First Post - 2005 FLHTC Lehman Trike: basic power tips

[mr.precision]

My first trike - a 2005 Classic with 25K miles.

No stranger to Harleys, but my current (and last one) is an Evo powered bagger. Probably will keep it for the occasional solo ride.

I am sure there are bunch of tech tips on how to improve the stock twin cam 88. I'd appreciate basic ideas on (1) how to improve performance, and (2) how to cool this bike down. After market mufflers, air cleaner and a proper ECM tune should be good for a few HP. Since this model is fuel injected, what's the best route to go? The trike also has no oil cooler. Suggestions for as frame mounted unit based on experience?

I am basing these questions on mods made to evo bikes over the years. I know this trike is heavy, however I am surprised what a pig it is. Help me out or point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance-

Mike

 

[rhino 2]

Welcome To Trike-Talk........And I'm sure you'll get all the help you need.. There is no shortage of knowledgeable people there on Trike-Talk....And all are willing to share that knowledge freely...ThumbUp

 

[gerald martin]

tike

My first trike - a 2005 Classic with 25K miles.

No stranger to Harleys, but my current (and last one) is an Evo powered bagger. Probably will keep it for the occasional solo ride.

I am sure there are bunch of tech tips on how to improve the stock twin cam 88. I'd appreciate basic ideas on (1) how to improve performance, and (2) how to cool this bike down. After market mufflers, air cleaner and a proper ECM tune should be good for a few HP. Since this model is fuel injected, what's the best route to go? The trike also has no oil cooler. Suggestions for as frame mounted unit based on experience?

I am basing these questions on mods made to evo bikes over the years. I know this trike is heavy, however I am surprised what a pig it is. Help me out or point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance-

Mike

Get a jagg vertical ten row oil cooler with fan assist, also love jugs are suppose to work but I haven't tried them yet. As for power keep the revs over 2500rpm in the proper gear and you should have plenty of power unless you want to burn rubber and race

 

[David357]

Hey Mike

:welcome: to Trike Talk from South Florida.:wave4:

 

[trike lady]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

:wave:

Nice trike.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard. a lot depends on how much money you want to throw at it.

 

[mr.precision]

Thanks for all the welcomes and ideas.

Anyone here care to share a basic mod with slip ons, air cleaner and tune? I prefer to do the work myself, but don't know zip about tuning a FI system.

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Hello Mike and welcome to Trike Talk from Missouri.

 

[Gorilla]

Thanks for all the welcomes and ideas.

Anyone here care to share a basic mod with slip ons, air cleaner and tune? I prefer to do the work myself, but don't know zip about tuning a FI system.

Suggest you contact DK Products a sponsor. Kevin or someone on staff will be glad to give you good information and sell you the right product for the right job. Mufflers are purchased by most for what they sound like. But really the most important thing is for them to keep your torque down low to get the trike going. I like using smaller baffles to keep the back pressure there. Make contact they will guide you right.

 

[Redharley]

Welcome. Have an 04 with lehman . Open up the air in . Open up the exhaust a little. Vance and hines for the ecm . Frame mounted oil cooler . Unless were sitting in traffic heat usally not an issue. As with any harley there will be some heat on warm days when not moving. Wife puts most of miles on it and she doesn't mind heat. I my opinion oil cooler only benifits engine don't think you can feel the difference. Want more power than that you have to add cubic inches and some other work. Just my thoughts. Bill

 

[Fearless]

first Welcome to Trike Talk nice looking Ride!

You may want to check and see the number of teeth on your belt pulleys gearing may be really off. New Triglides have 30 front and 70 rear. Conversions sometimes need TLC as most Harley's do. :Shrug: travel safely Fred

 

[mr.precision]

Thanks to all for welcomes and ideas.

Heat - was concerned about engine heat, not rider comfort. I see several oil coolers on ebay that mount with an adapter off the oil filter base. Looks like a simple solution.

Power - good suggestion to contact DK. I'm not interested at this time to adding cubic inches or swapping cams. Pipes, air cleaner, tune should be good for another 10 HP from what I can tell. I just don't know where to start with a FI motor.

Again, thanks for the response.

 

[Gideon]

Welcome aboard- you will get quite few ideas from this great forum.

 

[pcombe]

My first trike - a 2005 Classic with 25K miles.

No stranger to Harleys, but my current (and last one) is an Evo powered bagger. Probably will keep it for the occasional solo ride.

