Improveing Twin cam performance,advive

Wrinkly

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
5,167
Reaction score
1,835
Location
beverley,england
Having been out on the new LC a couple of times I'm very impressed,but at 6k to change my 18mth old twin cam it doesn't feel like good value for money especially when I'd have to spend another grand getting the luggage I'd like.

So, it got me thinking that if I keep my Twin cam then I would like to try and improve it's overall performance.

Not being a technical or performance guru I thought I'd turn to the folks on here for some constructive or otherwise advice.

My thinking so far is..

Remus Hexicone complete exhaust system...

Hilltop remap...

Sound thinking or not ?...let me know your thoughts please.

Steve
 
get a set of decated headers from Keihan as this will give you better low down grunt and make the engine rev a little easier. Changing the end can is a waste of money really as it's just noise and no performance gain.

A power commander set up properly on a dyno is a brilliant upgrade in my opinion as you can get it set to your own riding preferences.
 
Hilltop remap, decat headers and I put an Akro on be ause I like the looks and the noise. Made my very good twin cam even better and will give you the results your after.
 
Are you sure you need to up the performance?
I have a standard Twin Cam with 36k on the clock.
She will lift the front in third and will will pull like a train to just shy of 140.
Biggest performance upgrade for me is Petrol.
Put in the good stuff and she flies, put in the normal and she don't!
I have been putting 30+k annual miles on bikes for the past 9 years and used both hypersports (Busa, new rear tyre every 15 days :eek:) to an old K100RS.
from that broad spectrum, I find the GS TC has more grunt out of the crate than I gave it credit for.

Just my opinion though:blagblah

Ride safe

Dazlove
 
I have a full Akro fitted (flappy gizmo removed), plus the Hilltop remap. But I would say that the remap would be enough.
 
The modern boxer twin has a hole in the power curve around the 5000 rpm point, possibly due to the state of tune to comply with emissions/noise regulations. A remap or power commander can help to tune this out and fill the hole, giving a more linear delivery of power and torque, with improved low down tractability and smoother running plus avoid running excessively lean with a risk of burnt valves or detonation.

This 'hole' is coincidentally at the point where the throttle feels wide open in 3rd or 4th gear when accelerating. Grabbing a small amount of extra throttle action to actually get it all the way to the stop also helps, as you may think you have it pinned when in reality there is a bit of twist grip action remaining. The standard bike has enough power and torque IMO, it just feels a bit wooly when delivering it compared to a Jap four.

I also wouldn't bother with an end can, I have a Scorpion Titanium because it came with my first 1200 but I wouldn't buy one otherwise. Spend the money on a dyno session/remap instead.
 
The modern boxer twin has a hole in the power curve around the 5000 rpm point, possibly due to the state of tune to comply with emissions/noise regulations. A remap or power commander can help to tune this out and fill the hole, giving a more linear delivery of power and torque, with improved low down tractability and smoother running plus avoid running excessively lean with a risk of burnt valves or detonation.

This 'hole' is coincidentally at the point where the throttle feels wide open in 3rd or 4th gear when accelerating. Grabbing a small amount of extra throttle action to actually get it all the way to the stop also helps, as you may think you have it pinned when in reality there is a bit of twist grip action remaining. The standard bike has enough power and torque IMO, it just feels a bit wooly when delivering it compared to a Jap four.

I also wouldn't bother with an end can, I have a Scorpion Titanium because it came with my first 1200 but I wouldn't buy one otherwise. Spend the money on a dyno session/remap instead.

Fully agree with what your saying my TC has all the power I would want once it's up to 5000rpm,I also don't think that the new LC is much quicker after 5000rpm what I'm really after is a bit more power and torque upto 5000 rpm.

Steve
 
How many miles has the bike done? Many are not fully run in before 10,000 miles. If treated too gently they can still be tight way after that.

I have a Remus header that fits the TC. It made an immediate difference to my Mk2 with standard can. I replaced it only because an Akra Ti with stacked cans came up.

Folks in the know say the Remus will fit Mk2 and Mk3.
 
I have a TC which has had the Hilltop re-map, this definately smooths things and makes most difference at the top end.

BUT the mod which has made the bike really nice to ride is a cable-tie, suitable thinned down, placed and glued in the groove of the throttle pully. This speeds up the throttle action and makes the whole package so much better. ;)
 
BUT the mod which has made the bike really nice to ride is a cable-tie, suitable thinned down, placed and glued in the groove of the throttle pully. This speeds up the throttle action and makes the whole package so much better. ;)

Now that's a damn clever idea and probably the most original and cheap mod I've heard in ages.
 
I have a TC which has had the Hilltop re-map, this definately smooths things and makes most difference at the top end.

BUT the mod which has made the bike really nice to ride is a cable-tie, suitable thinned down, placed and glued in the groove of the throttle pully. This speeds up the throttle action and makes the whole package so much better. ;)

I'm dumb, did not get it. Care to elaborate, please? Maybe snap a pic?

Edit: Ah, think maybe I got after all. You are effectively making the pulley a larger diameter? Handle bar end, or distributor house?
 
I'm dumb, did not get it. Care to elaborate, please? Maybe snap a pic?

Edit: Ah, think maybe I got after all. You are effectively making the pulley a larger diameter? Handle bar end, or distributor house?

Handlebar end. I held the cable-tie against a sander and sanded both sides until I had a good tight push fit into the pulley channel.

Keep a little of the start of the ct, thin bit, until you have determined by trial and error how much you need to give the quicker action you are happiest with.

I used plastic cement to glue it down.

Easy-peasy
 
www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258095&page=2

Click the link above you will find Dyno graphs for a fully sorted twin cam and links to the supplier for a quick action throttle insert, either page 1 or 2.

I've also rode a LC mine comes nxt week and can honestly say its stomps all over my bike above power wise, anyone states it dont must be riding the LC like a pussy.

But than again the red ones are faster !
 


Back
Top Bottom