No Baffles = How much performance loss?
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From: Boise
No Baffles = How much performance loss?
I am picking up an '07 FXDB on Saturday. Bike has 19k miles on it. The seller took the baffles out of the Big Radius pipes for sound and tossed them.
During my search, I rode two Street Bobs both claiming Stage 1 done. The first (not the one I am buying) was a bit more torque-y, particular in the bottom of 2nd gear when getting on it. I was up to 90 mph in around 5-6 seconds (don't quote me on that but it was very fast).
The 2nd (the one I am buying) still got on it and was up to 90 quickly as well but definitely felt lagging compared to the first one and certainly compared to my hopped up Road Star. The lag was most noticeable at the bottom end of 2nd but seemed in the bottom end of all gears compared to the first bike.
If I put baffles back in those pipes (thinking Big City Thunder QQs), will I see a notable performance gain in torque? I know that when I took them out of my longshots on my roadstar, I lost almost all of my bottom end and replaced them within 5 miles.
During my search, I rode two Street Bobs both claiming Stage 1 done. The first (not the one I am buying) was a bit more torque-y, particular in the bottom of 2nd gear when getting on it. I was up to 90 mph in around 5-6 seconds (don't quote me on that but it was very fast).
The 2nd (the one I am buying) still got on it and was up to 90 quickly as well but definitely felt lagging compared to the first one and certainly compared to my hopped up Road Star. The lag was most noticeable at the bottom end of 2nd but seemed in the bottom end of all gears compared to the first bike.
If I put baffles back in those pipes (thinking Big City Thunder QQs), will I see a notable performance gain in torque? I know that when I took them out of my longshots on my roadstar, I lost almost all of my bottom end and replaced them within 5 miles.
Last edited by sawtooth_troy; Apr 7, 2015 at 06:14 PM.
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From: Tennessee
You're on the right track, you're best route would be to get rid of those poor performing pipes altogether and put on a good 2-1 and have the best possible performance from your exhaust system.
I understand that some guys don't like 2-1 pipes and I'm just tossing that into the mix.
Taking baffles out of pipes pretty much always has a negative effect on performance, so you should at least put some baffles back in.
I understand that some guys don't like 2-1 pipes and I'm just tossing that into the mix.
Taking baffles out of pipes pretty much always has a negative effect on performance, so you should at least put some baffles back in.
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From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Greezey Rider is right on, I believe the loss you noticed is more about the pipes themselves, I put the Big Radius on an '05 and was disappointed in the performance even with the baffles in place. I installed DK Custom Thunder Torque inserts with the baffles removed and the performance was much improved but the Big Radius pipes strike me as a pretty to look at pipe, not a performance enhancer...
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From: Boise
Hmmm, now you guys have me thinking....
I honestly had never really considered a 2 into 1 pipe.
The other pipes on the faster bike were ShortShots. Any ideas on how those two would compare performance -wise (Big Radius vs ShortShots)? I don't care much for the looks of the short shots and am honestly a bit tired of super loud pipes giving me a headache on long rides. I still love good sound and loud is fun on the commute, but sometimes it is too much.
I honestly had never really considered a 2 into 1 pipe.
The other pipes on the faster bike were ShortShots. Any ideas on how those two would compare performance -wise (Big Radius vs ShortShots)? I don't care much for the looks of the short shots and am honestly a bit tired of super loud pipes giving me a headache on long rides. I still love good sound and loud is fun on the commute, but sometimes it is too much.
Last edited by sawtooth_troy; Apr 7, 2015 at 06:35 PM.
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From: Boise
Woah! Those Thunder Torque inserts are really inexpensive. Hard to believe the claims of that much power gain for $20. Am I missing something or did you just give me a great interim solution while I figure it out? Thanks!
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From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Hmmm, now you guys have me thinking....
I honestly had never really considered a 2 into 1 pipe.
The other pipes on the faster bike were ShortShots. Any ideas on how those two would compare performance -wise (Big Radius vs ShortShots)? I don't care much for the looks of the short shots and am honestly a bit tired of super loud pipes giving me a headache on long rides. I still love good sound and loud is fun on the commute, but sometimes it is too much.
I honestly had never really considered a 2 into 1 pipe.
The other pipes on the faster bike were ShortShots. Any ideas on how those two would compare performance -wise (Big Radius vs ShortShots)? I don't care much for the looks of the short shots and am honestly a bit tired of super loud pipes giving me a headache on long rides. I still love good sound and loud is fun on the commute, but sometimes it is too much.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 585
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From: Boise, Idaho
I have to disagree about the "Poor performance" with a 2-2 system. If you have your bike properly tuned, I don't believe you actually notice any loss of power.
My bike runs like a raped ape AND it sounds and looks good!.......in my opinion.
My bike runs like a raped ape AND it sounds and looks good!.......in my opinion.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Highlandville, MO.
I removed my baffles and installed DK's Thunder Torque inserts,,, I didn't really notice much difference in performance,, definitely no loss in power,, but they sure sound a lot better...
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From: Out on Deranged
Of the two the radius pipes are supposed to be better than the Sshortshits, and no surprise there because longer pipes almost always beat shorter pipes. I don't remember which forum member convinced me the radius pipes were good for torque because until he spoke up I hated anythin V&H related.
Thunder torque inserts are supposed to be good, they certainly can do you no harm, (it's like the guys who argue well my spark plugs make more power than those stock NGK's because they ignite the fuel better!), so I would say improvement yes but don't expect 5 horse or 5 lb/ft of torque to come spewing out for a twenty right? I do believe you will hear a difference however! And I mean that in a good good way!
Who knows what else may have been done to the bike with the SS pipes to make it feel faster, remember every bike behaves differently even if they follow each other off the line at the factory.
Thunder torque inserts are supposed to be good, they certainly can do you no harm, (it's like the guys who argue well my spark plugs make more power than those stock NGK's because they ignite the fuel better!), so I would say improvement yes but don't expect 5 horse or 5 lb/ft of torque to come spewing out for a twenty right? I do believe you will hear a difference however! And I mean that in a good good way!
Who knows what else may have been done to the bike with the SS pipes to make it feel faster, remember every bike behaves differently even if they follow each other off the line at the factory.
I went from a Samson short staggered to Vance & Hines Big Shot longs. I lost a bunch of low end in all gears. I installed DK's TTI's and got it all back! You can turn them to adjust sound and performance. Great product. I was just about to drop 350 on a tune until I installed the TTI's.