Ok..I've been lurking in the shadows for about three weeks. Just bought my first Roadstar 4 weeks ago (07 1700 Midnight)I'm 46 and have been riding bikes for 30 years.
Did the break in, dropped the junk oil, put a 1000 mi on, pulled the AIS and did stage two to exhaust mod.
Bike runs awesome but.... It's gutless...yea i know it's a cruiser but there has to be more power there
I'm ready to pull the trigger on the Roadhouse 2 to 1 classic and the infamous Baron BIK. My question is....How much HP does my stock bike put out and what kind of return can I expect....10%...5% or more.
No one really say's the gains ...all I read is about the jetting grief...I'll worry about the grief later. All I want to know is the $800.00 worth the HP gains

Looking forward to all the input....good and bad! I have alot of respect for the opinoins from my fellow roadies so let it fly!

Welcome Hammer to owning a Road Star! Frankly, I'm surprised about your comments that your bike is "gutless"...even stock (hey, I rode mine 4.7 miles like that!) these bikes have gobs of torque. Removing the AIS doesn't do anything for performance improvements, it only cleans up the bike (check the Forum here). I had mine dyno'd after putting on 3" Hard Krome pipes, Hypercharger air cleaner, and a jet kit...70+hp and 102 ft-lbf of torque. Everyone who drives my bike (yeah, I let a FEW guys drive it!) rave about the torque...now I've also replaced the stock ignition module to a SpeedStar module, mostly to bump up the rev limiter for the rare occasion where I want to wind it out. Go nuts, modify it and make it your own! That is the beauty of these bikes, no 2 are the same! Good luck! - RK.

The Roadie won't take off like a Hayabusa, but she's got plenty of kick to her considering the weight of 740+lbs. plus passenger.

This isn't intended to be snotty (even though it may sound like it), but if you wanted Hayabusa type speed and acceleration the Roadie isn't the bike you should have bought. Even though I'm not in the saddle to race others on here have told me that they've put their bikes up against anything in the same class and she'll out do 'em every time. Apples to apples here.

Did I take your comment the wrong way or what?

M7

Hammer, I can totally relate to what you are saying. I was very disappointed in the performance of my bike stock. (MY last bike was a vtx 1800), any way I put a barons BAK and ported intake and pipes on it. It's still not a rocket but it is considerably snappier than stock. I have also heard that the 31 tooth pulley will make alot of difference. Oh the BAK and intake was about $450 and the pipes (V/H longshots $500. So it's not cheap. One other option; check out the new 197 HP Yamaha VMAX. Hope that helps.

Oh yea I almost forgot, my buddy just bought a suzuki C109r and It is night and day from about any of the big cruisers. I've ridden the yamaha roadliner and owned a vtx and I can tell you that the C109r will smoke any of them.(Well not the Vmax) C109= 115 HP.

Hard to call 70 something HP gutless , but......

You will see and feel an improvement with a better exhaust and air box set up. But , it all comes at a price , regardless of whose brand you're riding these days.

and yes , the C109 is fast , but it's so ugly , it makes the Vulcan 2000 look good....... (just doing my small part to stir the pot) BB

Amen on the ugly BB.

While my R* was in for the SVS again. I had the opportunity to try out a new Yamaha Raider. If you want slide off the seat riding. That would be my choice. When asked what I thought of the Raider, I said there was two things it needs. A windshield to make it easier to hold on. And a backrest so I don't loose the wife in second gear. Admitedly I was bummed to get the R* back afterwords. So I mentioned to the dealer if a raider ever comes in running ok but wrecked. (I would think that could happen with how punchy it is!) We should see if that motor setup will fit in a Roady frame! He liked that idea too. Being he's a RoadStar rider also.
Anyhow until them I'm looking into Mr.C's aircleaner idea next. Then a ported manifold. And we'll see if that gets it a little more thump. My current setup with the pipes only seems to be venting well. Now I just have to let it get more into the cylinders. And then - Who knows!

Yes you can spice it up .... depends how many $$$ you want to drop.

Cheapest thrill is replace the front pulley but you get more buzz on the highway. No HP and T gain.

Pipes and air cleaner combo next in $$$, along with a free intake manifold port or and aftermarket manifold $$$ 10-15% guesstimate on HP and T gains.

A Dyna 3000 can improve that feeling, depending on how you ride.

HC pistons $$$

Big bore $$$$

Blower $$$$$

Doc

My best advice is don't buy a big ol thumpin low compression V twin if you want fast.

You can pick up some more ponies by porting your manifold. And it helps bring out the best in the other mods.