Thunderheader blues
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
I'll never buy another TH. The finish is crap, and I had two different sets of TH's on two different bikes and both broke. Cheap crap that costs a lot is my opinion. I have never been able to get them to accept responsibility for any issue or provide a new part without shelling out retail for it either.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 193
From: ohio
I had aTH on the last three bikes, 06, 11, and present 14 limited (which transfered from my 11). Close to 30,000 mi on each of the pipes, never had any issues. Guess I got lucky, but had friends with them and same thing. I hope your issue is resolved
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
Thanks. I'm a hard core jeeper guy (new to HD ownership) and a head start on researching pipes (I have been using the search feature) is appreciated
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,824
Likes: 603
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I've bought dozens of pipes over the years. I gotta say this about D&D, I bought the FatCat a couple years ago and was amazed that it was delivered assembled with the heat shield on and just seemed top notch all the way around. As for V&H, several years ago I would have said they are top of the line but having several issues with getting systems from them missing parts, or having the wrong parts in the box became more of an issue when their customer service insisted I wait 6 weeks til they make more heatshields or whatever and would not send me one from their warehouse.
RUSH Racing is another to consider. I've never ran their 2:1, but I can vouch for their top shelf customer service.
It's not my intention to promote one pipe over another. There are lots of great pipes out there but if you compare the welds, build and fit quality on a Dragos you'll agree there is no other choice. The pipe is so beautiful, you might not even want to put the heat shields on and that's no joke.
Plus he puts a guarantee in writing if any pipe makes more power on the dyno, he'll refund the purchase price.
Plus he puts a guarantee in writing if any pipe makes more power on the dyno, he'll refund the purchase price.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: clovis ca
I got a set of Vance and hines... fit and finish was great....so far no issues...
hope you get it all straighten out soon!
hope you get it all straighten out soon!
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,468
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
I talked to a very experienced builder/tuner, and he told me that Thunderheader was designed for the 80" EVO engine, and they haven't done a thing to it since except modify mounting brackets.
I went to the TH web site, and all the references are to EVO engines.
Everybody I talked to who has experience with them all said the same things:
1. Performance gains are excellent.
2. Build quality, fit, finish, chrome, paint, all totally suck.
3. Accurate mounting and ease of installation sucks.
4. Customer service sucks.
So, as long as you understand you're getting a DIY installation project, and you may need to bend things to get them to fit, have at it. Me, when I'm ready for a 2-1, it won't be Thunderheader.
I went to the TH web site, and all the references are to EVO engines.
Everybody I talked to who has experience with them all said the same things:
1. Performance gains are excellent.
2. Build quality, fit, finish, chrome, paint, all totally suck.
3. Accurate mounting and ease of installation sucks.
4. Customer service sucks.
So, as long as you understand you're getting a DIY installation project, and you may need to bend things to get them to fit, have at it. Me, when I'm ready for a 2-1, it won't be Thunderheader.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
I really appreciate all the feedback gentlemen. This has been a dream of mine with the bike and TH pipes (rented when I could for almost 20 years and I used to clean bikes for ride time at a rental shop when I was young).
I'm finally able to swallow the reality that it's time to give up on TH
One more thing I don't think I've mentioned, black pipe and heat shields have smelled like toxic burnoff from day one. They have gotten better but TH told the dealership that it would take 1500 miles to fully cure and not smell. I'm at 1700 miles and they still have a damn awful smell of hints of toxic paint burunoff to this day. If you've even been around a 55 gallon dumpster fire (one with a maintained rattle can paint job) then you know what smell I'm talking about ("borrowed" one from the hockey stadium way back in college lol)
I'm finally able to swallow the reality that it's time to give up on TH
One more thing I don't think I've mentioned, black pipe and heat shields have smelled like toxic burnoff from day one. They have gotten better but TH told the dealership that it would take 1500 miles to fully cure and not smell. I'm at 1700 miles and they still have a damn awful smell of hints of toxic paint burunoff to this day. If you've even been around a 55 gallon dumpster fire (one with a maintained rattle can paint job) then you know what smell I'm talking about ("borrowed" one from the hockey stadium way back in college lol)
Last edited by Sedonastrider; Jan 6, 2015 at 11:55 PM.