First, let me say that I'm no mechanic at all. I have no clue about how to do stuff, so I have to have someone else do everything for me. And I have to rely on the advice of others, too.

That said, when people talk about changing out the air filter, changing the pipes and adding Power Commander, is it really necessary to change the pipes?

I understand the part about the air filter providing more air. I understand what the Power Commander does. I understand what taking out the catalytic converter does.

But everyone talks about the louder sound of the new pipes. I don't want louder sound. I'm happy with my stock sound. And new mufflers cost even more money.

If I do the other stuff and add, for example, Rush ceramic headers, does it really negate the benefit if I keep the stock mufflers?

 

Have you ever ridden in a really big city with heavy traffic, tense drivers and women with mobile phones?

I admit that when I go over some obscure village in the mountains I am ashamed how much noise produce ... but in the city, it saved me many times.

 

Leave it all stock except got gutting the cat. And maybe a map flash to richen it up just a tad.

 

You don't have to go louder just less restrictive, if you provide more air or remove the cat you will have more pressure going to the stock mufflers which were not made for that. Picture a potato in a tail pipe, you need a less restrictive muffler to get the spent fuel gasses out faster because of the increase. You will also get a power increase. So yes.

 

Have you ever ridden in a really big city with heavy traffic, tense drivers and women with mobile phones?

No, almost all of my riding is in a little town in central Florida. I once rode 45 miles and saw only five vehicles going the other direction. And three of those were bikes.

:-)

Picture a potato in a tail pipe

OK, that I can do. It makes sense now.

So if I do go with all the changes, what's a good set of mufflers that allow the air flow without getting louder?

 

Less restrictive = louder. The things that restrict the exhaust are the same things that quiet it. You don't have to be obnoxious loud, but it will be louder.

 

You're lucky man, and a little envy you ))

 

Good point I should have added that, search "post your exhaust threads" and you may find what your looking for. Or ask for people to post what they have with the same bike as yours.

 

I like loud Harleys except for some types of fishtails which IMO while they look great sound horrible. Not all maybe but a lot.

 

I've never thought that the Screaming Eagle slip ons from Harley were very loud. I had a set of cycle shack slip ons on my Dyna and they were just a little louder than SEs, and were pretty inexpensive.