If done right, this Harley Stage 2 upgrade can unlock up to 30% more horsepower from your engine. Are you excited? Hold on! Before you start prepping for the upgrade, there’s one big question you need answered:
How much does a Harley stage 2 upgrade cost? In short, you have to invest between $1,000 and $1,500 for the complete stage 2 treatment. Now, that may sound steep, but it’s justified. This price covers the installation of properly chosen cams, pushrods, tuners and supporting mods.
Need further detail on the cost breakdown? This article will break down exactly what’s included in a stage 2 upgrade. So, let’s closely examine what it takes to achieve the ultimate stage 2 rush.
How Much Does a Harley Stage 2 Upgrade Cost?
As already mentioned briefly, on average, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for a complete stage 2 upgrade. The cost of a stage 2 upgrade depends on several factors, such as:
- Model and year of your Harley
- Type and quality of the parts you use
- Labor cost and time required to install them
- Type and quality of the tune you get
To break it down further:
- Camshaft: A camshaft can cost anywhere from $200 to $500. The price will depend on the type, profile, brand, and quality. The prices will be higher if you go for popular brands such as S&S Cycle, Andrews, Feuling, Woods, etc.
- Pushrods: Pushrods can cost anywhere from $100 to $300, depending on the type, length, brand, and quality. Again, you will likely have to spend more if you go for popular brands like S&S Cycle, Andrews, Feuling, Woods, etc.
- Gaskets: Gaskets can cost anywhere from $50 to $100, depending on the number and quality. Popular brands such as James, Cometic, etc., will be pricier.
- Tune: A tune can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on the type, quality, and location. Popular tuners like Dynojet, Vance & Hines, Screamin’ Eagle, etc. will most probably cost you more.
Lastly, the labor cost and time required for a stage 2 upgrade will depend on the complexity of the job. On average, you can expect to pay around $500 for around 6 hours of labor for this upgrade.
Deep Breakdown of Harley Stage 2 Upgrade Cost (Comparison of Cost Components)
To help you understand the cost factors better, we have created some tables for you. These break down the cost of the stage 2 upgrade based on different scenarios.
Table 1: Cost of Stage 2 Upgrade by Model and Year
This table shows the cost breakdown of different models of Harley motorcycles based on their year, camshaft, pushrods, gaskets, tune, and labor.
| Model | Year | Camshaft | Pushrods | Gaskets | Tune | Labor | Total |
| Sportster | 2018 | $300 | $150 | $50 | $300 | $600 | $1,400 |
| Softail | 2019 | $400 | $200 | $75 | $400 | $600 | $1,675 |
| Touring | 2020 | $500 | $250 | $100 | $500 | $600 | $1,950 |
| Street Glide | 2021 | $600 | $300 | $125 | $600 | $600 | $2,225 |
Table 2: Cost of Stage 2 Upgrade by Part Quality
This table shows the cost range of different quality levels of motorcycle components based on their camshaft, pushrods, and gaskets.
| Quality | Camshaft | Pushrods | Gaskets |
| Low-end (Non-OEM) | $200-$300 | $100-$150 | $25-$50 |
| Mid-range (OEM) | $300-$500 | $150-$250 | $50-$100 |
| High-end (Premium) | $500-$700 | $250-$350 | $100-$150 |
Table 3: Cost of Stage 2 Upgrade by Tune Type
This table shows the cost range of different tune types for Harley bikes.
| Tune Type | Cost |
| Basic (Stock) | $0 |
| Standard (Screamin’ Eagle) | $200-$300 |
| Advanced (Dynojet) | $300-$400 |
| Custom (Vance & Hines) | $400-$500 |
Why Is Harley Davidson Stage 2 Upgrade So Costly?
We know upgrading a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a stage 2 kit can get very expensive. But there are some valid reasons behind the high costs, such as:
A. Camshaft kit and professional ECU
The main components of a stage 2 upgrade are a high-performance camshaft kit and professional ECU tuning.
Harley uses proprietary camshafts designed specifically for each engine model. These cams, produced by Harley or performance brands like S&S and SE, are complex and precisely engineered parts. However, this level of engineering and quality is costly.
