Exhaust System Topics New and old exhaust system discussions. Fitment issues to sound bites and suggestions. Post them here.

Best exhaust to reduce heat

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 27, 2018 | 08:13 AM
  #1  
dviljoen's Avatar
dviljoen
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: TX
Default Best exhaust to reduce heat

I've been reading through all of the posts about 2-into-1 vs. true duals and the tradeoffs there. But I have an 03 Ultra with stock exhaust and mufflers. My biggest concern is heat. This thing is brutal. And I live in TX, so.... yeah.

I bought the bike used about 3 years ago and had the electric keep cutting out on me. I discovered that the heat from the Y pipe had basically trashed the leads going to the main jumper which is right behind it. This is apparently not uncommon as I found the solution in a forum post. But the heat that radiates up from the Y pipe just kills me. I also have a 99 FXR2 with V&H long shots, and have no problem with heat like this bike.

I'm not an adrenaline junkie so the performance gain would be nice, but not a huge priority. I like the look of duals. I really wouldn't mind better sound (low rumble). But the biggest concern is heat. Which way to go?
 
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2018 | 08:30 AM
  #2  
Screamin beagle's Avatar
Screamin beagle
Seasoned HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
Default

Look for something that's ceramic coated on the inside...helps keep the heat on the inside which speeds up the velocity of the exhaust gases. The other thing thst will help with heat is a good tune
 
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2018 | 11:29 AM
  #3  
dfwhockey17's Avatar
dfwhockey17
Outstanding HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

The S&S Power Tune dual head pipes run the rear cylinder pipe under the bike like the '09+ bikes to alleviate the heat build up directly under the seat. This will make the bike feel more like your softy from a heat perspective...
 
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2018 | 08:54 AM
  #4  
dviljoen's Avatar
dviljoen
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: TX
Default

Thanks. Those answers help a lot actually. I think I'm going to look into a tuner first and see what difference it makes as that seems the cheapest route. Other than that, I've found a 2-into-1 exhaust which is ceramic coated if the tuning doesn't help enough. Its much cheaper than true duals.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 12:12 PM
  #5  
marcodarq's Avatar
marcodarq
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,822
Likes: 1,170
From: florida
Default

check the tune first and get that in order,,,,but if you are pretty sure that you want to change the pipe, do that first than get it tuned in correctly. i have an 04 FLHTCUI and when i switched from the stock system to a VH Propipe i noticed a dramatic difference in how much heat i was feeling. got none on the left, due to the 2-1 design and the right side was dramatically better also, but keep in mind that the tune was good, a bad tune will make even a 2-1 feel hot on the right side.
m
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
yank721
Exhaust System Topics
1
Jul 23, 2016 09:07 AM
Skippy97
Touring Models
3
Mar 29, 2015 04:14 PM
sbeast
Touring Models
2
Jun 23, 2014 05:25 PM
phatmattxx90
Touring Models
3
Aug 3, 2009 10:54 AM
Fish Slapper
General Harley Davidson Chat
1
Mar 25, 2008 01:22 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:40 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE