Muffler madness : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

rgv08uc · 11-05-2008, 04:58 PM

Oh the time, money and labor I have WASTED trying to get the right mix of acceptable sound, performance, a happy spouse and happy HOA. I posted a reply in a thread about suffering muffler madness and hopefully that trip is concluded...but I thought it might be interesting to post the journey and see if anyone else posts similarly.

Muffler: likes/dislikes and fate:

Stock mufflers:
Likes: powerful off the line, wife happy, intercom happy, home owners association happy
Dislikes: heat, sewing machine sound
Fate: baffles drilled out

Stock mufflers with baffles drilled out (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: killer sound, stock look
Dislikes: wife said NO WAY; too loud, interfered with intercoms due to noise, homeowner’s association cited me for loud pipes
Fate: see below

Rush with 2.25” baffles (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: killer sound
Dislikes: wife said NO WAY; too loud, interfered with intercoms due to noise, decal popping, homeowner’s association cited me for loud pipes
Fate: replaced 2.25 baffles for 1.75” baffles

Rush with 1.75” baffles (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: Home owners association happy, wife happy, intercom happy
Dislikes: blattty sound, decal popping
Fate: baffles sitting in box in garage, stock pipes back on bike

Rush with Fuel motto 1.75” baffle with ¾” restrictor on left, 2” open on right with stock head pipe
Likes: powerful off the line
Dislikes: decal popping, massive heat on right side
Fate: gave to someone to try on their bike

Stock mufflers with Fullsac 2” cores (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: home owners association happy, wife happy, intercom happy, powerful off the line, no decal popping, stock look, HD rumble at idle, quiet until about 4k RPM then they roar
Dislikes: 1000 miles and none yet. Hopefully the madness is over

Oh yeah, I have a Power Commander also and tried every map Jaime sent me to get rid of the decal and add performance with the above combo’s. Also did the XIED's and stage 1 a/c... No luck until the FS cores

WEINERDOGBONE · 11-06-2008, 01:44 PM

That's a good write up. I'm following right in your footsteps with the exception of a Fatcat that I tried for a while. I'm stuck on the Rush 1.75 right now with the exact same experience as you report.

brownjams · 11-06-2008, 07:25 PM

could it be the wife just gave in to the madness figuring it would never end if she didn't?

rgv08uc · 11-06-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownjams

could it be the wife just gave in to the madness figuring it would never end if she didn't?

Not at all. She really likes the sound and that they don't interfere with the intercoms. All good!

stevent · 11-08-2008, 02:04 PM

Hah, good write up and a lesson I learned long ago: Leave the dam* thing stock, ride the crap out of it, wash, rinse, repeat...

Your motorcycle, wallet, wife, ears and neighbors will be happy

ceraaa42 · 11-08-2008, 03:19 PM

I've always thought; pipes and sound is an evolving process.

It takes time and experimantation to get the right sound/power combo for you and all the others involved.

And; It aint cheap.

Chris

Fullsac Perf · 11-14-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgv08uc

Oh the time, money and labor I have WASTED trying to get the right mix of acceptable sound, performance, a happy spouse and happy HOA. I posted a reply in a thread about suffering muffler madness and hopefully that trip is concluded...but I thought it might be interesting to post the journey and see if anyone else posts similarly.

Muffler: likes/dislikes and fate:

Stock mufflers:
Likes: powerful off the line, wife happy, intercom happy, home owners association happy
Dislikes: heat, sewing machine sound
Fate: baffles drilled out

Stock mufflers with baffles drilled out (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: killer sound, stock look
Dislikes: wife said NO WAY; too loud, interfered with intercoms due to noise, homeowner’s association cited me for loud pipes
Fate: see below

Rush with 2.25” baffles (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: killer sound
Dislikes: wife said NO WAY; too loud, interfered with intercoms due to noise, decal popping, homeowner’s association cited me for loud pipes
Fate: replaced 2.25 baffles for 1.75” baffles

Rush with 1.75” baffles (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: Home owners association happy, wife happy, intercom happy
Dislikes: blattty sound, decal popping
Fate: baffles sitting in box in garage, stock pipes back on bike

Rush with Fuel motto 1.75” baffle with ¾” restrictor on left, 2” open on right with stock head pipe
Likes: powerful off the line
Dislikes: decal popping, massive heat on right side
Fate: gave to someone to try on their bike

Stock mufflers with Fullsac 2” cores (stock head pipe and Fullsac True duals)
Likes: home owners association happy, wife happy, intercom happy, powerful off the line, no decal popping, stock look, HD rumble at idle, quiet until about 4k RPM then they roar
Dislikes: 1000 miles and none yet. Hopefully the madness is over

Oh yeah, I have a Power Commander also and tried every map Jaime sent me to get rid of the decal and add performance with the above combo’s. Also did the XIED's and stage 1 a/c... No luck until the FS cores

Call me. I'll tell you how to eliminate the decell poping.

SG

brownjams · 11-14-2008, 10:47 AM

It's hard to listen to advice from someone wearing shorts and a backwards hat while doing burnouts.

Fullsac Perf · 11-14-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownjams

It's hard to listen to advice from someone wearing shorts and a backwards hat while doing burnouts.

Ya but did you hear my decell? No poping! Lol...

bob2002 · 11-15-2008, 10:52 AM

Your making me relive my nightmare with headers & mufflers

rgv08uc · 11-17-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullsac Perf

Call me. I'll tell you how to eliminate the decell poping.

No need Steve. With your cores there is NO, NONE, ZERO, NADDA decel popping. I have nothing but praise for your baffles.

We did a big ride this past weekend and several people commented on how deep toned yet non-blatty/loud my pipes were.

I had a tire come apart during the ride and had to be towed to the dealer for a new one. While waiting in the front parking lot I heard a bike take off for the interstate and said to the guys hanging out "Now that is what a harley should sound like". It sounded awesome! Turned out to be my bike going for it's test ride on the new tire.

Thanks again Steve. Wish I had shopped with you first!!

Sword86 · 12-24-2008, 02:14 AM

Have to agree.....and in my books Steve can wear whatever he wants. I love my Fullsac 2" into CVO conversion.
Up until the Fullsacs I was changing exhausts like I do underwear.

86

rgv08uc · 12-24-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sword86

Have to agree.....and in my books Steve can wear whatever he wants. I love my Fullsac 2" into CVO conversion.
Up until the Fullsacs I was changing exhausts like I do underwear.

86

A new exhaust every month! man that must have been expensive

Sword86 · 12-24-2008, 07:09 PM

You bet your bike it was!...And that was going to a clean pair every OTHER month. At the end of each month I just turn that pair inside out and carry on . Saves on water too. I only do laundry once every couple of years. The real trick is to have a minimum of 24 pairs of socks and underwear.

86

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgv08uc

A new exhaust every month! man that must have been expensive