I have a 2008 Electra Glide,. with some of the modifications I would like to make on the bike side pipes would be a preference, but I first have questions, Are they louder? Don't want louder.... Lol.... What difference has anyone noticed..., is it hotter for the rider, do you get burned more. What brand of bends are people using? After the bends can I just reinstall my exist tips?

 

By "side pipes" do you mean a 2 into 1 system with a muffler only on the right side ?

 

Side pipes...

 

1:1. Just install a 180 on the end and then the exhaust tips I'm currently using, looking up this subject isn't easy, but I found the term side dump exhaust here, most do a 2:1 and then complain about loss of torc at low rpm and much louder, especially when combined with catalytic removals, I have run short pipes on many vehicles using stainless steel scrubber pads and fiberglass wool to muffle the sound and create back pressure, I can't see why I couldn't do the same by packing the elbows this way. I could also create a series of disks with small holes, I have made silencers for my 50 cal and it uses the same principles I would think...

 

I have side dump pipes, and they were loud, and they burned up all my pants leg, however: I made some DIY Thunder torque insert (see pic) which tamed the sound somewhat (DK Custom sells them) and a DIY heat shield, personally (seat of the pants) I did not experience any power loss, quite the contrary this thing wants to go, and I paid $170 for them from Dennis Kirk, they do "Blue" but personally I like that.

Torque inserts



DIY heat shield

 

I meant to say install a pair of 90 degrees bends on each side, I will all a baffle system, since I'm in Mexico, I don't need catalytic converters, does it get louder without them or does the engine light stay on? Can I re pack the catalytic portion with baffles also? I see that your pipes are getting very hot, mine have not discolored yet, and the reason the install short pipes is the potential of warping the valves if ice cold air enters the shortened pipes, but I'm in cullican Mexico, cold is 70.... So I'm not worrying about that. But again I don't understand why your pipes are hotter... They should run colder. Van you explain why yours are hotter.