScope=-99
Hi John, I’m looking for the same satin finish mufflers you have, but I’m finding it hard to source them, I can get chrome ones no bother but the satin ones seem to be very scarce, did you get yours online or in store, cheers Mark.
Mi Mark,
Vance & Hines has finally gotten the correct satin finish pipes for the FLFB and FLFBS into production and filled the back orders so by now, you should have no problem. Most dealers order them through Drag Specialties but you can order them (or have your dealer order them) directly through Vance & Hines as well. Initially, even though I had my dealer specify the correct part number, we were sent the incorrect chromed ones by some knucklehead and we had to send them back. It was well worth the wait though; my bike sounds incredible with a stealthy resemblance in appearance to stock.
Hi John, I too like many of the people below have this same bike. I also did the eliminators in the stage one but have more recently considered the stage 2 torque cam. Do you have any comparisons of without to with and was it worth it? I mean these 114's are great straight out the box. Pipes add iconic sound and bit snappier throttle, just wondering if you notice the delivery of the torque with the new cam over stock. Thanks for you time enjoy your videos
Hi Steven....yes sir, I can definitely feel the increased torque and horsepower over stock. Horsepower and torque are related exponentially, of course so the bike is not only supremely snappy off idle, even more so than stock but the midrange and top end pull are improved as well. I have no regrets in choosing the Stage 2 high-torque cam whatsoever. The bike is super quick and pulls hard to well past the stock limits. Go for it!
Hi John from the Great Russia, i'm owener Harley Davidson Fat Boy 114 , and thanks for yours videos about Harley. tell me please whether to completely replace the muffler or is it enough to change only the nozzles?
Hi Art! I was in Russia many years ago as a teenager. Glad to see our friends in Russia buying our Harleys! The Fatboy 114 is one hell of a motorcycle, isn't it?
You need to change the two stock mufflers with slip-on mufflers, such as my Vance & Hines Series 300 Eliminators. You will also need the Harley Pro-Street tuner with the Stage 1 download to compensate for the additional air flow. Enjoy!
Hello again Art! I saw the beauty of the Russisn countryside while I was there and I'm sure it's every bit as beautiful now if not more so than it was back in 1978, when I was there as an American student. I remember how the Russian and Soviet people loved American culture. Happy to hear it is still that way. Let's pray that our two governments can find the same compassion for each other as our peoples have.
That is very cool that the love of our Harley-Davidson culture runs deep in Russia. If you ever come to Washington, DC, which I live close to, you can rent a brand new Harley and I will show you our national capital area on the bikes!
What kind of bags are on the bike?
what is the link for the turn and brake lights you have? also which risers did you go with on the hd site? love the blue paint on your bike!! I went with the rawhide paint for 2019, that blue almost makes me wish I went with your color!
Hi Nick, the LED lights are from Dynamic Ringz, if I remember correctly. If you watch the video, I actually talk about that. I can't give you a part number for the risers but they are a Harley part and are 6" pullback risers. The bike is now ergonomically perfect for me. As far as the paint, it was only available on the 2018 model as a limited production 115th Anniversary option. It wasn't available on the 2019 model. Thanks for the compliments!
Great work, thanks.
Hi John..Did you add a Hi Volume Oil Pump or does that come with the Stage 2 upgrade ? Also John, what differences were made, if any, to the 2019 FLFBS compared to your 2018 FLFBS model ? Thanks for the uploads John, I'm learning alot just following you !!
Hi Lew,
No, the high volume pump is not necessary with either Stage 2 build (torque cam or hp cam) and does not come with either kit. Put your money into the auto tuner, which dials in the bike perfectly after the cam swap.
Also, there are no mechanical differences or changes between a 2018 model and a 2019; just paint. I love my 115th Anniversary paint scheme though....which of course was for 2018 only.
