I purchased a used 06 Stratoliner recently. It seems to have a mild deceleration back fire using Cobra pipes. I recently sold a Zuki M109R. My 109 did not back fire with after market exhaust. Does anyone know if re-mapping will get rid of it? Do I need to get an after market fuel management cell? Will K&N filters make the back fire worse?

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Bill
Newport News, VA
06 Yamaha Stratoliner S

I'm guessing it's just running lean like almost every other bike now-a-days.
I can't seem to find whether the Stratoliner's FI system is open or closed loop. If it's open then you definitely need to re-map for the pipes you have.
If it's closed then chances are the O2 sensor that's supposed to go in the exhaust isn't plugged in because most aftermarket pipes don't have a place for them.
And yes a K&N will make it worse. The leaner the bike the more backfiring it will happen, and the K&N allows more air through, making the mixture leaner.

As for the M109R, yeah that's a closed-loop system, and it automatically compensates for aftermarket exhaust.

Can I ask why you went to the Stratoliner versus say a C109T?

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Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha

Thanks for your opinion. The back firing is only an occasional issue. But I have always run K&N filters in my bikes and I was about to add them to the Strat. To answer your question; it is simple, I wanted a more comfortable ride than my M109R. I was not able to find a C109RT used. I was not able to afford to get a new one. The 06 Stratoliner I got had only 6 K miles on it and it is in next to new condition. Plus, since owning the M109R, I got tired of the clunky transmission. The C109R riders I have spoken to all say that the C109 has the clunkiness as well. I rode the Stratoliner. It shifts like butter, has close to the same power that my 109 had and I like to look of the "S" model. It's already chromed out, has polished wheels and custom exhaust. It looks great and sounds awesome.

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Bill
Newport News, VA
06 Yamaha Stratoliner S

Hey Wrider,

I just noticed your signature line. I am a graduate of the Honda Marine Maintenance program at MMI in Orlando. I spent 22 years in the Coast Guard and over the years I have been trained in Honda, Mercury and Evinrude maintenance, not to mentioned the diesel side of the house. I am currently a marine mechanic with the State of Virginia. I also noticed your interest in the Concours and the ST1300. I looked at both those bikes before settling on the Strat. It came down to comfort when I made my decision. I could have gotten a Concours nearly new for less than I paid for the Strat. But I was just concerned about my knees and back on long rides. I really need forward controls to be comfortable.

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Bill
Newport News, VA
06 Yamaha Stratoliner S

Wow very cool! Sounds like you know what you're talking about with engines too!
I went to the bike version over in Phoenix, but I'd love to learn more about diesels.
I thought about a bigger cruiser, but honestly I'm a speed freak. If it goes fast I love it. Plus I've had a cruiser, and every other big cruiser I've sat on is just kinda awkward feeling to me (rode a Royal Star Venture the other day that just reinforced that for me) but I like the feel of the sport-touring machines. Plus I'm still young (one month from being 23) and my knees/back don't bother me after a long ride on those at all. After about 2 hours on my Volusia my lower back would start to complain.

And I completely understand on the Stratoliner conversion after what you said. I've heard the 109s have a somewhat clunky tranny but haven't ridden one myself.

Anyway welcome to the forum! Feel free to stick around and have some fun with us!

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Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha

StarwalkerP here

I bought in January of 09 a Stratoliner S . The cherry black/charcoal gray colored one. I put the Cobra dragsters on it. Now Cobra only shows the longshots for the Stratoliner and they offer all the others for the roadliner. Me being me wanted the short dragsters as the more I looked at the long pipes sticking past the bags the more I didn't like them. I put a power commander III and the big air kit aboard. I get 90 hp at the rear wheel with 117ft lbs of torque. My bike really pulls great and runs hard. I love it. But it does have the constant backfiring or decel popping going on. I had the original work done at my Yamaha dealer and these guys are awesome. They really are here in Highlands, Texas. But I brought it back to them with the decel problem and guess what..They got 3 men working there that own raiders with the same motor and they all got decel pop. One of thems dad has a stratoliner and they got numerous other ones stratoliner and roadliner customers with the same pop. I have a really great map in my bike that they made themselves and I tell you I am very satisfied with the performance. I however am going crazy with this popping. I find myself more conscious of the popping than enjoying my ride. I have read many forums and topics of this issue and it gets very lengthy with opinions and justifiable reasons and answers.. I can say that I did put some fiberglass packing around my baffles and started using a lower octane gas and it did reduce the popping almost 90% honest. I used to get pops every shift and every decel when I let the engine slow me down.. It is almost all gone.. The Cobra pipes sound really awesome with a deep throaty bellow and they hollar when you pull the plug!!!!

I was very in limbo between these pipes and the Vance & Hines 2 into 1 pipes but went with these. If I had went with the V&H I would be wishing I had tried the Cobras. As it is now I wish I had tried the V&H's... Thats just me.. My whole purpose here is to just say I do have the same decel pop and nobody seems to have any one solution. Contrary to that everyone has there own legitimate thing about it.. I don't think anyone is lying. It just isn't fair to us that the Harley's and Kawasaki's and Honda's and Suzuki's all can just throw on some pipes and a power commander and never look back.. What in the world is Yamaha doing different???

Well I'm back on here. 6K miles later. I have found that my decel pop is nearly gone by using lower octane (89) fuel. I still have not gone down the route of an upgrade on air and fuel management, due mostly to cost verses gain. I have plenty of power now and don't care if I have more so I'm not concerned with more air and fuel. I am loving my Stratoliner. It is an awesome ride. I only wish I was able to afford a better seat. The stock seat in like sitting on a brick after about two-hours. I also wonder why Yammy didn't put a bigger fuel tank on the Stratoliner. 4 gals isn't much on a road bike. It's nothing for me to take a 200 mile ride on a Saturday and that means a trip to the gas station at about 130 miles into my ride; Not because I get bad mileage, but I can't stand to see the gas gauge get near empty. That is the result of running out a few times over the years and having to push the bike.

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Bill
Newport News, VA
06 Yamaha Stratoliner S