Hmmmm! used Propipe, used Propipe muffler, HD stock exhaust, cut off wheel, mig welder equals low budget 2-1 with a true dual look. See my sig and pictures in the albums section, worked out well.

 

2 into 1 is your best perf choice as you know. I am a believer a bagger should have duals also and prefer the tone(sound). A good compromse would be to invest in a set of true duals that have a balance tube between the 2 sides and adjust your muffler baffle size accordingly to the side with the high or low volume to keep system balanced.

 

In order to keep this as brief as possible (I have questions.) I won't acknowledge everyone that replied, but I have read and considered all opinions offered and really appreciate the fact that you all chimed in, thank you.
With the input provided I believe that I'm down to a decision between a 2 into 1 set-up, or keeping either my entire existing exhaust as is, if it performs well, or adding slip ons if something additional needs to be done.
I love the sound of True Duals, but not enough to pay a performance price for them.

Mike (MKGuitar), Lots of good comments and thought offered, thank you.

I lean a lot in your direction but due to compression tests by myself, then by my local indie who also did a leakdown test for me it does appear that next years mods will include at least some head work, and due to a 125 psi reading on both barrels he said that it would not hurt to hone & re-ring, or if necssary go up to the next over-size.
This is where it goes a little deeper, while we are in the area he said Lifters and Pushrods, pretty much a given, from this site a metal breather gear sounds right as well, new bearings and gaskets also a given, and at this point my indie said "Look, EVO's like higher compression and I'm recommending 10:1. They do not sacrifice reliability, or driveability and they will do well with your total change package, and along with it an Andrew 27 cam matches up with these changes, and again this is very streetable and reliable."
So how do you determine if your exhaust system is a good match to your bike? What clues should I look for when evaluating the entire package? Multiple dyno runs could get expensive.

miacycles, read the RB Racings info with great interest and it's not yet out of the question depending on my stock system (Though I'm a sucker for Duals.) What is the sound level for these? I suspect that anything done to change (Tone down) the sound is a performance killer so as they arrive is probably as they should be run.

Bagger, Love you bike, really nice job. Your solution intriques me. I tried looking up Propipe and ended up on the Vance & Hines site. Did not really see how you did your pipes. You "said" H-D stock exhaust with Propipe muffler. I'm starting to think that you used an entire 2 into 1 system, then hung the cut off left side stock pipe down and put a slip on onto that "Ghost" pipe. Correct?

When it's all said and done I am wrestling with how much do I give up by keeping the stock system, or by using the stock pipes, with performance Slip-ons. And as noted in my message to Mike, how do I tell that there is a need for something other than my opened up stock mufflers?

 

"With the input provided I believe that I'm down to a decision between a 2 into 1 set-up, or keeping either my entire existing exhaust as is, if it performs well, or adding slip ons if something additional needs to be done.
I love the sound of True Duals, but not enough to pay a performance price for them."

If you love the sound of True Duals and don't want to suffer a performance issue, you might want to consider the MGS True Duals. They provide a pretty significant power gain and give you the looks and sound benefits of True Duals. Hope you find the right exhaust. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

You nailed it, right side is a 2-1 Propipe and left side is a stock Harley pipe, it can be cut off at the welds on the right pipe and leaves a flange that can be clamped with the stock clamps onto the Propipe, clamps goes under the outer Propipe chrome cover and hard to detect if you take your time on fitting, the HD stock pipe has a slip joint that aids to adjustment and a simple pipe adapter from Autozone mates the pipe to the Propipe muffler, have around $300 in the setup.

Welded a angle bracket and mounted the left pipe to a bracket off the starter for added strength and third season coming up, will be honest with you, had Rinehart TD's on it and they sound alittle better at normal riding than the Propipe but performance goes hands down to the 2-1 and wide open goes to the Propipe in sound.

They make a D&D 2-1 Fatcat and a Thunderheader with ghost pipes but selling a kidney is needed for that purchase

 

MGS,
I did run across your site while doing my homework. These look nice, but my bike is a 1989, your site states that the product is for bikes 1995 and up, and I'll admit that I have some confusion about what I can use.

What I think I know"
I can use all pipes and slip-ons for products listed for 1984 to 1995.
I can use slip-ons for 1995-2009 if I cut a ring off my header pipes

I MAY be able to use complete systems for 1995-2009 which include replacing the header pipes to the newer model years.

If this is true I don't understand why the ads do not state can be used from 1984 onward when they are offering new header pipe systems, or if some mods are required, why they do not state that "With some additional modifications these pipes can be used on ....Blah, blah, blah."

My hope is that someone with intimate knowledge will chime in and verify or clear this up. I'm sure that I am not the only one confused by this.
Thanks.

 

RaSh, the system I currently have on my 1990 FLHS is for 2008 bikes (see below). Went straight on with no hiccups. My indy recommended that version as it has O2 holes and he likes to use them when setting up on the dyno, then fitted blanks when done.

I can't answer your query about advertisers. If you want a 2-into-1 buy a SuperMeg! You may have to use a different clamp at the trans door mount, but you should be fine. I used a couple of stainless hose clamps.

 

Rash,
You seem to have a pretty good idea of what is correct. What you think you know is what I also think I know (can't call it 100% truth as not sure on every model, but from experience seems to be true on all of them). For your particular bike, you would need to modify the transmission brackets and you would be good to go. Hope this helps. Reason we don't state earlier than 1995 is that there usually is some small modifications to make them fit, but they will usually fit.

 

I have an '89 also and am interested in what the modification to the transmission brackets would entail.

 

One of the reasons the exhaust fitment cuts off is the earlier ones use a "flanged muffler" with a coresponding clamp. Later models use a slip on with a clamp like most automobiles.
RB Racing makes kore than one pipe for most applications. You can get a loud one (more for competition)
or one that is (more for street) quieter. Talk to them they can help