Thunderheader Again
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 50
From: Rouses Point, N.Y.
Having run/installed/tuned many TH, the sound is truly great and the seat of the pants feel of the install is always appreciated as it has great primary tube lengths and a good collector. The problem is it's great at waking up a stock or mild build bike but not so great once the engine mods get bigger as it is an 1-3/4 pipe and it does have that torque dip in the 2500-3000 range. IMHO if you have a stock or mild bike the TH gives the best sound and "power improvement" feel of all the pipes out there. Never hollow, or tinny. But once you add compression and healthy cams and more fuel most any good pipe will surpass the TH in gains and sound.
Some guys cut them up and turn the head pipes and collectors horizontal to gain ground clearance, something Rich Products should have done years ago for us, but they seem happy to just keep pushing out the same pipe from 1987 and that's fine I guess.
The reality is the TH is great for mild bikes, and gives you the NorCal HA look and is generally a great mod. The downside is its not for big engine builds nor is it built with aerospace precision and attention to detail.
My thoughts worth exactly $.02
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Some guys cut them up and turn the head pipes and collectors horizontal to gain ground clearance, something Rich Products should have done years ago for us, but they seem happy to just keep pushing out the same pipe from 1987 and that's fine I guess.
The reality is the TH is great for mild bikes, and gives you the NorCal HA look and is generally a great mod. The downside is its not for big engine builds nor is it built with aerospace precision and attention to detail.
My thoughts worth exactly $.02
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
From: Apache Junction
I wasn't going to start a HP debate... but exactly. big primaries are WAY over-rated unless you're running either A) a **** load of Cubic Inches or B) a **** load of compression. Either way moderately built motors will utilize a TH just fine without issues, especially with the baffle mod dialed in. Mid-range power is over looked time and time again and Peak HP always look good on paper and impress readers (that know little to nothing about how power is made and delivered), BUT strong mid-range power with a nice long flat torque curve will always shine on the street. TH is a good choice for this type of power band or complimenting (i should say) a motor built for that. Even a bone stock motor with stage 1 the mid range comes on very nice... not to mention they sound bad ***.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 417
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio, Texas
What exactly is the baffle mod? I haven't heard about this one..
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 1,170
From: Northern Colorado
If you look into the end of the pipe, just past the diffuser you've see a little square baffle in there. Changing the shape of those can change the power a little. Mine had the dreaded 2k dip, I bent, tweaked and generally just kinda guessed how to shape with some long needle nose pliers until I got that dip to smooth out. It never went totally away on mine, but I've seen it on others go completely away. Like the turned primaries, kicked up collector and reinforced brackets and front pipe that end users all do to make the pipe better, this too is something Rich Products should start doing at the factory to bring their goods up to par. That being said they still are the go-to pipe for sound and power no matter the faults.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 417
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio, Texas
If you look into the end of the pipe, just past the diffuser you've see a little square baffle in there. Changing the shape of those can change the power a little. Mine had the dreaded 2k dip, I bent, tweaked and generally just kinda guessed how to shape with some long needle nose pliers until I got that dip to smooth out. It never went totally away on mine, but I've seen it on others go completely away. Like the turned primaries, kicked up collector and reinforced brackets and front pipe that end users all do to make the pipe better, this too is something Rich Products should start doing at the factory to bring their goods up to par. That being said they still are the go-to pipe for sound and power no matter the faults.
lol
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 50
From: Rouses Point, N.Y.
Did not modify mine until it was getting tuned on the dyno. Ended up using a long flat bar and folding in the four sides of the square baffle towards the outside of muffler body. And than ran up on dyno and torque increased . recommend if just playing with baffle to start by only bending two sides of baffle.
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