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bang for the buck
#508333 12/17/2012 2:22 PM
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jcb7469 Offline OP
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Hey folks,
after my last debacle i decided i would get input before i just went out and did something.

Im wondering what the best bang for the buck on an 07 america thats bone stock and carbed would be. i do have exhuast wrap on the down pipes and an aftermarket riser but dont think that will make much difference.

thanks guys

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508334 12/17/2012 2:35 PM
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Remove current air filter and muffler (assuming muffler is factory) install a freak kit with pod filters, install newer mufflers like tors etc or debaffle your OEM ones for increased flow (due to pods) re-tune the mains on the bike, use calculator found on this site. And really bang for your buck thats the way to go.


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: bang for the buck
edmspeedmaster #508335 12/17/2012 3:01 PM
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this is best bang for the buck BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Grzegorz ......55 cubic inches http://www.flickr.com/photos/25172906@N06/ 904WisecoTPUSAcamsTTPignitorgutted Airbox"breath"airIntakeKeihinCR-ScarbsBlackEpcoExhaustS/SwheelsPortedPolishedHead
Re: bang for the buck
Grzegorz #508336 12/17/2012 3:27 PM
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Progressive front fork springs. Hands down the single best "bang for buck" mod you can make. K&N or Uni filter for the air box would be number two.


A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Re: bang for the buck
oldroadie #508337 12/17/2012 3:54 PM
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Make your forks perform as they should web page

Re: bang for the buck
oldroadie #508338 12/17/2012 4:05 PM
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Quote:

Progressive front fork springs. Hands down the single best "bang for buck" mod you can make. K&N or Uni filter for the air box would be number two.





I agree with this as well, but now we are adding stuff up LOL progressive front springs for 100 bucks well worth the money and then some.


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: bang for the buck
edmspeedmaster #508339 12/17/2012 4:33 PM
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Gotta agree that the single best thing I did to the bike was the Progressive front springs. To do it all over again I's start there. Next I'd go with Grzegorz recommendation, but only after following edmspeedmaster's tips - reason being the they tune the electronics to what you've already done. Clean up the intake removing the snorkel and put in a K&N filter which I did and freeing up the exhaust as well (baffelectomy at least). Got rid of the air injection to keep the pipes from blueing (your wrap will hide that) and waking up the neighborhood on decel. Of course there's carb jetting work to do with this, but you'd need to do that even if you left your ride straight stock. These'll unleash the built-in potential of the bike and the $$ won't hurt.

Re: bang for the buck
Ryk #508340 12/17/2012 5:28 PM
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Quote:

Make your forks perform as they should web page




+1 Had Progressive springs and the Intimidators perform so much better with OE springs. And at the current price its just a tad more than the springs.

Whats your goal though? Faster bike or better handling or maybe better/different looking.


SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
Re: bang for the buck
Zmilin #508341 12/17/2012 5:51 PM
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how hard is the install on the new springs? any tools i need to get? all i have is the side stand?

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508342 12/17/2012 6:17 PM
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The springs are too easy, plenty of old posts about it, basically it's a drop-in mod, maybe take 30 mins. at the most. I think those things are around 68-70 bucks a pair.
Makes the ride "delightful and swooshy" to quote a member's daughter.


2005 Model . Two Fast Eddy stickers , a bell and a clock . She's Lola . She tinkles and keeps time . http://s649.photobucket.com/albums/uu211/britbike05/
Re: bang for the buck
Wade #508343 12/17/2012 6:21 PM
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course installing the downpipes was supposed to be easy too lol

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508344 12/17/2012 6:33 PM
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Quote:

course installing the downpipes was supposed to be easy too lol




coz it is easy.....


Grzegorz ......55 cubic inches http://www.flickr.com/photos/25172906@N06/ 904WisecoTPUSAcamsTTPignitorgutted Airbox"breath"airIntakeKeihinCR-ScarbsBlackEpcoExhaustS/SwheelsPortedPolishedHead
Re: bang for the buck
Grzegorz #508345 12/17/2012 7:20 PM
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lol i had a hell of a time on my last project.

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508346 12/17/2012 7:54 PM
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always wanted to ask ...why the hell you took the oil line off?????


Grzegorz ......55 cubic inches http://www.flickr.com/photos/25172906@N06/ 904WisecoTPUSAcamsTTPignitorgutted Airbox"breath"airIntakeKeihinCR-ScarbsBlackEpcoExhaustS/SwheelsPortedPolishedHead
Re: bang for the buck
Grzegorz #508347 12/17/2012 8:49 PM
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so what happened was....i thought moving the line would give me more clearance to reinstall the down pipe.

Re: bang for the buck
Wade #508348 12/19/2012 11:49 AM
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Remember if you go with the progressive springs don't get rid of your stock springs IF you want to go with the Intimidators later. That was the mistake I made...had to buy stock springs when I put the Intimidators in, they work better with stock springs....

More over all decide on which you want to concentrate on first: Suspension or Performance: Then work one at a time.

Me: I started with performance; ended up with cams, exhaust and K&N pods. The did suspension; intimidators (still thinking of race tech springs) and works shocks. Brakes upgrade will be next.

