I had an '05 790 with the restrictor plate removed from the air box, K&N, bellmouth, Thruxton needles, and self modified D&D's. On the same Dyno I frequent for bikes of past, it Dyno'ed at 61+ SAE.
Then I sold the bike.
However before I sold the BonnieBlack, I returned it to it's stock configuration save for the ristrictor plate. I returned the stock needles, stock air filter, and stock pipes onto the bike.
My story:
I noticed little difference in the pleasure of riding my Bonnie when it was tamer and quieter with the stock/"restrictive" parts back in place. It was smoooother, the power more linear, and I can't help but think that those rubber mounts on the stock mufflers ELIMINATE a large bulk of (muffler) vibration.
What configuration will I settle on for my Red project bike?
I'm not removing the restrictor plate, nor do I have ANY desire to eliminate the air box. Gotta have the K&N & bellmouth ('cause I paid the big bucks for 'em.....), going with Thruxton needles, and plan to run my modified D&D's. And someday I may actually weld the factory muffler mounting system to the cans I end up with at the end of another year of riding.
My point?
Modify, rip up, tear into, Sawsall, tweek your Bonnie all you want; but do it because you enjoy doing that sorta thing. The gains in performance will be ever-so-slight, and your Bonnie twin will remain a Bonnie twin. You can not make a tame retro cruiser into a screaming big-twin monster simply by spending big bucks on cams, an air box elimination kit, and loud pipes. But if you like doing that sorta thing, there sure are a lot of parts-is-parts to choose from!
Then I sold the bike.
However before I sold the BonnieBlack, I returned it to it's stock configuration save for the ristrictor plate. I returned the stock needles, stock air filter, and stock pipes onto the bike.
My story:
I noticed little difference in the pleasure of riding my Bonnie when it was tamer and quieter with the stock/"restrictive" parts back in place. It was smoooother, the power more linear, and I can't help but think that those rubber mounts on the stock mufflers ELIMINATE a large bulk of (muffler) vibration.
What configuration will I settle on for my Red project bike?
I'm not removing the restrictor plate, nor do I have ANY desire to eliminate the air box. Gotta have the K&N & bellmouth ('cause I paid the big bucks for 'em.....), going with Thruxton needles, and plan to run my modified D&D's. And someday I may actually weld the factory muffler mounting system to the cans I end up with at the end of another year of riding.
My point?
Modify, rip up, tear into, Sawsall, tweek your Bonnie all you want; but do it because you enjoy doing that sorta thing. The gains in performance will be ever-so-slight, and your Bonnie twin will remain a Bonnie twin. You can not make a tame retro cruiser into a screaming big-twin monster simply by spending big bucks on cams, an air box elimination kit, and loud pipes. But if you like doing that sorta thing, there sure are a lot of parts-is-parts to choose from!