Hi john ,great sound i like it , question ,,Can u explain it what is stage 2 cam kit ? I hear a lot but do’t know exactly
On normal bikes without the cam kit, it's very hard to down shift at higher speed or higher RPM. You will have to slow down till u be able to down shift but once u upgrade your bike to stage 2 Cam kit, it's going to be smoother for you to down shift at higher RPM. Have u ever ridden a Moto- Racing bike before? it's more like it. Once you down shift, you will notice your RPM reaching the maximum level and your exhaust making those sound NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA. And better to have a nice loud exhaust to enjoy this upgrade and it's very useful for aggressive riders who like to accelerate alot
Excuse my bad English as it's my second language. Hope i explained so will to you
Yes, the Harley Stage kits are Harley's Screamin' Eagle parts dept's. factory engineered performance upgrades in "kit" form, in order of mild to wild. Stage 1 is what most riders go for because it is the least expensive Stage kit and provides a lot of bang for the buck with increased sound and performance over stock. The stages get progressively more expensive with commensurate increases in performance. Stage 2 is probably has high as you want to go (with your choice of emphasis on massive torque, like I did, or greatly increased top end, high rpm hp) without sacrificing smoothness. Once you get to Stage 3, you are looking at making major changes that on paper look great but unless you ride aggressively and hammer your bike hard in the upper rpm levels, you may not be pleased with the loss in smoothness and relaxed demeanor. Stage 4 will make the new Milwaukee Eight an absolute beast but at the sacrifice of any and all traces of smoothness, mpg and probably reliability as well.
Thanks john 👍
I did not notice much of a difference from stock in terms of what you are describing; however, I certainly DID notice the huge increase in power, torque, sound and acceleration! The nice thing about the Stage II torque cam is that the bike maintains most of the factory smoothness and driving characteristics, albeit it with a heavy dose of additional performance. It ROCKS now!
Hi John, I have a question, and I hope it’s appropriate to ask you this on your Chanel, so if it’s not I understand, how much approximately one should expect to pay for the stage 2 upgrade will the stage one is already in place, and it’s for the 2018 fat boy 114? Thank you for everything you are doing.
Hi David and thanks for your question. I paid about $3,600 after discounts, including all parts and labor but that was taking the bike from dead stock to Stage II (torque cam, which I highly recommend.) Subtract about $1,300 from that figure....so $2,300 or so. Remember, that includes the Auto Tune (Smart Tune Pro) module, which is a must if you want the bike to produce maximum output and have perfect fuel metering under any conditions. Make sure you NEGOTIATE with the dealer for a better price or they will not give it to you!
John O'Neill thanks very much John.
Hey Johno, does the cam you had installed make the idle lumpy? Have you lost “smoothness”? I had a stage 4 put in a 2014 Street bob and hated it. Fast but a pig to ride.
Hey Paul,
No; the idle is not noticeably lumpier and I have lost ZERO smoothness. Also, the counter-balancer "whirring" that these Milwaukee Eights exhibit with stock exhaust is now masked by the much more authoritative exhaust note, making it sound like we want our bikes to sound, not like a sewing machine. I don't think I'll ever do a Stage 4; too much loss of low end torque, smoothness and more than likely, longevity and durability as well. One thing to remember though; the new single cam, 4-valve per cylinder Milwaukee Eight, especially in 114 and 117 cid displacements from the factory, are much more inherently smooth and powerful than your old Twin-Cam on your 2014. A Stage 2 or 3 114 Milwaukee Eight will probably outperform your Stage 4 Twin Cam and be much more pleasant to ride as well. Technology is an amazing thing.
Thanks mate, I bought a new Fat Boy and it’s awesome, riding that tidal wave of torque is so much fun but a cam and a tune sounds great. I’ll start saving 😎👍
Sorry for the delayed reply Paul. have you saved enough for the upgrade yet?
