Complaint Review: Zippers Performance Products

It amazes me that everyone points a finger at the bike, not the part without knowing anything about the bikes itself. I am happy to hear you found a product that works for you. However, I am not alone on this matter, as this is just one compliant out of many. 

After having the bike dyno tuned by an authorized Thundermax dealer, they spent countless hours designing a map specifically for my bike. However, even though the program has an option to avoid popping, it still exists today with 30,000 miles on the bike. 

The Thundermax autotuner is marketed as a tuner that does not require a dyno and why I purchased it. This is not the truth and still required. 

In the response dated 02/10/2020, I have read was speculation on what was potentially wrong with my bike. Without knowing a single thing about it, to include the model as you call it a breakout, it actually a night train. So, I can already assume your attention detail is sub-par. 

Back to the issue at hand...Thundermax pitches its product as the autotuner that does not need to be dyno-tuned. This is the furthest thing from the truth. While the product might be great at what it does, the tuner must be dynoed. That in and of itself is false advertising and why I purchased it. 

The technology comes with preloads which match codes to just about any system, or at least it seems. Again, not the case. I will say that the customer service when I did experience the issues what terrific. However, experienced the same problem as your statement, the customer's bike was the problem! All it needed was a dyno to tune the tuner, which again was advertised as not being necessary. 

 This is in response to the issue you are claiming to have with thunder max tuner I am running the system on a 2014 brakeout cvo and I could not be happier in reading you complaint you stated that you had taken your bike to a number of shops and they gave your bike a clean bill of health that being said did you reinstall the factory control Module and then take it in?

I do all my own work I don’t trust any one working on my bike unless I am standing there I have been wrenching all my life so to be fair what it sounds like is there are Underlying issues with your bike that need to be addressed it could ba as simple as a lose wire or a weak connection I did have a issue with my thunder max tuner (TBW) at first I would lose Communication between the throttle and the thunder max controller I would start the bike and have no throttle control at all so I spent the 100 on a new throttle sensor put it in and still the same result I would have to cycle power on and off to get my throttle control back so I did my research and found in the instructions they call out when plugging in the connectors to use dialectic grease will I didn’t have any at the time so it went together with out do that is where I made my mistake so after I pulled everything apart again put the dielectric grease on the connectors I have had not one issue since The point I’m trying to make is that you need to stop and look at the whole picture not just one area of it Hope this will shed some light on the issue see you on the road ride safe 

I read the report on Zippers Performance and their ThunderMax Autotune.  First, I have put many of the Zippers products on my 2007 Ultra Classic. This includes the, dual piston cam tensioners, Axtel plunger/spring on the cam plate, and their ThunderMax autotune for 2007 touring models.

I think any Harley owner worth their weight in salt knows that Harley engines are complex and there are many things that can cause it to under perform or not perform to its potential.  Heck, its a mechanical part and that's true for any mechanical item.

After putting on the ThunderMax on my 07 Harley at 25,000 miles, it rode beautifully for about 20,000 miles and started having problems.  Poor gas mileage, sporatic idling, bike died on me a couple of times when at the stop light or stopped on the traffic jam/freeway. 

I reset the ThunderMax, countless times, remapped with the base fuel map, reset the idle several times and continued to have the same program eventually over and over again.  I thought it was the ThunderMax and was ready to give up on the product.

I went on Zippers Performance web site and read through their tutorials, FAQs and other materials about ThunderMax.  I decided to give the ThunderMax one more opportunity and went through the ThunderMax performance tutorial.

Zippers gave me a step by step document for how to diagnose the problem and eventually figure out what the issue was.  I didn't even contact Zippers at this point, I just went on their web site which has extremely easy to follow materials.

The document stated, if all else works, check the throttle position sensor, its probably bad and is causing the errartic idling.  Before that, I replaced the big twin compensator (oh and their right, world of a big difference and very happy I did replace it), replaced the stator and regulator (that was my decision), replaced spark plugs, spark plug wires with screamin eagle wire, checked the idle AFR sensor, adjusted the idle and everything on the step by step.  

When all was said and done, it came down to me replacing the throttle position sensor (a $35 part).  The bike has operated and performed beautifully since.  I'm even getting better performance from my 07 Ultra Classic now.  

Bottom line, I thought it was the ThunderMax as well... I followed Zippers step by step and it turned out to be my Throttle Position Sensor.  I now have 65,000 miles on my Ultra Classic 40,000 miles of which with the ThunderMax!  The ThunderMax is an awesome product and Zippers Provides great online tutorials to help you figure out and diagnose/trouble shoot your ride.

By the way, I must have a reliable Harley because I commute by motorcycle in Northern Virginia to DC every day (about 128 miles round trip).  I don't just ride for weekend fun, my ride is my way to work.  My Harley has to operate and must be reliable.  The ThunderMax has performed perfectly and because of my commute is one of the reasons for putting the ThunderMax on my 07 Ultra Classic.

I'm a consumer that believes in Zippers Performance and their products, because I've purchased more than one of thier products and they've all performed as advertised!

i have a zippers thunder max on my harley flhtcu and i was in sturgus lasts year. i had a break down and thought it was my thunder max.i called the head office and asked for help, one hour later  the owner of the company showed up at the gas station that i was broken down at on a bike and with his lap top. i was broke down and he  spent 3 hours trying to help me, it wasn't his products fault and he never charged me a cent for the help.

i have never had such great service and i disagree strongly with this complaint.

Zippers went way out of thier way to help me (at stugus in fact, thier buisiest time).

they charged me nothing, i would support them till i die.

buy thier products they do stand behind everything they sell and they proved it to me and they will for you.

this complaint is sour grapes, trying to hurt a good company!!!!

Allen McGillivray

It appears that the marketing company is doing a fine job for this company looking for negative feedback on their products. I assure you folks I am not alone in this battle of expensive and faulty equipment. 

I am providing links below to prove to you this product is flawed. Asside from that, my HD Nighttrain was brand new! My sour grapes are wiht this bogus coompany not my bike. Immedately remove this system my bike ran perfectly!

Google: Tundermax Autotune issues

 I read this guys claims of Zippers Performance products not doing what they say. I have used many of their products over the years the the thundermax is by far the "Best" performing I h ave ever used. I am on my 6th bike enhancement using 100% of Zippers offered products and suggestions and am 100% a fan of their offerings and they do what thet say they do. This guiy writes about an old bike which most likely had gremlins when he started and wanted to perform his own diagnosis of what was wrong and has sour grapes cause he failed to properly fix an issu before he started. Start with a problem, end with a problem.