Bought Some New Pipes : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

LowRiderCustom · 04-19-2008, 10:51 PM

The bike had SuperTrapp pipes on it when I bought it, but they must have been for a softtail because the guy had the rear mufflers solid mounted to the frame. Consequently both pipes broke off the mufflers from the motor shaking, and I also noticed the front pipe was resting on the frame. So I decided to buy new pipes, but as you guys know there isn't many to choose from.

I listened to the few different pipes available for the FXR on You Tube, I seemed to like the Bubs Stubbies the best. After calling some places that had them on their website, I found out they are discontinued. Fortunately I found some in stock at Cycle Empire in Milwaukee, so I placed an order for them today. I expect to get them sometime this week, because they are less than 100 miles away from me.

FXR2 · 04-20-2008, 02:07 PM

Thanks for the info. I know that some pipes are out there that fit FXR's regardless of what the manufacturer says, but I guess this is not one of them.

LowRiderCustom · 04-20-2008, 02:26 PM

Can you tell me what pipes will fit other than the ones specifically listed for the FXR? I saw quite a few pipes that were supposed to fit the 91-05 Dyna and I thought they would fit my bike, but I didn't want to chance it that they wouldn't. Below are the links for some pipes that I liked and they were cheaper than the Bubs Stubbies. I got them for $385 shipped, which was a pretty good price, but the Vance & Hines cost less.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...122663054&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...038354779&rd=1

FXR2 · 04-20-2008, 04:37 PM

I know that at least some pipes for 91-05 Dynas will fit an FXR, depending on what transmission it has. If the pipes use a transmission mount, it' has to match whatever trans is in the bike. My 1999 FXR2 uses a later model (as of 1999) transmission that apparently mates up with some of these exhaust systems. Here's a 1999 FXR2 (not mine) with V&H Big Shots Staggered intended for a 91-05 Dyna:

The ebay link to the V&H Straight Shots: Those pipes are available to fit FXR's, no need to worry about making Dyna pipes fit.

romannumal · 04-20-2008, 10:00 PM

i have a thunder header on my bike and it is great. the only down side is it cost more the most. but i love it.

scourge · 04-26-2008, 06:23 AM

I"m still trying to find a set of pipes I like for my Shovel. There aren't too many options.
Slash cut straight pipes, slash cut bologna or traditional.

I was lucky enough to get a set of two into 1 head pipes for the RT that Paucho produced. Now I have a few more options for the type of muffler I install. I recall at one time HD produced a set of pipes that put the rear exhaust on the left side on an FXR but I haven't seen that available again.

scourge
1983 FXRT
2006 Roadking Custom

LowRiderCustom · 04-26-2008, 10:57 AM

It turns out that Cycle Empire's supplier didn't have the Bubs Stubbies in stock, they were listed in the catalog but he told me they are discontinued. So I removed the Screaming Eagle mufflers from the stock pipes the guy gave me, and they bolted right onto the SuperTrapp head pipes. They look and sound great, the ST heat shields are the same diameter as the SE mufflers, so they look like oversized drag pipes. I made a bracket to mount the SE mufflers together, and I bought a rear FXR exhaust mounting bracket from Harley, but I can't figure out where it mounts on the trans. If anyone can take a picture of the location of the rear exhaust bracket on their bike and send it to donaldrome@hotmail.com I would appreciate it.

FXR2 I can't see the pic you posted, and I can't find the V&H Straightshots that are specifically for the FXR. Do you have a link to a site that sells them? I don't really like the Shortshots, there is too much of the swingarm exposed and it looks kind of wierd.

FXR2 · 04-26-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowRiderCustom

...I bought a rear FXR exhaust mounting bracket from Harley, but I can't figure out where it mounts on the trans.

If the bracket you bought looks sort of like a stretched and nearly flattened letter "Z", then you have the bracket that holds the two mufflers together. It doesn't bolt to the bike. The transmission bracket attaches to two bolts on the transmission housing and then to a "P" clamp to the rear headpipe. I can't help you with a photo because I have V&H StraightShots on mine and they don't use the stock Harley brackets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowRiderCustom

FXR2 I can't see the pic you posted, and I can't find the V&H Straightshots that are specifically for the FXR. Do you have a link to a site that sells them? I don't really like the Shortshots, there is too much of the swingarm exposed and it looks kind of wierd.

