Ok, so when I bought my 99 Springer it had Short Shots with the baffles removed and was OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD! Ok if you're into loud for loud sake but that's not my style.

So I got a set of Python Stagger Duals which are just V&H pipes for about $100 less and without stuff that'll fall off...

Love them. They made such a difference in performance it was night and day. It just pulled harder off the line with no apparent loss of top end. They also had a nice deep bassy sound with almost zero decel popping. Every now and then you'll hear some but basically it's gone.

But they're still loud. I gave up and just started wearing cheap foam earplugs and that worked well but from time to time I'd hear a grimace in the voice of my non-bike friends when they would ask "are you coming with the Harley?" It was there polite way of saying "Please don't annoy my neighborhood..."

So after much reading I decided on the Hard Kore baffles and I have to say I've very pleased. You drill a new hole in the stock python baffle and you insert the Hard Kore baffle into the pipe lining up the the newly drilled hole and reinsert the bolt. As long as you can get your baffle screws out it takes only a few minutes. I had to drop the pipes and ended up using 1/4-20 SS bolts in place of the Python button head allen screws that I had to mutilate to get out.

Now for the sound... The bassy sound of the pythons is reduced which I'll put on the con side of things but so is the volume - significantly. They claim 6-12 db reduction and I believe it. At 60mph with a half helmet on, flat ground and only enough throttle to maintain speed the wind noise drowns out the exhaust. Any application of throttle and you can hear the pipes come alive.

Now the fun part - WOT. The pipes have more mid range tone to them and have picked up a small diameter open drag pipe sound without the harshness and none of the decel popping. Each pulse has a very strong, sharp, staccato crack to it. They are still very noticeable when you crank on the gas and I personally like the sound. IMO it has all the good parts of a set of short drag pipes without all the bad parts.

Performance has largely remained unchanged. I would have expected more bottom and less top but if it did change anything my highly calibrated butt dyno can't tell... I didn't change jetting from where it was with the other two pipes and it doesn't look like I have to either. Overall I'm very happy with them and for $70 it makes the bike much quieter while still having a nice crackle when you get on it. Keep the revs low and go easy on the gas and you'll be able to sneak home at 2am without waking the neighbors. And if you decide you want noise you pull out two bolts, remove the Hard Kore baffles and you're ready to go with the factory Python baffles. For that I'm happy I now have hex bolts instead of allen bolts.

I'll try and get some sound clips up comparing the two.

 

And here's video...

http://youtu.be/OIlsdStlWJw

 

hey hi
Sounds like your familiar with both V&H Big Shots Staggered & Drag Spec. Python Stag. Duals systems. I just replaced my Vance & Hines Big Shots staggered #17907 (heat shield #D260HC-front, D261HC-rear) with the newer #17921 (heat shields D460HC, D461HC) direct from V&H. Without advertizing the fact they have stopped making the 17907s and changed the appearance to the new front heat shield, it looks too short and exposes a lot of the exhaust port 1 3/4" pipe. Looks cheesy. V&H offered a refund so I'm spending alot of time looking for a system with the same looks. The Python Staggered Duals look like the ticket. Is there anyway to get a front view of what that system or your Pythons looks like? I know now why V&H never displays frontal views of this newer system, thanks for whatever input you can give. Also looking to buy a D260HC if their's one out there.
jw

 

Here's the best shot I have on the computer now.

Let me know specifically what you're looking for and I can take some pics tomorrow for you.