All major manufactures are now mandated by the EPA to include a "catalyst" into their pipes so they can be 49 state compliant and or street legal. Getting closer to stock Harley exhausts sounds. (Basically neutering our headers and pipes) V&H calls it their PCX system. This existing models that were manufactured prior to 2022 or21 did not have the PCX system. (Thats what I was looking for) Now from a performance stand point, theoretically there should be no power loss, but it definitely dummied up the sound and tone. I compared it too two 2016 fatboy each with a stage 1 kit. One had the PCX the other did not. Night and day difference IMHO. The non PCX such had a "RAP" to like an old Harley. Can hear it for blocks away. The engine felt like is was breathing easier and the air flow was unrestricted. The PCX version not that is was quiet per-ce, but the decibel levels dropped quite a bit and I didn’t get that feel of unrestricted air flow like I did on the previous test. Kinda lost its soul. This is a laymen’s explanation, but I’m sure theres guys here that can probably articulate it with a bit more flare. So in a nut shell, big brother wants’ us to sound like a moped at the end of the day and take the fun out of it all.

 

This is testing on a 114 Heritage, with the SE447 TQ cam, SE tuner, and V&H PCX Big Radius. Red is with baffle and welded on cat slug, blue is just the 1/2 baffle, cat portion removed.