Vance and Hines straightshots

[stumblebum]

I ordered the Vance and Hines Straightshots for my 2003 1200 custom. I never installed pipes before. Is it an easy do it yourself project or should I take them to the dealer to install. Please advise


Thanks

[James]

I let the dealer put them on before I picked my bike up. I'd bet it's not hard to do. You are going to love those pipes. I got an instant erection. You are going to re-jet the carb and open up the breather aren't you?

[jockeyshift]

Pipes are very easy to remove and install. You can take off the stock pipes in 5 minutes and put on the new ones about as quick. All you need is basic tools, sockets and wrenches and a flat blade screwdriver to remove the heat shields. Most pipes come with very good instruction for installation. Like Smokey said, if your going to change pipes you will likely need to bump up the jet size a bit and open up the breather too with something like the Screaming Eagle air cleaner kit. This will help on performance as well as gas milage. Both of these are easy to do as well.

Good luck.

[trooper113]

Re: pipe installs....do I need to replace the exhaust washers/gaskets (crushable??) when changing pipes? I've seen several different kinds for sale in catalogs. Do new pipes come with the appropriate new washers?

[jockeyshift]

Originally posted by trooper113
Re: pipe installs....do I need to replace the exhaust washers/gaskets (crushable??) when changing pipes? I've seen several different kinds for sale in catalogs. Do new pipes come with the appropriate new washers?

I've never seen any new pipes that come with these washers. I have several sets of pipes for my Springer and when changing mine, i have never had to replace them. The seem to hold up pretty well with no leaks.

[trooper113]

Thanks, jockeyshift. I've never installed pipes, but probably will someday....hopefully soon.