Mods 101: Slip-ons vs. Full systems
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Stage IV
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Mods 101: Slip-ons vs. Full systems
I think that title was probably a little misleading, as anybody clicking here to read might have been expecting some great sage-like advice from some old and wise HD guru. Sorry to disappoint you, friends--completely not the case. I'm a new Harley owner, (moderately experienced bike rider), and I'm actually looking for that great sage-like advice from the old and wise HD gurus out there.
I'm totally on board with making yourself heard as well as seen on the road, regardless if you're on a race replica or cruiser. A friend from work was telling me that as a "newbie", one of the quickest and easiest modifications to get a little boost in performance and sound is to get a better air filter and slip-ons. I just finished installing a K&N RK-3910 on my 2011 Fat Boy--a little curious about how the now-oversized OEM cover is going to interact--and I'm waiting for my Vance & Hines Straight Shots that should hopefully be arriving by mail tomorrow. As my friend and I were screen-shopping on Amazon, he mentioned something that I wanted to bounce off the general public here. By no means am I suggesting that my friend doesn't know what he's talking about, so please don't mistake my curiosity for a lack of confidence.
In a nutshell, with everything electronically fuel-injected, CPU power-managed, factory-tuned, and whatever other wonders of modern technology that I can't speak intelligently about yet, just how big of a difference will replacing a stock exhaust system afford a precision motor like HD's 96-inch'ers besides looks?
I'm not at all against doing a full system replacement in the future. I will be the first to admit, however, that I'm dangerously ignorant on exhaust systems besides what I've learned on Discovery Motors--
"..if a car/truck/motorcycle can breathe better, it'll perform better."
Thanks guys,
-the newbie
I'm totally on board with making yourself heard as well as seen on the road, regardless if you're on a race replica or cruiser. A friend from work was telling me that as a "newbie", one of the quickest and easiest modifications to get a little boost in performance and sound is to get a better air filter and slip-ons. I just finished installing a K&N RK-3910 on my 2011 Fat Boy--a little curious about how the now-oversized OEM cover is going to interact--and I'm waiting for my Vance & Hines Straight Shots that should hopefully be arriving by mail tomorrow. As my friend and I were screen-shopping on Amazon, he mentioned something that I wanted to bounce off the general public here. By no means am I suggesting that my friend doesn't know what he's talking about, so please don't mistake my curiosity for a lack of confidence.
In a nutshell, with everything electronically fuel-injected, CPU power-managed, factory-tuned, and whatever other wonders of modern technology that I can't speak intelligently about yet, just how big of a difference will replacing a stock exhaust system afford a precision motor like HD's 96-inch'ers besides looks?
I'm not at all against doing a full system replacement in the future. I will be the first to admit, however, that I'm dangerously ignorant on exhaust systems besides what I've learned on Discovery Motors--
"..if a car/truck/motorcycle can breathe better, it'll perform better."
Thanks guys,
-the newbie
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
a new breather, slipons and a stage 1 remap should get you 5-10 more hp. if you went with a full exhaust instead of slip-ons you might get another 5-10hp depending on the system. 2-1 exhoausts usually perform a little better than duals.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
"Factory tuned" is not a good thing. Bikes off the line have to meet certain EPA and street legal standards and in Cali they can't go over 4 mph (or something to that effect). Do a couple of easy mods then get a new download or a tuner.
There's lots of good info here to read on this including specific exhausts to look into. But basically, yes it will make a difference depending on what difference you want to make. If you want performance and sound a 2-1 pipe will make the biggest difference.
Get a new air intake while you're at it. As you stated if it can breathe better... Lots of good info on here for that as well.
Then ride and enjoy and never look back at this site again. Otherwise you will constantly be changing and modifying things, you will go broke and your wife will leave you.
There's lots of good info here to read on this including specific exhausts to look into. But basically, yes it will make a difference depending on what difference you want to make. If you want performance and sound a 2-1 pipe will make the biggest difference.
Get a new air intake while you're at it. As you stated if it can breathe better... Lots of good info on here for that as well.
Then ride and enjoy and never look back at this site again. Otherwise you will constantly be changing and modifying things, you will go broke and your wife will leave you.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chi-town
"Get a new air intake while you're at it. As you stated if it can breathe better... Lots of good info on here for that as well.
Then ride and enjoy and never look back at this site again. Otherwise you will constantly be changing and modifying things, you will go broke and your wife will leave you.
Then ride and enjoy and never look back at this site again. Otherwise you will constantly be changing and modifying things, you will go broke and your wife will leave you.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
After I had the stg1 done and added the sert and dynoed, I picked up 7hp and 3#'s of tq.
got more HP from the dyno tune, than what the A/C and pipes did..
by doing both U should look into a F/M system. or U'll be really lean on Ur A/F ratio.
got more HP from the dyno tune, than what the A/C and pipes did..
by doing both U should look into a F/M system. or U'll be really lean on Ur A/F ratio.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
I have the same "issue" with my '10 fatboy. Would like to get a new breather and the vance and hines slip on's, then I need to take it to the dealer to remap it. It was easier on the sportster I had. I just ripped the factory exhaust off and put the drag pipes on and rejetted the carb. I prolly only had $300 in the mods and it ran and sounded awesome. I'm not ready to dump another $1000 in the new bike. Well I'm ready, I'm just not ready to listen to the wife complain about it.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: VA
Full system for the win...
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 3
pondering all the same issues.....and learning much from the conversation.
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