installing exhaust on your own

[harleybeg]

i am looking at getting some new pipes (maybe vance and hines
shortshots) for my streetbob. do you always have to have a fuelpack installed in order to get the sound from these things?
if you don't is it difficult to install pipes on your own?

looking through the harley brochure they sent in the mail recently they were showing some slip on pipes for sale.
are these easy? does it change sound?

what i am looking for mostly is sound and look. i am happy w/
speed and performance as it is stock.

[NJ RIFF RAFF]

I first put V&H Staighshot slip-ons on my '08 Dyna Super Glide. (Nothing else needed). Couple months later I installed V&H Big Radius 2-2 with a friend. I only added the Fuel Pak and A/C, based the advise of V&H tech on the phone,
The Dealer, and others on this forum may recommend TTS and/or SERT. etc. Everyone seems to have different likes, and dis-likes.
So far, so good with mine. And Love the Look, and Sound...!!
And shop around for pricing on those pipes.!!!

[mstngjoe]

I installed Rush 2.0 slip-ons on my '07 Softail. Easy job.... took about 20 minutes. Sounds fantastic! No other mods, the air/fuel ratio was the same before/after (dyno verified).

[Paladin1]

My 07 Superglide (purchased used) came with V&H Big Radius and the Fuelpac already installed. Way way too loud, plus terrible power (on the dyno).

I changed the exhaust to a 2 into 1, did it myself (I am Not a mechanic). Certainly doable but not fun, in my opinion. Quieter (maybe still too loud though) and much better power.

V&H gave me the Fuelpac settings for the new exhaausts, but I had to R&R the Fuel pac to get the software updated (V&H did this for free). Getting the fuelpac in/out a Dyna is a real PITA, the V&H website is a savior since they show a video install for a Dyna.

In my opinion, the V&H folks are great to deal with, and assuming you have tools and low to moderate skills you can likely do the job yourself.

Depending on what system you get, you may be surprised and the power loss.

Good luck

[93-331-29PSI]

I installed V&H Longshots on my Heritage along with a PCIIIusb and start to finish it took me about 3 hours. I also loaded the DJ provided map for my parts combo and have had no issues thus far.

[fj1200]

I installed the V&H ProPipe 2 into 1 on my FXDX by myself with a minor difficulty. I had the bike on the dyno two weeks later when I had the cylinders bored and the heads replaced. Had a Power Commander on the bike then, so I knew I was going to need a new map. I had all of this done in January since I really didn't lose any riding time.

[NJ RIFF RAFF]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

My 07 Superglide (purchased used) came with V&H Big Radius and the Fuelpac already installed. Way way too loud, plus terrible power (on the dyno).

I changed the exhaust to a 2 into 1, did it myself (I am Not a mechanic). Certainly doable but not fun, in my opinion. Quieter (maybe still too loud though) and much better power.

V&H gave me the Fuelpac settings for the new exhaausts, but I had to R&R the Fuel pac to get the software updated (V&H did this for free). Getting the fuelpac in/out a Dyna is a real PITA, the V&H website is a savior since they show a video install for a Dyna.

In my opinion, the V&H folks are great to deal with, and assuming you have tools and low to moderate skills you can likely do the job yourself.

Depending on what system you get, you may be surprised and the power loss.

Good luck

Asking as a rookie here, how does the 2-1 provide more power than the Big Radius w/o making any other mods to the bike?
Touche to V&H tech support!!!!!

[ChopperDude]

Originally Posted by NJ RIFF RAFF

Asking as a rookie here, how does the 2-1 provide more power than the Big Radius w/o making any other mods to the bike?
Touche to V&H tech support!!!!!

Technically, a 2-into-1 provides "more power" than 2-into-2 (what the Big Radius is). I can't think of a link to point you to, but there's a LOT of science that goes into exhaust design (too long is bad, too short is bad, etc). for maximum horsepower.

The 2-into-1 improvement should be measurable on a Dyno... but I've read that via "seat of the pants" (what it feels to the rider) you need close to 10HP difference to detect it. I'd be surprised to find that it provides THAT much horsepower.

