Hello John and Sandy;

I first visited Rolling Thunder Dyno in 1998 (Daytona) near Pub 44. I wanted to get my new 1998 Softail Custom Dyno tested. Rather than take my money as most would do, you advised me to first purchase an after market performance exhaust, and a K&N filter. I took your advice and purchased a Thunder Header exhaust and a Hypercharger with the Pro Series upgrade, and waited untill 1999 Octoberfest in Daytona to revisit you and Sandy.

Our Bike was running okay, but after you adjusted my timing, added a Thunderslide Jet Kit, and tuned my bike, your graph showed 72.1 HP. Wow, now I could tell a big difference with your "MAGIC." Naturally, I watched you work on several other bikes and listened to your advice.

I added an Andrews cam, Timesaver push rods, Mikuni performance 42 carburetor, and new lifters for preventative maintenance. I purchased a Crane Hi-4 E ignition module from you over the phone today. By the way, I can not believe you answered, I honestly expected to get a recording. Service does sell, and your Magic keeps folks like us driving many hundreds of miles to visit you folks for a "tune up."

Needless to say, we will see you in Daytona this year for our yearly go-fast tune up. Wish you and Sandy the best...

Folks, if you have not visited John and Sandy at (Rolling Thunder Dyno) for your "Harley-go-faster" tune up, you damn well need to try them...

Another satisfied customer...
Dean & Mary

John:

Had to let you know. Not only did your dyno show 80 HP and 85 ft. lbs. torque on my injected 80-inch Evo, I often saw 50 MPG on the way back to South Carolina. The bike idles relatively smoothly, pulls from extremely low RPM without bucking, spitting, etc., and in general is a good no-hassle ride. Also, no evidence of detonation or overheating, even in the 90 degree heat and mountains during the remainder of the trip.

I've (finally!) found a great combination for an FLHxx touring bike, and the Power Commander is what allows it to work so well. Thanks for helping me dial it in properly.

See you in October at Biketoberfest...

Barry Basinger

Dear John and Sandy:

I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with my bike (1997 Ultra Classic) after you installed the Power Commander II. We saw you at the Bardstown, Ky. Hog Rally and you made a custom map for the bike. I was about ready to go back to a carbureted model; however, I'm now sold on fuel injection. The bike had hesitated and had a miss at 2500 rpm that you completely cured. The bike is also much smoother and the fuel mileage increased.

More important than the job you did, I want to thank you both for the professional and kind attitude you both showed me and my wife. I communicated with you by Internet and telephone this past year as I eagerly awaited you being close enough to my home to be able to ride to your location for an appointment. I must say I was not disappointed in the least. Several of the local bike shops in the Nashville area now install the Power Commander. I'm glad I waited on you.

Thanks for everything.

With Kindest Regards, I Am,
David E. Phillips
Attorney at Law

John and Sandy

I am writing to let you both know how happy I am with the results of your dyno-tuning of my 2000 FXST 88B during the Kentucky State HOG Rally. You may remember my bike as the black 2000 Softail with Screaming Eagle Mufflers and Air Cleaner. I had been dissatisfied with the performance of this bike even after my dealer rejetted my carb, changed my air filter and supposedly 'tweaked' the carb on it's last service visit.

John showed me that the carb was jetted way too large and was actually flooding the engine with fuel. Before he rejetted the carb my bike was only producing 62.2 hp and 78.9 ft lbs of torque. After he rejetted the carb and installed a dry K&N air filter it was producing 70.0 hp and 82.5 ft lbs of torque. Not only did the numbers increase significantly, the dyno graphs show a much more even curve throughout the entire power band.

I couldn't be more satisfied. My riding buddy now knows what the tailight on my bike looks like. Everyone that is familiar with my bike is amazed at the difference in its performance as well as the way it roars now. The exhaust note is noticeably deeper and doesn't have the nasty bark it had prior to John's tuning.

Thanks John and Sandy; you guys are great, you deliver what you say and you definitely take pride in your work. I recommend you to anyone who wants optimum performance from their bike.

