Exhaust: looks/sound vs. performance

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 25, 2021 | 12:40 PM

#11

KC 15

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2020

Posts: 230

Likes: 88

From: Spain

You have one of the best looking FXDLS in the forum .

Why would you put a ,”maybe not ugly “ but definitely not good looking exhaust on it? ( even it gives you a little more power)

Go for the Red Thunder

Apr 25, 2021 | 01:25 PM

#12

Mchad

Thread Starter

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 10,734

Likes: 3,755

From: SWFL

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC 15

Well, the problem is, it's more than just a little more power. It's an immediately noticeable, from idle all the way up, substantial seat of the pants increase. I mean, just letting out the clutch this morning, I said: "****..."

And with all the time, effort and money I spent on the performance aspects of this machine, to throw away HP and torque it tough for me... If I never put the RTX on it, I'd happily ride along. Now that I know how the RTX feels, its tough to just put it on the shelf. Besides, I burned through three sets of cometic race exhaust gaskets and I don't have any left! So the RTX stays for a little while now at least!

I took the Red Thunder back off this morning and went for a couple hours with the RTX and it is really amazing the performance increase. Like I said. Hard to ignore...

Last edited by Mchad; Apr 25, 2021 at 04:42 PM.

Apr 25, 2021 | 04:05 PM

#13

Mchad

Thread Starter

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 10,734

Likes: 3,755

From: SWFL

Looking at my own responses it seems pretty clear that my Spock brain is winning over my Kirk brain (I guess having the hot girl at home satisfies that need...?) and the performance of the "not quite as cool looking or sounding pipe" may be winning.

But just for fun, here are a couple quick videos of a ride with the RTX earlier today and one of the RT for comparison. The RT clip is a little more aggressive acceleration then the rest, so keep that in mind.

RTX from a light

RTX Tooling around a bit

RTX getting on interstate

RT Pulling away hard from a light

And lastly, here's just another one of our typical Florida drivers. In fact not a bad as some since it managed to stay on the road and not ending up in a canal or someone's living room...

I don't get how those youtube regulars get such good audio while riding. My audio always sounds like canned **** no matter what I use to record it... Oh well.

Last edited by Mchad; Apr 25, 2021 at 04:43 PM.

Apr 25, 2021 | 04:33 PM

#14

Mchad

Thread Starter

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 10,734

Likes: 3,755

From: SWFL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98hotrodfatboy

On the RTX, what is the size of the collector? And can you post a pic of the pipe without the heat shields?
Also what size are the primary's on the Red Thunder?
Thanx..

2.5” collector on the RTX. Re the Red Thunder - luckily you asked me that on my thread in the pipe because I doubt they would respond to me now, after I flamed them for a few months while they double-talked about the availability of their heat shields...
Anyway, this is what they responded to your question: “The collectors 1,75 inch they emerged into 2,3 inch.”

I don’t have a photo w/o the heat shield.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul-S

I would go with the one that makes more power and makes less noise.
Is that RXT a drop in item?

No, Jamie made it custom. However he hinted that they may be making a new Softail and later Dyna pipe based on the RTX tech.

Apr 25, 2021 | 05:35 PM

#15

TOE_CUTTER

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2017

Posts: 815

Likes: 292

From: Uptown Bay Area, Cali

Appearance wise, RT all the way. The primaries on the RT are too long. It would take what I did, getting a burns collector and modifying the exhaust, shortening it up until you found the best power on the dyno. No matter what, while I understand it is convenient while you are swapping out parts, a dyno tune with a "good" operator is going to make a huge difference in the power delivery and throttle response in comparison to an autotune. While doing the multitude of mods to my bike, there was a couple of times, while breaking in the motor, the builder put in a "close enough" tune. I felt a huge difference after it was properly tuned. I get the autotune though, and again, it's convenience, but it is a far cry from maximum output. For plug and play guys, it appears the other exhaust wins the butt dyno

for power on your specific combo.

Dave

Apr 25, 2021 | 06:40 PM

#16

Suede Blue Man

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 4,761

Likes: 954

From: Out West

Sounds great, makes more power, you gotta keep it, just ride it at night in the dark and ride the RGS in the daylight

Apr 25, 2021 | 06:44 PM

#17

Mchad

Thread Starter

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 10,734

Likes: 3,755

From: SWFL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suede Blue Man

Sounds great, makes more power, you gotta keep it, just ride it at night in the dark and ride the RGS in the daylight

LOL that’s funny. But I still hate you for putting the idea of the bobcat in my head...

Apr 25, 2021 | 07:18 PM

#18

Suede Blue Man

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 4,761

Likes: 954

From: Out West

My 107" dyno'ed at 126hp/124tq and I wouldn't be surprised if say a FatCat made a few more numbers or the pipe you have there but the Bobcat has a certain je ne sais quoi that is perfect for me and it's fit and finish is first class.

It's not an easy day of riding with a Bobcat, people always wanting to have you pull over and take pictures of you and the bike, the autographs, the constant hounding by women and the jealousy of the men; ah, what can I say, it can be exhausting!

And that's not even bringing up it's perfect tone; no, you have made the right choice