Just my $.02

[sgod1100]

Originally Posted by NJ RIFF RAFF

Asking as a rookie here, how does the 2-1 provide more power than the Big Radius w/o making any other mods to the bike?
Touche to V&H tech support!!!!!

It's all about "exhaust gas reversion." when you have the 2 into 2 the exhaust gas will leave the pipe and once it hits the out side air it "bounces back" into the pipe and goes back into the head. Now this isn't all of the exhaust gas only some of it. This in turn hurts performance when it comes to the flow.

When you have a 2 into 1 each cylinder fires and acts like a vacuum to the opposing cylinder. So for example cylinder 1 fires, the exhaust gas goes down and out of the pipe to the collector, right after cylinder 1 fires, cylinder 2 fires. Once cylinder 1's exhaust gas goes into the collector it acts like a vacuum and "pull's" cylinder 2's exhaust gas with it. Now when this happens thousands of times a minute you will get much better performance(better low end). 2 into 2 are good though for top end considering there aren't any restrictions in the pipes. This "exhaust gas reversion" usually get's over powered when you are flooring it in high rpm(with the 2 into 2's). It's more noticeable at lower rpm

I went with the 2 into 2 drag pipes anway because i love the sound and since these bikes are "torquey" enough i wanted to get better top end power. Besides i'm planning on buying a supercharger for it and i want as much "free flow" as possible...lol

hopefully this wasn't too confusing

[NJ RIFF RAFF]

TXS Chopper, and sgod1100 for the explaination. Another good lesson learned. And I do love the look and sound of the Big Radius. I didn't really notice any difference in power with the upgrade, but wasn't expecting any. The 'look' sold me. I'll bet the drag pipes look hot on the Rocker...! Baffles? What baffles? We don't need no stinkin Baffles! LOL :)

[ChopperDude]

Originally Posted by NJ RIFF RAFF

TXS Chopper, and sgod1100 for the explaination. Another good lesson learned. And I do love the look and sound of the Big Radius. I didn't really notice any difference in power with the upgrade, but wasn't expecting any. The 'look' sold me. I'll bet the drag pipes look hot on the Rocker...! Baffles? What baffles? We don't need no stinkin Baffles! LOL :)

I'm with you man... for what little extra some 2-1s would give you (probably not enough to even feel)... I'll go with looks all day. Besides, we're not buying these things because they're the fastest things on the road, right?

We started installing Big Radius right after they first came out, and I've always thought they were some of the coolest pipes out there for softails and dynas (they got a TOURING version now!).

I also really like Paul Yaffe's X-Pipes:
http://www.paulyaffeoriginals.com/py...uff-xpipes.htm

Installed a set of these on a Night Train and it looked really good, sounded good too.

[NJ RIFF RAFF]

Chopper, I checked the link. Some awsome pipes on there. A little too rad for me. But some great ideas! Hey 'Harley", what did you dicide to do?

[sgod1100]

Originally Posted by NJ RIFF RAFF

TXS Chopper, and sgod1100 for the explaination. Another good lesson learned. And I do love the look and sound of the Big Radius. I didn't really notice any difference in power with the upgrade, but wasn't expecting any. The 'look' sold me. I'll bet the drag pipes look hot on the Rocker...! Baffles? What baffles? We don't need no stinkin Baffles! LOL :)

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS....HELL YEAH!!!

If my bike wasn't put away for the winter i'd take some pics of it. Come next spring i'll post some pics

[sgod1100]

Originally Posted by ChopperDude

I'm with you man... for what little extra some 2-1s would give you (probably not enough to even feel)... I'll go with looks all day. Besides, we're not buying these things because they're the fastest things on the road, right?

We started installing Big Radius right after they first came out, and I've always thought they were some of the coolest pipes out there for softails and dynas (they got a TOURING version now!).

I also really like Paul Yaffe's X-Pipes:
http://www.paulyaffeoriginals.com/py...uff-xpipes.htm

Installed a set of these on a Night Train and it looked really good, sounded good too.

Yup...I totally agree with you. If we wanted to go 200 mph we would have bought a crotch rocket....but....there is always a PROCHARGER for our bikes....that is going to be coming soon for my bike....