Your Thoroughly Satisfied Customer
Nick Roberts
Louisville, Kentucky

Background: Met you at Laconia. My friend Bob Fury and I hung around for several hours on Saturday watching you work your magic! Saturday night just before you closed you dyno'ed and timed Bob's Low Rider. Sunday morning you dyno'ed, installed a Thunderslide Kit, timed, and dyno'ed again my '98 Black Road King... (Remember!?! You also gave us "groupie" buttons!)

Anyway all we both can say is WOW!

Bob say's its like having a new bike; lot's of usable power and better gas mileage (although his wife probably doesn't appreciate the additional power as much since all the way back to NY he kept demonstrating it!).

Since my Road King already had the Screaming Eagle (K&N) air filter, a Custom Chrome Jet kit and some baffle "work" done on the stock mufflers I didn't really expect what in fact I got... WOW!

The bike carburates as smooth as a fuelie... runs real strong (went from 53 to 60 HP) and the best part is...two up with saddlebags and tour pak full got 50 MPG going home (averaged only a little over 40 going up to Laconia with less of a load!).

Great work, great result, by really nice people... who could ask for anything more?

I hope to see you in Middletown in July.

I wanted to take this time and thank John and Sandy for the great job they did getting Lucille running like a champ (yes I named my bike Lucille). She is my pride and joy and now I can ride her with all the confidence in the world.

For some time, I had been having trouble with the way my Sportster was running. Taking off from stops would be so embarrassing for me. The bike would spit, sputter and pop and sound really bad! You just can't be cool riding a sick bike. I tried all sorts of things to clear it up and nothing seem to help.

Several friends said to have it put on a dyno and see what they come up with! While at a bike show, I saw this trailer that was brilliantly colored with the cutest antics. Unfortunately, my bike was in the show and couldn't be moved until the last day. By that time, the trailer was gone and I failed to get the name of the person who operates it! Now what?!

The internet is a wonderful tool if you know how to use it. While daydreaming and counting down the days to leave for Myrtle Beach I decided to see if I could find anything on Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. I was able to surf to a location that listed Sponsors and Links. I clicked on that and found another link to other vendors that would be at Bike Week. Low and behold there was the man who has the colorful trailer and funny antics!!!! I surfed my way through all the information on his page, printing out information to take home and study. Being very particular about who touches Lucille, I wanted to make sure that this person was qualified to do the job and cure her of her illness.

I read over the entire web page. Than something jumped out at me from the computer screen. MAY BOOK UP TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE! NO! I frantically scrolled to find a number that went directly to their trailer. OK, let's try it. I called and got the nicest lady on the other end. When I ask to make an appointment to have my bike put on the dyno, the woman sounded so confused. Explaining that I had gotten the number off the web page, she gladly scheduled me for the first day I would be there. Now I would have all weekend to ride and enjoy! Sorry Sandy for throwing the curve ball on you like that!

Arriving at the dyno trailer with a lot of hesitation for fear of my bike being blown up, I bravely stepped up to the door and announced that I was checking in! After filling out forms, I stood and watched the guy before me have his bike done. Watching John and Sandy work hand in hand was fascinating. She did things before he had to ask. He started to do something and she saw a problem before he did and got it corrected before he even missed a beat. OK, starting to feel a little more at ease. Than it was time for my bike! YIKES!

Upon getting a good look at John, he looked very intimidating. Than all of a sudden, this big grin would emerge from behind this thick beard and the sweetest, nicest man appeared. He talked with a gentle voice and sat down beside me and said, "OK, tell me what's wrong." I explained how the bike was doing and he told me that he would work with it and try and fix it. Try? I don't care what your web page says about him not being a mechanic. He more than tried! He fixed it! Lucille now runs like a spring chicken and I now can ride with confidence.

Since John and Sandy did such a great job on my bike, they got the business of my brother-in-law and his boss while at Bike Week. If you guys ever make it within a 100 mile radius of Virginia my husband's best friend is willing to drive the distance to have his bike done as well. Thank you so much for all that you did. I will be telling all of my friends about you and putting the word out to all my Harley buddies I talk with on the net!