Installing these cams also requires extensive labor as the engine’s top end needs to be disassembled. While an experienced mechanic can do it in a day, most dealerships charge 8-12 hours of shop time for the installation.
B. Dyno Tuning
The second major cost is the dyno tuning. Tuning Harley’s ECU is extremely intricate and time-consuming, requiring 3-6 hours on a dyno, depending on the bike.
Tuning shops charge $100 to $150 per hour for dyno time and tuning expertise. This tuning is crucial to optimize air/fuel ratios and ignition timing for the new cams to avoid engine damage.
C. Air Filters And Exhaust Systems
Lastly, Harley stage 2 kits require supporting upgrades like high-flow air filters and upgraded exhaust systems to work correctly.
These additional parts, along with the premium for Harley-branded components, add to the total cost as well.
Is Harley-Davidson Stage 2 Upgrade Worth The Cost?
Harley-Davidson stage 2 upgrades come at a premium cost but deliver transformative performance gains that many riders find worthwhile. Therefore, YES, it is worth the cost for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. Let’s explain why that is:
1. Camshafts Unleash the Engine’s Potential
Upgraded camshafts boost the following:
- Aggressive cam lobe profiles drastically alter valve lift, duration and overlap
- Increases intake valve duration for more air/fuel mixture flow into the cylinder
- Optimizes exhaust lobe for freer outflow of spent gasses
- Results in up to 30% more gas flow through cylinder heads
2. Comprehensive ECU Reflash Optimizes the Powerband
ECU reflash invokes the below power-ups:
- Tunes ignition timing for maximum combustion efficiency
- Adds 10%-15% more fuel across the RPM range for extra air from cams
- Further ignition adjustments tailor powerband to new camshafts
- Aggressive throttle maps sharply improve throttle response
3. Massive Performance Gains
Raw performance gets massive boost, such as:
- Stage 2 can add up to 20 hp and over 40 ft-lbs of torque
- Increases power-to-weight ratio up to 30% on Milwaukee Eight
- Provides instant, tire-shredding acceleration from a stop
- Transforms the overall riding experience
4. Value Proposition
The engine also goes through the below gains:
- Unlocks the engine’s true performance potential
- Delivers the muscular acceleration expected from a big V-twin
- Enhances the performance and riding experience enough to justify the premium price for many Harley riders
In essence, while costly, Harley-Davidson stage 2 upgrades use cams and tuning to extract substantially more power and performance from the engine. The upgrades bring dramatic acceleration, powerband, and rideability improvements that support their premium pricing for most enthusiasts.
FAQs
Here are a few common queries related to Harley-Davidson Stage 2 upgrade and its cost:
Q1. How much does the Harley stage 1 upgrade cost, compared to stage 2?
In short, both upgrades require around thesame cost. Harley stage 1 upgrade costs around $1,000-$1,500 and improves your Harley’s performance by 5%-10%. It involves replacing your air cleaner and exhaust and tuning your engine.
Q2. How much does the Harley stage 3 upgrade cost, compared to stage 2?
The Harley stage 3 upgrade cost is higher than the stage 2 upgrade cost by about $300-$500 on average.
The price of the Stage 3 upgrade can vary between 1,900 USD and 2,600 USD. The cost relies on the time and effort required, the quantity of parts required, and the quality of those parts.
Q3. Are there any cons to doing a Harley-Davidson Stage 2 upgrade?
No. There aren’t many negative sides to doing a stage 2 upgrade except for the fact that it will cost you a lot. Other than the cost, there’s also the fact that it will void your warranty.
Additionally, in some cases, Stage 2 upgradation might lead to overuse of the bike. This may increase engine wear and tear.
Final Takeaway
At last, it’s clear that a Harley Stage 2 upgrade requires a serious investment. Expect to spend $1,000 to $1,500 for cams, pushrods, tuners, exhaust, filters, gaskets, and professional installation.
While not cheap, this upgrade can increase horsepower by over 30% and torque by over 40% on some models. So, if you were seeking the ultimate rush from your Harley, the cost is justified.