New 2011 Wide Glide
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: australind
all comments very true, an excellent bike to ride and look at, i went with just the straight black and changed the stock exhaust to the vance and hines big radius, very nice note i must say, and looks the part like you said. i changed quite a few things before purchase all the controls grips levers mirrors and pegs, i went with the edge cut billet series, put the screaming eagle heavy breather on also and the billet cover, mods are an addiction and a costly obsession , enjoy it
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 8
From: Georgia
Thanks All for the encouraging words.
Looks like rain or freezing temps for the next couple of days. That seems to be par for the course.
On a positive note, sounds like my pipes are shipping out today. So, I should see them early next week. Hopefully Ill get them in time for a few rides before all of my upcoming travel.
I am also going to try something new with this bike, in hopes that I am able to put on a few more miles. I picked up a new full face helmet. I know that its not the Harley style, but Ive pressed my luck long enough, and its time to do the responsible thing. Additionally, my future wife (FW) will be riding the Nightster. In an effort to not be a hypocrite, I too will be donning a helmet when we ride.
Ive got a SENA SMH-10 installed, so that we can talk while we ride. I think thatll come in handy for her, being new to riding. Its linked up to my phone via Bluetooth, so I also have Rhapsody on the ride. They were a little spendy, but totally worth it for the added convenience that they offer. The helmet is pretty sweet, and I guess I am beyond the point where I am really concerned about my image while riding. It is flat black if that earns me any cool points
Looks like rain or freezing temps for the next couple of days. That seems to be par for the course.
On a positive note, sounds like my pipes are shipping out today. So, I should see them early next week. Hopefully Ill get them in time for a few rides before all of my upcoming travel.
I am also going to try something new with this bike, in hopes that I am able to put on a few more miles. I picked up a new full face helmet. I know that its not the Harley style, but Ive pressed my luck long enough, and its time to do the responsible thing. Additionally, my future wife (FW) will be riding the Nightster. In an effort to not be a hypocrite, I too will be donning a helmet when we ride.
Ive got a SENA SMH-10 installed, so that we can talk while we ride. I think thatll come in handy for her, being new to riding. Its linked up to my phone via Bluetooth, so I also have Rhapsody on the ride. They were a little spendy, but totally worth it for the added convenience that they offer. The helmet is pretty sweet, and I guess I am beyond the point where I am really concerned about my image while riding. It is flat black if that earns me any cool points
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 210
From: St. Louis, MO
Picked up mine last Thursday. Over 300 miles on it now, most of those were done this past Saturday doing a partial of one of my favorite rides, the Mississippi River road up by Alton and Grafton Il.
I do miss the stop light acceleration of the Sporty and its nimbleness in the twisties. I was pretty surprised to already drag my exhaust a little on the Dyna. I do however not miss the Sportie's narrow seat and beating I would take with rougher roads.
I've only done one "mod" so far and that was to install a saddle shield to block the heat from the engine. I blistered my right inner thigh on the original ride home from the dealer. I think my leg was coming too close to the rear jug. Just seems like I have just the right length of leg for that to be a problem. The saddle shield took care of that though. Of course this morning I rode to work and it was about 35 - 40 degrees, so a little heat would have been welcome.
I've also ordered a set of mini-floorboards and an extended brake pad for the rear brakes to make it a little easier for me to get my foot on it. Those should hopefully go on this weekend.
I'm torn between buying a set of slip ons now or waiting and just putting on the V&H big radius 2 to 2. That seemed like it was going to cost a little south of $2000 when I got checked it at the dealer. That may have to wait till the end of the summer. I'm also worried that it may end up being to loud for the garage I park in at work. They will kick me out if it sets off multiple car alarms constantly. I love riding to work daily so I may have to go with a quieter set of pipes.
I do miss the stop light acceleration of the Sporty and its nimbleness in the twisties. I was pretty surprised to already drag my exhaust a little on the Dyna. I do however not miss the Sportie's narrow seat and beating I would take with rougher roads.
I've only done one "mod" so far and that was to install a saddle shield to block the heat from the engine. I blistered my right inner thigh on the original ride home from the dealer. I think my leg was coming too close to the rear jug. Just seems like I have just the right length of leg for that to be a problem. The saddle shield took care of that though. Of course this morning I rode to work and it was about 35 - 40 degrees, so a little heat would have been welcome.
I've also ordered a set of mini-floorboards and an extended brake pad for the rear brakes to make it a little easier for me to get my foot on it. Those should hopefully go on this weekend.
I'm torn between buying a set of slip ons now or waiting and just putting on the V&H big radius 2 to 2. That seemed like it was going to cost a little south of $2000 when I got checked it at the dealer. That may have to wait till the end of the summer. I'm also worried that it may end up being to loud for the garage I park in at work. They will kick me out if it sets off multiple car alarms constantly. I love riding to work daily so I may have to go with a quieter set of pipes.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 8
From: Georgia
Whoa… I just paid $559 with free shipping for my pipes. I would think that if you can change oil, you can change pipes. There really is not much to it. You must be quoting a price for exhaust, air cleaner, installation, and ECM work.
My plan is just to put the pipes on and see how it goes. I need to check the O2 sensor harness to see if I can make up an extension harness that I can monitor with a DVOM. I’d like to get some O2 voltage readings with OE exhaust and compare those to the V&H exhaust after an hour of operation. If the voltage (and corresponding air/fuel ratio) change is insignificant, I will not worry about the download or tuner. I’ll let everyone know how I make out on that, as I am having a hard time finding any empirical data on the subject…
My plan is just to put the pipes on and see how it goes. I need to check the O2 sensor harness to see if I can make up an extension harness that I can monitor with a DVOM. I’d like to get some O2 voltage readings with OE exhaust and compare those to the V&H exhaust after an hour of operation. If the voltage (and corresponding air/fuel ratio) change is insignificant, I will not worry about the download or tuner. I’ll let everyone know how I make out on that, as I am having a hard time finding any empirical data on the subject…
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Sherman, TX
With the big radius pipes I set off nearly every car alarm I ride by in an indoor parking garage. You might want to go with slip on's Dan, but then again I would bet most of them will set off the alarms as well.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 210
From: St. Louis, MO
I could install the pipes myself for sure if it didn't mess up warranties. I could count on one hand the times I've paid a mechanic to work on my vehcles and have some fingers left over. Had a transmission shop go through a transmission I bought out of a wreck and replace the seals. Installed that myself, though idiot that I am, didn't go ahead and replace the clutch at the same time on a car with over 100,000 miles. Of course two weeks later Murphy's law kicked in and the clutch wore out and I got to pull go through that all over again. I also broke down and paid somebody to replace the coil springs and shocks in my last Mustang, mainly out of not wanting to attempt it in a parking lot with out the proper tools, and I have to admit a little laziness too.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 210
From: St. Louis, MO
Thanks All for the encouraging words.
I am also going to try something new with this bike, in hopes that I am able to put on a few more miles. I picked up a new full face helmet. I know that it’s not the Harley style, but I’ve pressed my luck long enough, and it’s time to do the responsible thing. Additionally, my future wife (FW) will be riding the Nightster. In an effort to not be a hypocrite, I too will be donning a helmet when we ride.
I am also going to try something new with this bike, in hopes that I am able to put on a few more miles. I picked up a new full face helmet. I know that it’s not the Harley style, but I’ve pressed my luck long enough, and it’s time to do the responsible thing. Additionally, my future wife (FW) will be riding the Nightster. In an effort to not be a hypocrite, I too will be donning a helmet when we ride.
Last edited by Dan28; May 4, 2011 at 11:38 AM.
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Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 8
From: Georgia
Yeah that quote was for ordering and letting the dealer do everything including the Stage 1 AC, and a tuner. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to them right then as I was just killing time while they went over my Sportie trying to figure what they were going to give me for it. The price was probably around $1600 - $1700 but I don't remember which.
I could install the pipes myself for sure if it didn't mess up warranties. I could count on one hand the times I've paid a mechanic to work on my vehcles and have some fingers left over. Had a transmission shop go through a transmission I bought out of a wreck and replace the seals. Installed that myself, though idiot that I am, didn't go ahead and replace the clutch at the same time on a car with over 100,000 miles. Of course two weeks later Murphy's law kicked in and the clutch wore out and I got to pull go through that all over again. I also broke down and paid somebody to replace the coil springs and shocks in my last Mustang, mainly out of not wanting to attempt it in a parking lot with out the proper tools, and I have to admit a little laziness too.
I could install the pipes myself for sure if it didn't mess up warranties. I could count on one hand the times I've paid a mechanic to work on my vehcles and have some fingers left over. Had a transmission shop go through a transmission I bought out of a wreck and replace the seals. Installed that myself, though idiot that I am, didn't go ahead and replace the clutch at the same time on a car with over 100,000 miles. Of course two weeks later Murphy's law kicked in and the clutch wore out and I got to pull go through that all over again. I also broke down and paid somebody to replace the coil springs and shocks in my last Mustang, mainly out of not wanting to attempt it in a parking lot with out the proper tools, and I have to admit a little laziness too.
Pulled the trans out my GF's '01 4WD Dodge diesel, disassembled, inspected, repaired, rebuilt, and reinstalled. All in all, it was probably a 10 hour job and cost about $800. To have had a shop do it would have been somewhere between $3500-$5000. In addition, we used all ATS parts, so it's a beast now. However, I must say that there is nothing quite like the feeling of finding the front servo pin retaining plug underneath your parts tray after the trans is reinstalled. So, I guess the total labor hours were more like 13 (after the additional 3 hours to remove, install the plug, and reinstall the trans).
Would a pro have missed the plug? Probably not. Would they have pulled the trans to reinstall it if they did miss it? Probably not.
I used to spin wrenches for an indie on Harleys back in the day too. They are surprisingly simple machines. But, now I'm an engineer by education, and a manager by pure happenstance. So, I don't get too much time to spin wrenches anymore.
...I still can't wait to get those pipes on.