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508349 12/19/2012 6:39 PM
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The single most important upgrade in three words: Tires Tires Tires.

that said, unless you hammer it in the twisties, I'll burst your bubble: Fill it full of ethanol free gas, fire it up and RIDE! Period. Yes! Right out of the box, err out of the factory, you have a fine machine!


Blowing gravel off rural roads
Re: bang for the buck
moe #508350 12/19/2012 6:50 PM
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Try and find ethonal free gas..... :-(


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: bang for the buck
moe #508351 12/19/2012 6:51 PM
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moe your right but i like twisting wrenches even though i screwed up it was minor i learned a lot. im leaning towards the suspension thing but am truth be told a little scared. suspension and brakes make me nervous though.

Re: bang for the buck
SDKimo #508352 12/21/2012 11:33 AM
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Quote:

Remember if you go with the progressive springs don't get rid of your stock springs IF you want to go with the Intimidators later. That was the mistake I made...had to buy stock springs when I put the Intimidators in, they work better with stock springs....




Can you compare the handling with Progressive Springs vs with the Intimidators? I went directly with Intimidators and still wonder if going with Progressive Springs would have been a better choice.

Last edited by moe; 12/24/2012 11:04 AM.

08 America, A/I &, Calif emissions "stuff" gone, air box removed & battery relocated, billet intakes, UNI Pods, 145 mains, 42 pilots, Stage 2 igniter, intminators, 813 cams, Progressive 412's, modified seat.
Re: bang for the buck
moe #508353 12/21/2012 6:09 PM
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Quote:

The single most important upgrade in three words: Tires Tires Tires.




I totally agree but I thought this was a "bang for the buck" thread. Good tires are going to be at least four to five times the cost of front springs.


A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Re: bang for the buck
StanTheMan #508354 12/21/2012 6:36 PM
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Quote:

Quote:

Remember if you go with the progressive springs don't get rid of your stock springs IF you want to go with the Intimidators later. That was the mistake I made...had to buy stock springs when I put the Intimidators in, they work better with stock springs....




Can you compare the handling with Progressive Springs vs with the Intimidators? I went directly with Intimidators and still wonder if going with Progressive Springs would have been a better choice.



Our forks as they come, just plain suck, so I went with Progressive fork springs first and played with spacer lengths and fork oil viscosity, my results were somewhat better than stock, but I still wasn't completely satisfied, so I tried the Intiminator valves and the recommended oil, first with the Prog. springs, then I saw on here that the original springs with the I. valving was the ticket, tried that and I never looked back. Stock springs and Intims. , much mo bettah for every bump in the road I happen to hit. I swear to this day, they saved me from a serious and painful entanglement on the freeway. Our forks should have came this way, but, it is what it is, and up to the individual whether they are satisfied or not.

Last edited by moe; 12/24/2012 11:05 AM.
Re: bang for the buck
Ryk #508355 12/21/2012 7:10 PM
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My path was the same as Ryk....my next upgrade would be Race Tech springs in the front...last time I call them they didn't know which spring I would need (no stock # for a speedmaster)....but they said come on over and they would fit it up...it is just a short ride down the freeway.

I am also working a harley...that one I went the Race Tech springs, intiminator and pre-load adjuster (right now I only see them for 39 mm forks)....I will add them to my speedmaster when they make them for 41 mm forks

The over all the bike really handles nice...When I lean it over it is very stable...much improvement over stock...

Last edited by SDKimo; 12/21/2012 7:11 PM.
Re: bang for the buck
Ryk #508356 12/21/2012 7:14 PM
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I was just checking out the Ricor valves , and checked the warranty.
I was thinking MAYBE lifetime?
Five years?, Two years?

Looks like a whole "THIRTY DAYS!"



WOW!




Is THAT supposed to impress me!??





(Not knocking the product, just laughin' at the warranty )


And you may see me tonight With an illegal smile J. Prine
Re: bang for the buck
erle #508357 12/22/2012 12:39 PM
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jcb7469 Offline OP
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i know less than nothing about shocks and springs
any good sources for info?

Re: bang for the buck
jcb7469 #508358 12/22/2012 2:13 PM
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You can search on this site...so this is my rating this is based on bike handling it may not give you the softest ride, think here a Caddie ride vs a Porsche ride, others may disagree:

Rear Shocks

Stock Shocks; Poor
Progressive Shocks or Hagon Shocks: Better than stock
Works, Race Tech: Built to your weight and riding style: Best
Olins: $$$$$ When I had a sport bike this was the shock to get

Front Spring:

Stock Springs: poor
Progressive Springs: better than stock
Stock Springs and Valves; either Ricor (easy to install) or Race Tech gold valve (have to take shock apart to drill it): best
Race Tech Springs and Valves: The springs are set to your weight...best of all


So you get all of that stuff in your bike, you have to set up the suspension..There are allot of tech articles on that


I agree the first thing is tires...I run Avon Venom tires..I look for tire profile and how it sticks to the road...not how long it lasts...

Last edited by SDKimo; 12/22/2012 2:19 PM.

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