Best affordable tuner for a 2001 FLHRCI King Classic with the Italian made fuel injection.

[Huckster FLHRC]

Hey guys, I hope life is treating you well. If you’re still riding around on a Harley, life can’t be that bad. Question.
I recently acquired an older but low mileage FLHRCI equipped with the “Magnetti - Spaghetti” or a similar Magnetti Marelli fuel injection system and threw a pair of “neighbor hater” pipes and a Screaming Eagle intake air cleaner, wondering which tuner is best for this application?
Thanks guys!

 

[Justjake]

Have a look here,

Harley Davidson All Big Twins - Dobeck Performance Products: EFI Controllers, AFR Gauge

 

[dolt]

IIRC, Dobeck doesn't offer a system compatible with the MM EFI system which is is fairly primitive and was replaced in 2002 by the Delphi system. That early MM setup uses a batch fire, speed-density system with a very basic ECM and hard-coded fuel/spark maps, so not every modern tuner works with it.

Best bet is the Dynojet Power Commander III USB with is a "piggy back" tuner that "tricks" the MM ECM; it does not flash the ECM. It would take a shop with a dyno and the older PCIII software to flash the ECM.

Most owners of the early Harleys with the MM EFI system go one of two routes:
1. ECM Replacement Conversions like the Daytona Twin Tec TC88A/TC88 with MM adapter harness or the Thundermax EFI which is primarily for designed for Delphi EFI but there are kits/adapters for the MM bikes but some sensors have to be replaced..

2. Carb Conversion with kits from S&S or Drag Specialties are still available. Many revert to this conversion to do away with EFI altogether. There are many posts on other forums from owners that have converted to carb with OEM parts and aftermarket ignition module and carburetor.

If just replacing exhaust and intake, basically a Stage I upgrade, a re-tune may not be required; don't have personal experience. For the OPs situation, a used PCII USB for MM EFI is the easiest route but they are more difficult to find. They do show up on Ebay fairly regularly, just make sure it is the MM version, Delphi version won't work. For full control, the Daytona Twin Tec or Thundermax is the better long term solution but more expensive and does require some wiring changes and wideband O2 sensors in the exhaust.

Or, if "rideability" is not significantly affected by the Stage I upgrade, just ride.

 

[Huckster FLHRC]

The plugs look a little rich, white in color but no “little balls” of metal on the electrode, yet…

 

[Justjake]

IIRC, Dobeck doesn't offer a system compatible with the MM EFI system which is is fairly primitive and was replaced in 2002 by the Delphi system. That early MM setup uses a batch fire, speed-density system with a very basic ECM and hard-coded fuel/spark maps, so not every modern tuner works with it.

Best bet is the Dynojet Power Commander III USB with is a "piggy back" tuner that "tricks" the MM ECM; it does not flash the ECM. It would take a shop with a dyno and the older PCIII software to flash the ECM.

Most owners of the early Harleys with the MM EFI system go one of two routes:
1. ECM Replacement Conversions like the Daytona Twin Tec TC88A/TC88 with MM adapter harness or the Thundermax EFI which is primarily for designed for Delphi EFI but there are kits/adapters for the MM bikes but some sensors have to be replaced..

2. Carb Conversion with kits from S&S or Drag Specialties are still available. Many revert to this conversion to do away with EFI altogether. There are many posts on other forums from owners that have converted to carb with OEM parts and aftermarket ignition module and carburetor.

If just replacing exhaust and intake, basically a Stage I upgrade, a re-tune may not be required; don't have personal experience. For the OPs situation, a used PCII USB for MM EFI is the easiest route but they are more difficult to find. They do show up on Ebay fairly regularly, just make sure it is the MM version, Delphi version won't work. For full control, the Daytona Twin Tec or Thundermax is the better long term solution but more expensive and does require some wiring changes and wideband O2 sensors in the exhaust.

Or, if "rideability" is not significantly affected by the Stage I upgrade, just ride.

Dobeck has units for 1999-2005 available

 

[dolt]

Dobeck has units for 1999-2005 available

I stand corrected; going from memory but the old Techclusion units are still offered and supported by Dobeck according to the website. Considering the OPs situation, one of those would probably be the easiest to use for a Stage I upgrade, since he can "tune" himself. The OP just needs to get the MM harness. There is a large population of MM EFI owners that once they have decided to keep the bike and go beyond Stage I performance they upgrade to Delphi or Thundermax or replace the EFI with a carburetor. More often than not, the carb is the preferred choice; something the OP might want to consider.

 

[Huckster FLHRC]

I stand corrected; going from memory but the old Techclusion units are still offered and supported by Dobeck according to the website. Considering the OPs situation, one of those would probably be the easiest to use for a Stage I upgrade, since he can "tune" himself. The OP just needs to get the MM harness. There is a large population of MM EFI owners that once they have decided to keep the bike and go beyond Stage I performance they upgrade to Delphi or Thundermax or replace the EFI with a carburetor. More often than not, the carb is the preferred choice; something the OP might want to consider.

So, it’s $500.00 give or take, for an S&S carb setup or $550 for a tuner that may or may not work to slightly richen up the mixer. Carbs may not be as efficient as the EFI, but they are more reliable given the issues I’ve been reading about the MM.
Thanks for your input.

 

[dolt]

So, it’s $500.00 give or take, for an S&S carb setup or $550 for a tuner that may or may not work to slightly richen up the mixer. Carbs may not be as efficient as the EFI, but they are more reliable given the issues I’ve been reading about the MM.
Thanks for your input.

I don't know which tuner you are referring to or how much it would cost but the Dobeck for the MM system would be the best option for a Stage I upgrade but it would not support going beyond Stage 1 like more displacement, head work, higher compression, cams, etc.; just something to think about. I also don't know what is included in the S&S carb kit but if the cost is $550, I would say the "kit" is incomplete. I have never made this conversion but, from what I read on other forums, most that do convert prefer to use OEM parts for obvious reasons. I have attached a list of the parts required. The CV carb listed is a new price, you can find used CV40s on Ebay but they are getting harder to find. Mikuni 42 is also another carb used but usually at a higher cost. You would not need the air filter/breather assembly. Some of these parts may be obsolete, not sure but you can compare this with the S&S kit. JMHO but I think the cost for a carb conversion will be about the same as replacing the MM EFI with a Delphi or Thundermax setup but as you pointed out, a carb conversion might not be as efficient as EFI but with a handful of jets, needles, etc. a carb can be dialed in to perform well. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Huckster FLHRC]

I don't know which tuner you are referring to or how much it would cost but the Dobeck for the MM system would be the best option for a Stage I upgrade but it would not support going beyond Stage 1 like more displacement, head work, higher compression, cams, etc.; just something to think about. I also don't know what is included in the S&S carb kit but if the cost is $550, I would say the "kit" is incomplete. I have never made this conversion but, from what I read on other forums, most that do convert prefer to use OEM parts for obvious reasons. I have attached a list of the parts required. The CV carb listed is a new price, you can find used CV40s on Ebay but they are getting harder to find. Mikuni 42 is also another carb used but usually at a higher cost. You would not need the air filter/breather assembly. Some of these parts may be obsolete, not sure but you can compare this with the S&S kit. JMHO but I think the cost for a carb conversion will be about the same as replacing the MM EFI with a Delphi or Thundermax setup but as you pointed out, a carb conversion might not be as efficient as EFI but with a handful of jets, needles, etc. a carb can be dialed in to perform well. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. View attachment 19825

I’m just looking to richen up the fuel mixture. It seems to run a but lean with the current changes. I think just moving the TBS would do the trick. ‍