I just got my first HD. An 06 Sportster 883. I don't really know much about it since I've mostly ridden Triumphs, and those pre '70s models. Downloaded a user manual but it doesn't have all the answers I'm looking for. It has Screaming Eagle mufflers on it and I'm wanting to change them to straight pipes. I noticed some black tubing next to the mufflers and I'm figuring it's something to do with O2, maybe catalytic converter or something. It's not in the user manual I downloaded. What am I getting myself into? Also, any suggestions on types of straight pipes would be appreciated.

TIA

 

Or . . . maybe I could shorten the baffles or remove them completely. Anyone tried this? I ran megaphones on my Triumphs and all you had to do was remove the baffles. Easy to remove, easy to put back. Was nothing but a plate with holes in it.

 

As far as straight pipes or drag pipes, they are probably a poor choice. A 2 into 1 normally performs better.


https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59jk8q




The HD parts manuals are available online.
You could look at the exploded diagrams to determine what the part you see actually is.

2006 SPORTSTER MODELS PARTS CATALOG

I suspect what you are seeing is part of the exhaust crossover and mounting bracket.
Part 16 and 24 in the figure below is "MUFFLER INTERCONNECT BRACKET, support assembly"
The Sportsters didn't get CATs until several years after EFI (2007), it varies by market and engine size.

2006 Exhaust from parts manual:

 

Those old Triumphs of yours, when new, had a balance pipe just in front of the cylinder head and the Sporties of the same era also had a balance pipe, under the air cleaner. Modern Sporties have an equivalent pipe, but tucked away out of sight, as shennaba points out. BSA introduced the balance pipe IIRC in the 1960s, soon copied by every other twin brand on the planet, because they give improved low/mid range torque. I've removed that system on my own Sporty and, as an admission, for the first time in umpteen years I had to refer to my FSM to get the darned exhaust off! If you want to tinker with yours I suggest you get one too….

 

Leave it alone. It's a street bike. As set up, it will give you better power. Even with the SE pipes, you have already lost some low range power and engine braking. Straight pipes will kill all bottom end torque and leave no engine braking. Sort of sucks on a street bike. But of course depends on what you want and how you drive.
Straight pipes are junk. Like a 15 year old on his first Moped in my opinion..

 

Noise for the sake of noise.....The trademark of the American idiot.

 

My sons 1200 Sportster had straight pipes on it when he bought it, my 1200 Sportster has SE slip on's. Mine feels much quicker off the line.

 

Congratulations on your first Harley!!!


The black tube is a crossover, letting the exhaust pulses from each cylinder equalize in the exhaust. No converter or o2 sensors on your 06.

Straight pipes, there are a ton of them out there...otherwise known as drag pipes.

You can get just slip ons, or get an entire system, like the short shots.

As you can see there are a lot of folks that think all kinds of bad things will happen if you run them.

But the fact of the matter is that if you run any kind of drag pipe, straight pipe or short shots in conjunction with some Thunder Torque Inserts (which stop the torque robbing reversion) you will have more torque and more top end power than if you run stock or aftermarket slip ons.

Here is a LINK to an informative report on the Myths & Facts about HD exhaust.

 

 

man, don't let the bosses here bring you down........get some straights if you want to roar, take it and have it tuned, and have fun on it.

you live every day, and die but once