Anyone who carries V&H should be able to get them. I think the V&H number is 16807. If you go this route, I'd suggest getting set of V&H Quiet Baffles, 21869, as well. You'll get a noticeable increase in torque and the pipes can get a bit a loud on a long ride. V&H will tell you they won't fit standard StraightShots but don't believe them. They fit just fine.

LowRiderCustom · 04-26-2008, 07:04 PM

I bought the one with 2 holes in it and I think I figured out where it mounts on the trans. The previous owner mounted the rear brake switch to one bolt and a small breather on a bracket to the other bolt. Rather than trying to move them, I just mounted the SE mufflers to the frame with some aluminum brackets I made, and I put a big rubber gromet in one of the brackets. Now the SE mufflers move with the motor when it rocks, and the bike has a lot less vibrations.

I found the Staightshots for the FXR but they show a couple different pictures. One site indicates they are real long and another shows them shorter. I like the shorter ones in the first link and the price is lower, but then the 2nd site has free shipping. Which length of pipes are on your bike and what you're saying V&H gives you all the mounting brackets to attach them to the trans?

http://www.jcmotors.com/pc-5581-1126...fxr-87-00.aspx

http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/...ductCode=16807

Kajukenbo · 04-26-2008, 11:18 PM

I have an 86 fxrs-sp and I bought a set of Hooker stepped drag pipes off of ebay.
The post said they were for an 86. when I got them the instructions said it was for an 86 and a 1/2. "hmmmm what the hell?"

went through my mind.
Apparently the rear break setup sets above the frame rail on an 86 and halfway through the year they decided to move it below the frame rail.
So now the bracket to mount the pipes wouldn't fit against the tranny.
I had to make two spacers on a lathe to bring it out but that made the pipes a little crooked.
So my next step is to fabricate a new bracket. It shouldn't be to hard.

LowRiderCustom · 04-27-2008, 12:50 AM

How is the sound & performance with the Hooker stepped pipes? I saw those and was reading about them, they seem really nice, but they are almost $500.

FXR2 · 04-27-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowRiderCustom

I found the Staightshots for the FXR but they show a couple different pictures. One site indicates they are real long and another shows them shorter. I like the shorter ones in the first link and the price is lower, but then the 2nd site has free shipping. Which length of pipes are on your bike and what you're saying V&H gives you all the mounting brackets to attach them to the trans?

http://www.jcmotors.com/pc-5581-1126...fxr-87-00.aspx

http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/...ductCode=16807

The illustration on the jcmotors webpage does not show V&H StraightShots. I don't know what they are, but they're not StraightShots.

The illustration on the phatperformance webpage does show StraightShots.

Sometimes vendors don't get the illustrations right and in fact, have the correct product but I'd verify that first.

V&H gives the buyer all the brackets they need to mount the pipes. In this case the brackets will be different from stock. The V&H Straightshots don't use a transmission mount. They use the passenger footpeg to hang a dogbone that connects to the same type of gentle zig-zag bracket as used by Harley to connect the two mufflers on the original systems.

Here's what they look like on my bike.

Kajukenbo · 04-27-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowRiderCustom

How is the sound & performance with the Hooker stepped pipes? I saw those and was reading about them, they seem really nice, but they are almost $500.

They sound good but they are loud. That price is just for the pipes. Even though they are "step tuned" they are still drag pipes (straight through). You still would have to fork out money for mufflers or tuning cones. And another $40 for the tool to install them. You would think for $500 it would come with all that.
I can't complain though, I got my set on eBay for $300 so I think I'll try the tuning cones for a little back pressure and as for the tool I think I can make one.
It just looks like a stick with tabs on the end.
I won't be able to comment on the performance until I get the tuning cones.
I'll let you know then.

LowRiderCustom · 04-27-2008, 07:57 PM

I think I'll just stick to the SuperTrapp head pipes with the Screaming Eagle mufflers. I really like them now that I've been riding with them on the bike. Here's some pics of the exhaust and the aluminum brackets I made. You can see the rubber mount in the bracket that's bolted to the frame in the last pic.

And here's a video of how they sound:

LowRiderCustom · 04-28-2008, 09:02 PM

FXR2 do you think these Reinhart pipes would fit on my bike if I made a custom bracket? That seems like a great deal on them!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=022

What about these Sampsons?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=005