I am about to install V&H Big Radius' on my 08 Fatty. The guy that is installing them is a HD mechanic doing this for me on the side. He is telling me that I do not have to do anything else to the bike (ie: Fuel pack) unless I am changing the air filter. He said just the pipes and I should be fine. True or False? How is it gonna run with just pipes and no other upgrades?

 

True...but you won't notice that much of a performance change with just pipes. When you change the intake you'll need a fuel management system (i.e. PCIII) and you'll surely notice a performance change.

 

Will I start backfiring or anything like that or will I just not gain any performance. I am not looking to gain much more than sound and looks right now. Next summer I plan on changing the cams, air filter etc. and getting into more performance. But for now just the sound and looks. So I am ok then?

 

You should be fine; maybe some decel popping, but it depends on the bike.

 

Bump - Good thread.

 

again, the only real experience I have here is in the truck realm, but...

was explained to me this way. as the engine breathes, letting it exhale faster won't hurt (but you will lose back pressure which I think robs you of some torque - tho people will argue that point just for the sake of it). it's when you try to force more into the system than it can get rid of that you're going to run into trouble.

if I was going to start that process, I'd do it the same way. from the back to the front.

 

True, if you don't let more air in, you don't need to increase fuel. However it will pop on decell a bit.

 

The decel popping isn't bad. Call me sick, but I kinda like the sound of it. As long as I am not doing any damage to the bike, let it pop.

 

True-I put a pair of Reinhart Staggered on my 08 Fatboy and did not do any other changes, you do get some decil popping but not bad.

 

Bump...