Hey John yes, it’s just a matter of booking it in to the dealer for the cam and then to the dyno tuner. The dyno guy who is a guru with HD tuning said to go for the HP cam over the torque cam 😊 She’s in for her second service today, love this bike. They gave me the Fat Bob as a loaner I don’t get how the Fat Bob’s gears are sooooooo much smoother to change than the Fat Boy considering they both have the same 114 engine and gear box 😳
Hey Paul...your dyno guy is offering his opinion of personal preference, which of course will be the cam that makes more hp. After all, he is paid to produce the highest possible hp #'s. I have had many guys tell me that they love the Stage II hp cam too but you have to make the choice based on your riding style. I LOVE instant, neck snapping torque (think 1987 Buick Grand National style) as opposed to high rpm power at the expense of low speed response. Keep in mind also that the Stage II torque cam actually makes slightly more hp than the Stage III cam, if I am not mistaken. I have heard guys are getting as much as 117 hp out of the Stage II torque cam with explosive mid range as an added benefit and I have no reason to believe that mine is putting out any less. I did not have access to a reputable dyno tuner that I trusted where and when I bought the bike and had the work done so I just went with the Auto Tune unit. I am EXTREMELY pleased with the INCREDIBLE performance of my bike. I think that you can't lose, either way!
Those wheels clear-coated or raw aluminum ? Love the bike. It's between this, the Breakout or the Road Glide Special for me ...
Hi Green Bullet. My wheels are stock but appear to be brighter and shinier than the wheels on other '18 Fatboys. I am not certain why this is the case. Have you decided on which model you want?
Road Glide Special or Street Glide Special but wished the 114 option was available on those. Maybe for 2019. Working overseas so I can wait.
Green Bullitt - On the '17 and '18 touring bikes, you can do a big bore kit on the 107 to upgrade it to a 114 but it will not be of the same bore and stroke as a factory '18 factory Softail 114. The Softail iteration of the 114 has a longer stroke crankshaft than the 107 engines so an upgraded 107 to 114 will have a bigger bore and a shorter stroke than a factory issued S spec 114. As you know, I like torque rather than the ultimate horsepower number and the longer stroke produces more torque. Since you can wait, it's worth it to see if they make the 114 standard or at least optional on the non-CVO Touring models for 2019. The factory 2018 CVO Touring model 117's use both the larger bore of the Stage 3 kit and the long stroke of the factory S Model Softail 114's. Therefore, it is possible to upgrade my 114 to a 117 in the future but you can't upgrade a factory 107 to a 117 unless, possibly, you spend a gazillion dollars to split the cases and install the longer stroke crankshaft. For right now, a Stage II 114 with the high torque cam upgrade is MORE than enough for me!
Hey John thanks for posting your latest video ! I bought the same Anniversary model a month back number is 747 and got the same bags and engine guard as yours ! Planning to get 19 inch wind shield as am 6.1 and also VH eliminator 300 slip ons same as yours but not going for Cam or any other changes ... do you think I will get the same sound ? I also heard rinehart which equally sounds great but bit confused between the two ... any thoughts or views ?
Hi Anupam and you are welcome. I knew that there were guys like you out there waiting for my update. Yes, the 19" screen will help (the 15" screen is useless, in my opinion) but at 6'-01", you still may get some wind buffetting. it will be better than no screen at all though. Even at 5"-08", the 19" screen sits comfortably below my direct line of sight but you may need an aftermarket screen of at least 22" (if anybody makes one yet) to be completely shielded from the wind at freeway speeds. The HD 19" screen I have looks fabulous too with a sporty, narrow style as opposed to something like, say, a Roadking windscreen and it really compliments the bags. Don't forget to add the cruise control if you do a lot of touring and maybe a sissy bar and back rest like mine for your gal to complete the look and functionality?
