I just bought my 1st motorcycle/Harley over the summer and I like to do some upgrades/stage1. I know I need a free flowing air cleaner and a tuner and exhaust. My question is the exhaust, Do I need to do the entire exhaust or just the mufflers? If I need to do the entire exhaust how do you know what is the right one for you? I looked online and was able to listen to some of them but that wasn't really any help. Was looking at the Vance and hines short shots. Right now I'm just going over the bike and checking everything making sure everything tight and at the right torque specs and going through the manual and learning about the bike itself so I will be able to perform most of the maintenance myself.

 

If you are not familiar with pipes and you want to know about the "sound" of them, the internet is not a very good source because the sound is never right, IMO.

If you need to learn about the different pipes, etc, I would look up some local bike events in your area and check out the bikes, pipes, and sounds, etc.

Either that, or just look through all the forums here and choose some base upon looks preference with your bike. You can always mess with baffles later.

 

Thanks Snoopy, Yeah thats what i figured, its winter here on the east coast and not a whole lot going on as far as events. Maybe I'll just save the pipes for last thing on my list. BTW..I like your sig, just seen them here in Philly last month, great show.

 

Hey, Kevin 1169, Don't be so hasty with the exhaust. Look at Screaming Eagle II slash cut exhaust replacement mufflers. They sound and look good. Don't underestimate the flow of the stock exhaust with them. They will handle Stage 2. Two by two exhausts with a crossover always flow better. Next, just get the stage 1 Harley breather. It works good and is probably better than a K&N. No need to mess with a tunner realy for Stage 1. Your stock system should work just fine, if not let your dealer upgrade it. These should be the least expensive and best Stage 1 changes. In the wind.

Pops

 

Hey Kevin, go where the bikes are and listen up. Ask questions about what your hearing. most people are willing to talk about what their running.

 

I was just in your boat. I bought a 2011 Street Bob over the summer. Slip ons will be cheaper than replacing the entire exhaust. My biggest shock was the install price from the dealer. Well 2 weeks ago I installed my own. Its not real bad. I bought the Vance & Hines big shots staggered. I got the quiet baffles which really only makes them quiet by 2 decibels it makes a more deeper sound.
I used a power vision for the tuner and bought it all from fuel moto. I like the sound real good.

 

What i would do is buy a full system. Yea you will spend more now but in the long run you will be happier and save money. I wound up buying slipons from the dealer at 300 bucks. Had them on for about 500 miles and knew i wanted a full exhaust. I would up selling them, dirt cheap, and buying my V&H Big Shots for 400 with free shipping from Dennis Kirk. They were having a big sale one day and i picked them up. Now if i would of just waited and not bought the slipons i would of saved money in the long run. Also had the dealer do the stage 1 download for 150 bucks. Another waste since i now have a tuner.

 

You could always pick up a used set here on the Forum Classifieds. Grab a set of gaskets and install them yourself. Thats half the fun. Congrats on your new Scoot.

 

yeah i second getting the full exhaust system. If you want to do a stage one and you are going to do a free breathing AC then youll want a free breathing exhaust. LIke pontiac69 said youll end up wanting them anyhow as time goes on. trust me i did it, i had cycle shack slip ons for the longest time thinking that would be it considering they sounded great. However i got the Stage 1 AC and wanted a deeper louder exhaust. Its up too you my friend but my opinion would be to just go for it and get full pipes along with the AC and some sort of Tuner

 

Maybe I missed it, but what are you riding? Some of the Softails have a balance tube between the mufflers, if yours does you would be better off with slip ons and retain the stock system with the balance tube. It will sound better and perform like a 2-1 system and better then a complete exhaust, unless it is equiped with a balance tube or chamber.