Opinions requested - SE vs. Rush - Fat Boy
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: North Carolina
Opinions requested - SE vs. Rush - Fat Boy
I'd like to get some owner opinion here if possible. I have a 2008 Fat Boy, which is mechanically stock with the stock exhaust & air cleaner.
I want to put a set of slip-on mufflers on it - I'm after a bit more rumble than the stock mufflers, but I also don't want to wake up the neighbors - a little more low-end growl is really all I'm after. I also don't want to go through the expense of having the engine remapped.
I remember when I bought the bike, multiple folks at the dealership bragged on the sound of the Screamin' Eagle mufflers and how I won't have to remap the engine. Well, over the past month or so, I've had the Parts guys in multiple dealerships tell me "you won't be happy" with the SE's and are pushing the Rush mufflers. They're telling me the Rush is a better muffler (although they don't qualify "better") and I can go up to 2" diameter without remapping.
1. Has something changed with the SE mufflers in the past few months? The Parts guys just site that they are 49-state EPA compliant and therefore not much different than stock. Is that really true?
2. Are the Rush mufflers really a "better" muffler (construction, sound quality, etc.)?
Even though I want to just do the mufflers instead of a whole system, it's still a fair amount of money and I want to spend it wisely.
Any thoughts would be gladly accepted.
Thanks,
Jack
I want to put a set of slip-on mufflers on it - I'm after a bit more rumble than the stock mufflers, but I also don't want to wake up the neighbors - a little more low-end growl is really all I'm after. I also don't want to go through the expense of having the engine remapped.
I remember when I bought the bike, multiple folks at the dealership bragged on the sound of the Screamin' Eagle mufflers and how I won't have to remap the engine. Well, over the past month or so, I've had the Parts guys in multiple dealerships tell me "you won't be happy" with the SE's and are pushing the Rush mufflers. They're telling me the Rush is a better muffler (although they don't qualify "better") and I can go up to 2" diameter without remapping.
1. Has something changed with the SE mufflers in the past few months? The Parts guys just site that they are 49-state EPA compliant and therefore not much different than stock. Is that really true?
2. Are the Rush mufflers really a "better" muffler (construction, sound quality, etc.)?
Even though I want to just do the mufflers instead of a whole system, it's still a fair amount of money and I want to spend it wisely.
Any thoughts would be gladly accepted.
Thanks,
Jack
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 172
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From: Southern Ohio
I have Rush mufflers with 1.75" baffles and couldn't be happier. Quality finish and great sound, not too loud but just a nice rumble unless you really get into it. Rush has top notch customer service also. As for the Screming Eagle slipons, you've heard right. One of the guys I ride with has a set on an 07 Deluxe and they're really not much louder than stock.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
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From: NJ
When an HD service writer recommends not buying an HD part, you should listen to him. Least that was my thought when they told me not to buy SEs for the wife's Deluxe. We're both running the 1.75 Rush and are happy with them. But don't count on them not waking the neighbors.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Mount Morris Illinois
A friend of mine has the Rush slip ons on his 08 Fat Bob.Not sure what baffle size,but they sound great!It's pretty loud when he cranks on it,but not so otherwise.Got a nice growl to it.I haven't heard much good about the Screamin Eagle pipes of late.I think the law is cracking down on the noise.You can get Big City Thunder baffles for the SE's and that will wake them up.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I just went through this for Italian FB
Read all the way through this thread and it will help Ya also......
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...nmy-fb-lo.html
Read all the way through this thread and it will help Ya also......
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...nmy-fb-lo.html
Last edited by oct1949; Nov 24, 2009 at 04:20 AM.
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From: Leander Texas
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,471
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From: Toledo, Ohio
I ran a post the other day on what pipes to replace my SE's with. I'd rate them as just "OK". OK isn't acceptable on a 20k HD. Most suggest the Rush slip ons which I've researched and probably will go with.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ozark Country
Depends on which SE mufflers you are talking about, as the newer models (especially the 'street legal' versions) are not the same as the older 'for offroad use only' SE2's.
I'm running the older "Offroad Use" SE2 mufflers on my FatBoy, and they are very nice quality and sound great. But I do live in a State where we don't have any 'noise police' running around. We also don't have any inspections, emission checks, or equipment checks.
I'm running the Rush mufflers on my WD with the 2.0" baffles. The Rush mufflers with the 2.0" sound very much like the older SE2's. Very deep tone, and they aren't that loud unless you really open the throttle.
The older SE2 mufflers are becoming harder to find, and if it were me I would go with the Rush mufflers with either the 1.75" or 2.0" baffles. (The larger the baffle size the larger the tone).
Here is a picture of my 2003 100th Anniversity FatBoy with the baloney cut SE2 Offroad Use Only mufflers and my 2003 100th Anniversity WG with the baloney cut Rush mufflers and 2.0" baffles;
I'm running the older "Offroad Use" SE2 mufflers on my FatBoy, and they are very nice quality and sound great. But I do live in a State where we don't have any 'noise police' running around. We also don't have any inspections, emission checks, or equipment checks.
I'm running the Rush mufflers on my WD with the 2.0" baffles. The Rush mufflers with the 2.0" sound very much like the older SE2's. Very deep tone, and they aren't that loud unless you really open the throttle.
The older SE2 mufflers are becoming harder to find, and if it were me I would go with the Rush mufflers with either the 1.75" or 2.0" baffles. (The larger the baffle size the larger the tone).
Here is a picture of my 2003 100th Anniversity FatBoy with the baloney cut SE2 Offroad Use Only mufflers and my 2003 100th Anniversity WG with the baloney cut Rush mufflers and 2.0" baffles;
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I'm running the older "Offroad Use" SE2 mufflers on my FatBoy, and they are very nice quality and sound great.
I'm running the Rush mufflers on my WD with the 2.0" baffles. The Rush mufflers with the 2.0" sound very much like the older SE2's. Very deep tone, and they aren't that loud unless you really open the throttle.
The older SE2 mufflers are becoming harder to find, and if it were me I would go with the Rush mufflers with either the 1.75" or 2.0" baffles. (The larger the baffle size the larger the tone).
[/QUOTE]
A friend has the older SE2's on his 03 Heritage and I agree they are close to the Rush's... for sure a lot better than the newer SE's which are barely louder than stock....
I'm running the Rush mufflers on my WD with the 2.0" baffles. The Rush mufflers with the 2.0" sound very much like the older SE2's. Very deep tone, and they aren't that loud unless you really open the throttle.
The older SE2 mufflers are becoming harder to find, and if it were me I would go with the Rush mufflers with either the 1.75" or 2.0" baffles. (The larger the baffle size the larger the tone).
[/QUOTE]A friend has the older SE2's on his 03 Heritage and I agree they are close to the Rush's... for sure a lot better than the newer SE's which are barely louder than stock....