I am sure there are bunch of tech tips on how to improve the stock twin cam 88. I'd appreciate basic ideas on (1) how to improve performance, and (2) how to cool this bike down. After market mufflers, air cleaner and a proper ECM tune should be good for a few HP. Since this model is fuel injected, what's the best route to go? The trike also has no oil cooler. Suggestions for as frame mounted unit based on experience?

I am basing these questions on mods made to evo bikes over the years. I know this trike is heavy, however I am surprised what a pig it is. Help me out or point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance-

Mike

first order of business, Stop lugging the motor.

The biggest mistake people make is lugging a trike, Keep it in a gear where it is always pulling so you have power at your finger tips. It will also cut down on any head shake from the front end.

I have an oil cooler that keeps the temp a steady 150 degrees needed for good combustion. I have a mild cam in my 80" evo.

I made a leather deflector that fits under the seat and keeps heat off my crotch.



I just made the wind wings out of a detachable windshield that keeps bugs off my fenders and cuts wind drag off the fenders. So far it works great. They are concave so they create a slip stream instead of a barrier and my tach. runs slower at 60 mph so I am not working the motor as hard as before.

Im still in the testing stage but so far I like it.

 

[mr.precision]

I am not lugging the motor. 2500 RPM is the minimum. I find that driving 2-up with any grade, the trike stays in 4th gear or it just runs out of steam. Even a strong headwind demands 4th gear ( we get a lot of that here).

Since I don't have an oil temp gauge, I was a little concerned about hot weather driving as my last 88" twin cam ran pretty hot (it did have a gauge, and 230-240 degree oil temps on a hot day at 80 MPH were pretty normal).

I still have a 1984 Evo powered bagger, which on the hottest days never goes above 200 degrees with 2 up riding on the interstate. It is fitted with a HD oil cooler. I've kept it over the years because it has been such a great bike.

Maybe I am making a big deal out of oil temps. Using the HD synthetic oil, it may be just fine.

 

[desertclassic]

Mike, I live in the hot weather also. I have an oil cooler and oil filter relocation from DK Customs. I also removed the catt from the header, have rinhart 4 inch round mufflers, high flow air filter, at present I have a stage 1 download. I also did a deluxe gas tank lift and wind deflectors from DK. I have the water cooled heads and it sure was a hot riding trike until I made the changes. Jim

 

[DK Custom Products]

Thanks to all for welcomes and ideas.

Heat - was concerned about engine heat, not rider comfort. I see several oil coolers on ebay that mount with an adapter off the oil filter base. Looks like a simple solution.

Power - good suggestion to contact DK. I'm not interested at this time to adding cubic inches or swapping cams. Pipes, air cleaner, tune should be good for another 10 HP from what I can tell. I just don't know where to start with a FI motor.

Again, thanks for the response.

You're 88 is good at 230-240*, but if it starts crossing the 250* mark that is when to start being concerned, and when it hits the 270* mark, that is when accelerated wear begins occurring. Here is a LINK on things you can do to cool it down.

Once you make sure you are not running too hot, for more power, there are a few simple things you can do.

1. Use some Thunder Torque Inserts in the exhaust. This is the single best increase in power per $ spent on any Harley.

2. Get a good free flowing air cleaner, with an External Breather System. This can really make a difference in power. See this LINK on why an EBS is important to power.

3. Make sure you have a good tune. If you have a DELPHI EFI, which I think you do, then the Power Vision will give you a good tune.

Oh, and if you are not running a 30-70 pulley set up, that will make a nice improvement also.

Here is a LINK to what/how a good Stage I is set-up.

After all the above are nailed down, then if you still want more power, it would be time to look at some cams...but usually with all the above handled, your power should be good enough for 5th gear riding where you are now having to use 4th.

Kevin

 

[Papa Zook]

Thanks to all for welcomes and ideas.

Heat - was concerned about engine heat, not rider comfort. I see several oil coolers on ebay that mount with an adapter off the oil filter base. Looks like a simple solution.

Power - good suggestion to contact DK. I'm not interested at this time to adding cubic inches or swapping cams. Pipes, air cleaner, tune should be good for another 10 HP from what I can tell. I just don't know where to start with a FI motor.

Again, thanks for the response.

Cool the engine and you cool the oil. One of the most effective way to cool your Harley twin cam engine is with a set of Love Jugs Twin Cooling Fans. There are lots of threads by owners here on the forum attesting to their effectiveness.

The new Mighty Mites sell for $329 with free shipping and a 100% money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied. They are endorsed by many many industry professionals, see here:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...dustry-Leaders

TrikeTalk.com is a dealer and they are available in our store here:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/ttsho...ndor=Love-Jugs

Feel free to call me if you have any questions,

Papa Zook

(334) 648-0157