Catless head pipe - sound difference?
#1
03-29-2018 | 02:00 PM
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 611
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From: Czech republic
Catless head pipe - sound difference?
I have 2018 CVO RG. I going to change mufflers propably some V&H slips on or Fullsac cores or Jekyll and Hyde.My question is about head pipe.
Is it worth to go catless? My question is pure sound related, i dont care about heating or performance. Is there significant sound improvement by removing cats or its not worth the money or effort? I read lot threats related to this issue but most of comments are about heating or performance.
So my questions focused just on sound.
Shoul i stay with stock head pipes with cats because the sound difference compare catless set up is hardly noticable?
I if should go catless.
I have opportunity to buy locally brand new stock head pipes from 2018 Street Glide. I can buy them and remove cats by myself. Seller wants 200 usd.
Or should i buy some aftermarket catless high flow headers ? With shipping and charges to Europe its more than double of price compare that Street glide stock catless set up. Is there any sound difference between stock catless headers and aftermarket high flow headers? Does it make sense to pay more for aftermarket?
Generally i am coming to touring bikes from softails. My last bike was 2016 Slim S with Rush muflers - amazing sound. I miss that sound on M8 touring and i want to get as close as possible.
Is it worth to go catless? My question is pure sound related, i dont care about heating or performance. Is there significant sound improvement by removing cats or its not worth the money or effort? I read lot threats related to this issue but most of comments are about heating or performance.
So my questions focused just on sound.
Shoul i stay with stock head pipes with cats because the sound difference compare catless set up is hardly noticable?
I if should go catless.
I have opportunity to buy locally brand new stock head pipes from 2018 Street Glide. I can buy them and remove cats by myself. Seller wants 200 usd.
Or should i buy some aftermarket catless high flow headers ? With shipping and charges to Europe its more than double of price compare that Street glide stock catless set up. Is there any sound difference between stock catless headers and aftermarket high flow headers? Does it make sense to pay more for aftermarket?
Generally i am coming to touring bikes from softails. My last bike was 2016 Slim S with Rush muflers - amazing sound. I miss that sound on M8 touring and i want to get as close as possible.
#2
03-29-2018 | 02:18 PM
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
#4
03-29-2018 | 05:45 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 46
From: Lake Tahoe California
I have not removed the cats from the stock head pipes on my 2014 FLHTP. But I did try to replace the head pipes with a tru dual, catless head pipes.
I can say the sound difference, in volume, was night and day. The catless head pipes I had made the bike WAY, and I mean WAY, louder. Maybe it was the tru-dual setup, but it was friggin' LOUD! I came to the conclusion that with my aftermarket mufflers, that the original catted head pipes were the way I wanted to go with a touring bike that I intended to listen to the stereo with while riding.
I have a system with a big amp, and can get very loud, but the tru-dual catless head pipes took all of the the listening enjoyment from the bike. The bike is far from quiet with the stock head pipes and the aftermarket mufflers, but not obnoxiously so, like it was with the catless units I tried.
Ride Safe!
I can say the sound difference, in volume, was night and day. The catless head pipes I had made the bike WAY, and I mean WAY, louder. Maybe it was the tru-dual setup, but it was friggin' LOUD! I came to the conclusion that with my aftermarket mufflers, that the original catted head pipes were the way I wanted to go with a touring bike that I intended to listen to the stereo with while riding.
I have a system with a big amp, and can get very loud, but the tru-dual catless head pipes took all of the the listening enjoyment from the bike. The bike is far from quiet with the stock head pipes and the aftermarket mufflers, but not obnoxiously so, like it was with the catless units I tried.
Ride Safe!
#5
03-29-2018 | 05:59 PM
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 112
Likes: 25
From: Mason, MI
Decatting the head pipe will not give you a lot more sound. It will help with the heat, but the M8 isn't as bad as the 103 because of the cat placement. I had a decatted pipe and RCX with no baffles on my 103. Sounded amazing. Absolutely roared, which is how I like it. The M8 with an almost identical set up isn't half as loud. I've tried a couple different things, and the sound still isn't to my liking. Guys tell me it sounds good, but it's too quiet. The M8 just doesn't sound as good.
#7
03-29-2018 | 08:55 PM
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 894
Likes: 69
From: Ca
After reading a million threads on here and on harley tech talk I wouldn’t do it on the newer bikes because the 02 sensors will have cross talk. Meaning they’re close together on when you remove the cat it affects this. I was gonna remove it then read all about it and doesn’t seem worth it
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#8
03-30-2018 | 11:18 AM
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 611
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From: Czech republic
Basically i understand that removing cats to get louder and better sound make sense on Twin cam engine.
It does not make sense on M8 engine since sound difference is hardly noticable.
In this case i wonder if there is any way to be realy loud on the M8 as i was able with older Twin cam. I am asking because i am about to spend 2K USD for valve controlled Jekyl and Hyde exhaust. I wanted to be loud if want and quiet if its neccessary to meet legal regulations. But maybe i waste money here. I should spend 300 usd for some baffles or slips on instead of 2K for Jekyll , because whatever i do on M8 i will never be too loud anyway to bother cops, neighbours or myself listening music.
It does not make sense on M8 engine since sound difference is hardly noticable.
In this case i wonder if there is any way to be realy loud on the M8 as i was able with older Twin cam. I am asking because i am about to spend 2K USD for valve controlled Jekyl and Hyde exhaust. I wanted to be loud if want and quiet if its neccessary to meet legal regulations. But maybe i waste money here. I should spend 300 usd for some baffles or slips on instead of 2K for Jekyll , because whatever i do on M8 i will never be too loud anyway to bother cops, neighbours or myself listening music.
Last edited by masar; 03-30-2018 at 11:20 AM.
#9
03-30-2018 | 11:27 AM
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 861
From: Kansas
After reading a million threads on here and on harley tech talk I wouldn’t do it on the newer bikes because the 02 sensors will have cross talk. Meaning they’re close together on when you remove the cat it affects this. I was gonna remove it then read all about it and doesn’t seem worth it
Of course, YMMV.
.
#10
03-30-2018 | 01:42 PM
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 894
Likes: 69
From: Ca
I had heard that, too...but I opted to try a decatted stock header. Figured I could always put the header with the cat back on if it didn't run right. 2015 Ultra Classic. Added a pair of new stock CVO mufflers and put an FP3 on the bike, flashed and auto-tuned it. Bike runs absolutely perfect. Zero complaints. Even had V&H look at my auto-tune map. They said it looked great.
Of course, YMMV.
.
Of course, YMMV.
.