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

Short shots suck?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 03:17 PM
  #11  
deez nuts's Avatar
deez nuts
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 592
Likes: 57
From: PA
Default

So if i run a S&S 510G cam and stage 2 ported heads with oversized valves do the short shots suck? (no baffles) The power up high it rips like theres cocaine in the gas tank and i dont wanna lose that. However the bike sees more street time then track time so maybe longer drag pipes (57" long) or a 2 into 1 system is the way to go. The 2 into 1 system that im interested in is Thunderheader. Watched some youtube videos and seems like the thunderheader sounds pretty good. Just wanna make sure i dont give up much power when the engine is singing at 5,500. The bike has lots of power now but i think the pipes are holding me from "pretty fast" to "Holy ****"... Thoughts?
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 03:37 PM
  #12  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Thunderheader is a good pick; very good pipe.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 04:12 PM
  #13  
deez nuts's Avatar
deez nuts
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 592
Likes: 57
From: PA
Default

thunderheader seems like a great pipe, not crazy about the looks but usually the bike is a blurr anyway
wheres the cheapest place to buy it? I found it online for $489.99 but then you also gotta get heat shields for another $150.00ish. Would it look that shitty or have any problems without the heat shields?
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 04:52 PM
  #14  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by deez nuts
thunderheader seems like a great pipe, not crazy about the looks but usually the bike is a blurr anyway
wheres the cheapest place to buy it? I found it online for $489.99 but then you also gotta get heat shields for another $150.00ish. Would it look that shitty or have any problems without the heat shields?
I hate heat shields and don't run them but then again, both my bikes are covered in bug guts most of the time.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 05:23 PM
  #15  
deez nuts's Avatar
deez nuts
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 592
Likes: 57
From: PA
Default

I wish i could find a pic of chrome thunderheader 2 into 1 that dont have heat shields on it. I saw them on ebay for a little less then 600
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 06:16 PM
  #16  
deez nuts's Avatar
deez nuts
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 592
Likes: 57
From: PA
Default

I stumbled across these pipes by patriot performance. I dont dig the style entirely but the price seems really good. I wonder how they perform.
http://www.patriotpipes.com/pipes.html
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 08:10 PM
  #17  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Stop shopping for the lowest price; get the T-header. Install it without heat shields and if you don't like the look, save some coin and buy the heat shields. I don't know anyone running Patriot pipes; you get what you pay for. The T-header has been at the top of the heap for a long time; a know producer.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2012 | 08:46 PM
  #18  
deez nuts's Avatar
deez nuts
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 592
Likes: 57
From: PA
Default

I dont wanna just buy the cheapest piece of **** out there thats for sure, def looking for a known performer like you said. But the fact is that the Thunderheader cost more then my first car (which i still own) lol. the patriot seems like a decent pipe and would be a step up from my short shots that i have now. If you look at the website it used to be around 850 and now for some reason is less then half that. why i do not know but that means at one point it wasnt the cheapsest out there by far. Bottom line is i dont have much money so i gotta choose what is the best VALUE not what is just the overall best for the bike. Of course i could always try selling crack to make some extra scratch lol jk of course
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 31, 2012 | 10:27 AM
  #19  
JohnC FXDX's Avatar
JohnC FXDX
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 3
From: West New york, NJ
Default

Keep searching the classifieds here for a used one. You can then sell your short shots to offset the cost. Also, the reason tour bike seems like it screams on the top end with a giant kick in the *** is due to the lack of low end power they make. With a 2-1, the power will be more linear. You won't feel that surge at 4,000+ anymore. Trust me though, it will be quicker throughout. That is what I experienced when I switched over from drag pipes. Racing a buddies bike proved that the 2-1 is quicker off the line.
 
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2012 | 10:42 AM
  #20  
Scrmnvtwins's Avatar
Scrmnvtwins
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Default

I put alot of miles on my bikes, never had 1 less than 70 k Mi. Liked the drag pipes on my 81 Big Twin shovel when I was younger, sounded cool. After some time I added a spud to each pipe to keep the ears from ringing and later added another set of spuds, (2 in each pipe) to make the ride a litttle more enjoyable. Moved on to my first Evo Big Twin and did not want to repeat the ear ringing of the past so replaced the mufflers with SEII and left the X-Over. Now I ride Glides with V&H true duals and Monster Ovals, Monster Rounds and Power Duals. Bottom line is I get all the power I need and can still hear the radio. What was important 30 years ago no longer applies.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:02 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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