|  | Topic : Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... |  |
| | | cnas122 | | Set |  | | Reg. Date | : | 17/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 85 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Oct 2012 - 03:35 Post title : Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... | | | After riding HD's for years. The first thing I noticed is the incredible lack of after-market parts that are available......I'm not talking about the bling bling stuff....I'm talking about the power and performance stuff. I have a 2012 Storm and I want to make it my own. I've read through the threads, seen all the opinions, visited the websites.....so I have a sense of what is out there. So I am asking for you thoughts on providing very shoooort and sweet responses as to the beds mods.......lets just assume price is no option, but I would rather not like to pay the no option price,
Pipes: There are several out there...which are best....and by that I mean which give you noticeable sound and performance gain....not just 2 hp here and a bit more torque.
Air Filter: I suppose I should go with the flow and get a K&N
Tunes: I've read posts where Triumph is basically trying to cock-block custom maps in newer models. I have a 2012 storm. What does this mean for me once I have upgraded? I have a Triumph master mechanic here in town and I haven't spoken with him yet. I would assume if he is worth a damn, he can help with the MAPing and tuning for whatever combo I come up with.
Should I de-cat or keep it on? I understand environmental implications but I want this to focus on performance. Will it help with air flow, would I need to do a cross over, or just do straight pipes like the hog slayers?
Seats? Do after market seats allow for the same air intake as the OEM? Who are the good makers out there?
Anything else I missed?
Thanks for helping a Triump newbie
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| | | Noladuck | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 05/06/2011 | | Posts | : | 260 | | Location | : | Portland, Oregon, United States |
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| | Posted : 18 Oct 2012 - 04:12 Post title : Re: Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... (Re: cnas122) | | | Welcome to the forum cnas122! You are right about the lack of aftermarket performance accessories. Thing is, the stock tbird is already quite the performance machine. Pipes are subjective. I have "Stainless rides", which I am very happy with, and I have decatted using 45 degree elbows. If I were to do it again, I would seriously consider British Customs Hogslayers. They take care of the decatting for you, by running directly from the headers, eliminating the cat all together. A crossover isn't needed, because there is already a crossover between the headers. I personally like the short TORS for the looks.
If you go to aftermarket pipes, decat,use a high performance filter, and either install one of Triumphs TORS tunes, or try a custom tune, such as Dizzy's, you will increase horsepower, and your bike will roar! Many of us have used tuneecu, and as far as I know, there is no problem with the 2012 storms.
Check out Fasteddysports.com for aftermarket items for your bird. He owns one himself, and is a good guy, and a great asset to the forum.
Glad to have you here,
be safe!
Chris
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| | | Rev | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 02/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 266 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 18 Oct 2012 - 13:37 Post title : Re: Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... (Re: cnas122) | | |
cnas122 wrote:
After riding HD's for years. The first thing I noticed is the incredible lack of after-market parts that are available......I'm not talking about the bling bling stuff....I'm talking about the power and performance stuff. I have a 2012 Storm and I want to make it my own. I've read through the threads, seen all the opinions, visited the websites.....so I have a sense of what is out there. So I am asking for you thoughts on providing very shoooort and sweet responses as to the beds mods.......lets just assume price is no option, but I would rather not like to pay the no option price,
Pipes: There are several out there...which are best....and by that I mean which give you noticeable sound and performance gain....not just 2 hp here and a bit more torque.
Air Filter: I suppose I should go with the flow and get a K&N
Tunes: I've read posts where Triumph is basically trying to cock-block custom maps in newer models. I have a 2012 storm. What does this mean for me once I have upgraded? I have a Triumph master mechanic here in town and I haven't spoken with him yet. I would assume if he is worth a damn, he can help with the MAPing and tuning for whatever combo I come up with.
Should I de-cat or keep it on? I understand environmental implications but I want this to focus on performance. Will it help with air flow, would I need to do a cross over, or just do straight pipes like the hog slayers?
Seats? Do after market seats allow for the same air intake as the OEM? Who are the good makers out there?
Anything else I missed?
Thanks for helping a Triump newbie |
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Pipes: The best sounding are by far Dennis Foran Razorbacks, and the best bang for the buck are the hog slayers. Performance being a factor, Razorbacks maintain the late crossover as well, so technically they are more balanced.
Air Filter: K&N is what I have, and would recommend
Tunes: Find a good Dyno guy with TuneBoy experience and have it Dyno tuned. I've played with several different tunes via Tune ECU, and none of them come close to the guys that Dyno tuned their T-Birds.
Cats, everywhere cats: I've gutted my converter, and haven't noticed a substantial gain in sound or performance, even after switching up the tune, so this one I'd say requires a Dyno tuning to really get any benefit.
Seats: Can't help you much here, I have the long haul triumph seat. I like it, but it could be better. Corbin probably makes a better seat.
You missed Tires, but that's a whole other argument. I did a review of all the tires I've tried, it's around here somewhere. Tires are very subjective according to your riding style, so you're probably going to have to try to find what works best for you, and what you want out of your tire.
| "I know just what I'm gonna do..... I'm gonna ride on" ~ Bon Scott
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| | | Bussa | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 442 | | Location | : | Sydney, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 19 Oct 2012 - 12:49 Post title : Re: Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... (Re: Rev) | | | Hiya cnas122, Welcome.
I own a 2012 TBird 1600 and am currently going through the same process as yourself.
This forum is a wealth of Knowledge, ( cheers to everyones input ).
Wanting to make this bike breath smoothly, respond sharply and thump, ( it is great as a stocker ), Iv'e chosen the following:
- BC Hogslayers ( no cat, no cross overpipe), I like a straight through baffled system. If I was not putting saddle bags on, my next option would have been BC Predetors.
- K&N high flow filter ( because of cat removal and no crossover pipe ).
- Tune Boy mapping ( I personally want to keep the mapping as simple as possible with options). I have spoken to 4 dyno tuners: 2 recommended PCv and 2 recommended Secific mapping without hardware. Reading all the mapping info on this forum is very interesting, but I decided to let the " pros " do the technical work, rather than myself.
-I have purchased most of my goods from Fast eddy, ( great service and great pricing ).
Hopfully my accessories will arrive before next weekend, I will fit them and then off to the mechanics for the Tuneboy download and a dyno tune.
Not 100% sure if this is the best process, but am certain I am pretty close to the mark.
I will post results asap.
Bussa.
| | Post edited by Bussa on 19 Oct 2012 - 12:52 |
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| | | intimidator32 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 13 Nov 2012 - 23:34 Post title : Re: Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... (Re: cnas122) | | | cnas122, tuneboy and dyno-tune is what i have cant speak to the tune ecu stuff but if your under warrenty i'd let a triumph dealer dyno-tune it for ya. the seat, i have the duel tour but when funds allow i'll be sending mine to russell day long for a custom seat, some guys on here have the russell seat and swear by it. if your looking for panniers the hard street slims are what i have and lots on here have also.
 happy riding welcome to the rat club
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually 
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| | | SinCity82 | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/03/2013 | | Posts | : | 1 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 07 Mar 2013 - 18:38 Post title : Re: Finally made the switch to Thunderbird....... (Re: cnas122) | | | Sooo cnas122 where did you land on the exhaust? I was going through the same decisions as you when I first picked up my Storm. I ended up going with the Dennis Foran Razorbacks. I installed it myself with minimal effort. The system used a crossover (which is holowed out) in lieu of the CAT connecting the 2 pipes. There was some backfire/popping at first. After I picked up a tune boy and K&N filter the backfire/popping is very minimal. All three mods together gave me noticeable gains that make me smile everytime I ride. Ohhh and the sound! The bike was only a little louder at idle but when you give it gas it is stupid sexy! The only downfall to the Razorbacks is the ridiculous price tag. Im in Las Vegas so with shipping it was $1800 USD!
| Yeah...you say that.....
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