My wife & I met you guys at Daytona; we own the sputtering, plug fouling, loud Dyna Wide Glide with the hypercharger that left with only one screw in the breather. We greatly appreciate the work you did on our bike! We have had the bike for over a year now & it never ran worth a shit! Ten minutes with you guys gave our bike a completly new personality. It runs great!!!!! Thanks a million! We'll see you in Charlotte.

p.s. John, thanks for showing me how to tune my S & S Shorty, I'll never take it to a Harley dealer again!

My name is Jim Walsh and I was sent to you while I was in Daytona for bike week. You may remember me; I was the Edelbrock problem. I want to let you know how satisfied I am with your knowledge you put to use on my bike. It has never run better and I am very pleased with your customer relations, both you and Sandy are terrific! I am thinking of purchasing a dyno and I hope it is you that comes and gives me a few lessons on running it, being I see you also represent Dyno Jet.

Thank you again John and Sandy, you have made a lot of happy customers.

...Comments: The only difference between the two runs is the timing was retarded for run "4". That simple change gave me almost 5 HP and 5 ft.lb. increase. The torque increase is over the entire power band. The difference in the seat of the pants feel is unbelievable and the carb hiccups are gone. John also showed me that there is two more horsepower to get by cleaning the air filter. Run '4' was done with my dirty filter on the bike. That 5 hp and 5 ft. lbs cost me the total $55.00 and 30 minutes of my time. This has made me a firm believer in Dyno Tuning and Johns tuning abilities. If he is ever in your area look him up. You wont regret it.

Ed Truesdale
Myrtle Beach, SC

Ed;
Thanks for the Dyno Sheet. It will go into the HP gallery in a couple of weeks.

John Golden of Rolling Thunder does an excellent job of tuning bikes. I suspect he does more bikes in a month than most shops do in a year. His knowledge allows him to perform "miracles" to most bikes in a very few minutes. I met John in St. Petersburg FL a couple of months ago. I spent a lot of time discussing basic tuning and performance exhaust systems with him. I have a great deal of respect for what John is able to do. Since I have access to a Dyno for tuning my own bikes, I really haven't had to use John's services myself, but have never heard a bad word about his work.

As you wrote, there is no substitute for Dyno Tuning ( and a clean air cleaner ). Once you begin to understand what the Dyno can do for you, its hard to take any step in improving your performance without going back to confirm the results. It is the only way to know what performance improvment you really got. Dyno tuning is the only way to do serious performance work.

Ride Hard, Ride Often, Ride Safe

I won't keep you long. I was in Laconia and was probably one of your first customers this year. My buddy (with flamed Fat Boy) and I put our bikes on [your dyno]. I have a green Road King (injected). I purchased a K&N filter from you, and when I got back to Canada I modified the air cleaner backing plate as you showed me.

All I can say is it was money well spent. (Even considering the exchange!!)

I wish you and Sandy a good Summer. See you next year in New Hampshire.

I'm the guy who had 10.2:1 pistons with the EV27 cam you tested and also made the conversion from the Dyna Jet (only half the kit previously installed by the H/D dealer) to the new Thunderslide kit in Daytona.

The bike now starts, runs, responds and performs like never before with the new Thunderslide.......many thanks. The only problem is the remaining "pinging" problem. You were correct in saying that the cam may be mismatched with the higher compression. I spoke with Andrews, Crane and Wisesco about my situation and all agree that the static pressure in the cylinder created by the combination is way too high and the ping will never go away and in fact, the cam is working against the engine on the compression stroke.

A longer duration is required to reduce that static pressure and the EV51 or Crane's 326-2b can was recommended. I've chosen the Andrews EV51 which will be installed next week.

H/D will do the installation so not to screw up any warranty but I don't have the faith in them as I have in you in getting it right. I'd like you to re-set the timing and/or carb jetting as required after the installation so that I know the engine is set correctly. I'll see you in St. Petersburg at the State Rally so you can set the engine again.