I tried this in the exhaust section, but didn't get any response.

I just got my Fatboy and my first mod will be to replace the exhaust.

I want some sort of "radius" pipe. I saw two that look almost identical and wanted to know if there are any differences in performance and/or sound.

The Vance & Hines Big Radius
vs.
Freedom Performance Sharp Radius

Comments very much appreciated.

 

Might want to get the Freedom Performance just to be different. Everyone's got the Big Radius (myself included). Although looking at the photos, they look identical to the V&H.

 

I don't know anyone who has the Freedom performance, but I do Vance and Hines makes a quality product that is hard to beat. Let me know if youw ant discounted forum pricing.

Drew

 

I heard the guy who started Freedom Performance is an ex head of design for V&H.

 

If you can still find any, maybe Ebay, Hooker use to make a "radius" pipe called TroubleMakers. I had them in black and really liked them.

 

QS78 is correct (kinda). I bought a pair of the Freedom Performance slip-ons last week at Bike Fest and really like them. I'm sure once I add on air cleaner and new headers they will be even better. But the guy told me that the three guys that started the company all worked for the competition and wanted to make a "better" product. Still not a "known name" but they arent that old of a company. They sell through Custom Chrome. I dont know... I like em.

 

Have VH Big Radius on the Deuce. Also have Hooker Troublemaker Radius on my Springer so can speak to both.

VH are more expensive but look better; chrome is thicker looking. VH BR will bring better numbers on a Dyno as well. Although they are more expensive, there all deals to be had out there. I think I paid just under $400 for mine a couple years ago. Used an indy who got a good price plus he took a few bucks more off because I throw a lot of money his way.

The Troublemakers were far less expensive (I think Hooker has discontinued them so you can find good deals with vendors trying to unload remaining inventory). My set ended up with some discoloration on one of the pipes fairly early on. I believe it was a combination of heat and my getting some oil on the pipe and not cleaning it off properly or right away. Still, the thinner chrome does not handle stains very well as might be expected with the VH. Form follows function on my bike so this was not a concern but it should be considered if you ride a show bike. Dyno results included decel popping resulting from reversion in rear pipe. Apparently the small difference in length between these and the VH BR makes a big difference in that regard as well as ground clearance which I will speak to in a second.

Both exhausts look good overall and sound pretty good. The VH BR are on a 96 and the Hookers are on an 88 so the VH sound a little meatier but the engine size has a lot to do with that. Cams in the 88 make the Hookers sound comparably bad a$$.

Is ground clearance an issue? That was the deciding factor for going with the Hookers on the Springer. Both bikes are lowered but Springer gets ridden much more aggressively; severe lean angles are common on twisties. Tips of Big Radius terminate a couple inches below the two rear exhaust bracket mount bolts. In contrast, the Hooker tips terminate just above the rear exhaust bracket mount bolts. That provides about 3" more ground clearance.

 

I have freedoms on my 05 88" softail..dyno proven 5hp gain from stock62hp to 67 And sound better than V&H...

 

Freedom Performance is without doubt the superior product for performance. Sound should be comparable, with everything else being equal (displacement, cams, intake, fuel system, etc.) My indie was a Vance and Hines guy. The only true dual fishtail exhaust system that had the features I wanted for my Heritage was a Freedom Performance system. It was not without some headache, however, in the interest of full disclosure. The first issue was with supply. They were ordered in January of 2012, at first on back order until March 31. Long story short, after adjusting and failing to meet their own back order date three times (I was just about ready to cancel the order and tell them where they can stick it), the pipes finally arrived at the end of May - the pipes, shields, brackets and hoses, but no mounting hardware!

So, why do I recommend them after all that? Because the improvement in acceleration was that impressive! My indie has since sold other Freedom Performance exhausts (some with similar back order issues, but all the rest at least shipped with everything including hardware), and despite those issues, he still recommends them over Vance and Hines. This is partly because he them (Freedom Performance) directly, and patiently explained that he was a vendor, and that it was not very good for business to set back order dates and continuously miss and reset them for customer after customer. They may have had that sink in by now. I don't know. I have my pipes, and I don't need to order anymore. Even if you have to wait for them, I can assure you that it will be worth it. There are other exhausts out there with similar style, but none can match the performance gains of a similar design Freedom Performance system. JMHO

 

Just noticed how old this thread is. You probably have long since chosen your pipes and are happily riding around with them.