As far as the Rineharts vs. Vance & Hines, I will tell you that there was a guy picking up his new Heritage 114 with brand new Rineharts on it at the same time I was picking up my bike and he asked me to fire mine up. He smiled and commented that he wished that he had had the patience to wait for the release of the Vance & Hines 300 Eliminators. His sounded good but mine sound GREAT! Then his wife starting giving him @#%^&*!!!! for not making the right choice! Go with the Vance & Hines. Sound should be about the same as mine but just warning you; they are fairly loud! You will be twisting the throttle harder just to hear them bark. You may want to think about the Smart-Tune Pro piggyback tuner unit.....even with the stock cam. It will eliminate any possibility of exhaust "popping" on decel and may net you a few hp and lb. ft.. Good luck!
Thanks John much appreciate your great tips ! I was so impressed by your choice from your first video that I decided to get the FB ANV 114 ! Forgot to tell you I have got a short upright sissy bar which works well for me . I now need to get the windshield and VH eliminators 300 slip ons , can’t wait to hear the throating sound !! Once again thanks
Hey John just wanted to share with you that today I got VH eliminator 300 satin chrome slip ons fitted to my Fatboy and I must say I am very happy about it and made the right choice after seeking your views ! The sound is so deep and throating and at the same time not tearing ... equally got the 19 inch windscreen ... extremely happy with the choices I made and thank you so much for giving the best advice !! Take care and ride safe !
Hi Anupam. You are very welcome for my advice; glad you like the same choices I made! You ride safe as well!
I have a 2018 Fat Boy, I want to put saddlebags on it, I would like to get those same bags. I also know I will need to move the license plate and rear lights. Any advice?
Hi Joe,
Yes, my advice is to just go to your dealer, tell them you want these specific bags and let them worry about it! They will already know how to relocate the license plate and the rear lights with specific relocation kits that Harley already has for this purpose. Don't try to re-invent the wheel!
Hi John, .. what height is your screen? I rode a 2018 Fat Boy with the short screen and it really buffeted at 80klm/hr! I'm 5'6" Do you get much turbulence from your screen? Your bike is looking great. As of today, I now have 4275 klms on mine, I'm very glad I bought the Fat Boy. I look forward to your reply and thank you in advance. Baz
Hi Barry and sorry for the delayed response. There are only two screens available through Harley; your short 15 inch screen and the one I have, which is 19 inches. Just tell your dealer you want the taller screen! There is virtually no head buffering, even at high speeds. I highly recommend the 19 inch screen, which is lightly smoked and beautifully styled.
Waiting on my 19" screen to come in and did some post purchase online reviews and the horrors I found about buffering made me almost regret not investigating earlier. Sounds like you don't have problems so gonna have to wait and see.
Hi do your slip ons have any inserts in them as I know Vance and Hines offer two different types as options?
No, these slip ons have no inserts....but trust me, they sound just right. Not too loud when riding conservatively but WOW, when you crack the throttle, they ROCK!
What tuner ya runnin'?
I'm running the two Harley tuners with the first one being the Smart Tune Pro, I believe it's called, which is what everyone gets with the Stage 1 kit. Since I went further and changed the cam (Stage 2 hi-torque), I wanted perfect throttle mapping ALL the time and the only way to do that is to add Harley's "Auto Tuner", which is a MUST HAVE. Well worth the extra money and dials the bike in to run PERFECTLY, everytime and under any and all circumstances, elevations or conditions.
John did you have to buy additional cables for the auto tuner install? Dealer installer said additional cable set is required for their installation. I thought the computer cable was for self installer and HD service had their own cable for tuning. Was a dyno necessary after installation of your Stage 2 and auto tuner? I was quoted 2 hours required dyno tuning!
Hi. Did You change the electric cables for the longer one?
Hi Jacek, Harley now makes two piece cables so that all you have to do is replace the bottom half of the cables. They have a coupling that joins the new longer sized cable that you will need to purchase for use with the existing factory OE cables that connect to your brakes, clutch, etc.
Nice exhaust! A little too quiet !!
Hi Jim. The exhaust definitely is not quiet but there are louder exhaust systems available. To me, it sounds so throaty that I have not changed it since this video was shot over 3 years ago.
Nice
Shark Road sound better I have on my 2022 fat boy with them on my mind