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Hey everyone.. Ive been adding to a thread called women riders, regarding my wife and BRC.. This however is a new concern. After successfully passing 2 weeks ago, she wanted to look at bikes. Sweet , but bamm, suddenly she had to have one. We went to dealership that she took class at and found her a 2017 / 1200 Sporster Custom that she road around and fell in love with. I misread mileage and thought it said 6400 miles but that was the trip mileage, and I didn't see the decimal. Really has 3700 miles.
Reason for this post is this ; My first thing to change on stock bike is mufflers.. I wanna be heard. I had a barely used, (200 miles), pair of Vance and Hines short shot mufflers. They were for my 03 Dyna, but Big Radius system called my name instantly along with carbwork and a/c change. Aside from the mounting underneath mufflers, would it be a smart change to run these on a 1200cc instead of the 1450cc engine? I can easily add custom brackets for under mounts. The head tube diameter is the same.. I slid them on and cranked down headpipe clamp, Then fired it up, and WOW what a great sound. Ive heard the new EFI fuel systems are able to accommodate some minor changes like this. Running lean is a definite worry..Hoping some of you, smarter than I riders, will share thoughts.. Thanks
I am not sure about the 2017 models, but my 2007 model, has a crossover pipe that is kinda hidden to behind the OEMs. If your 1450 models have to tube in the back that connects the mufflers to the crossover pipe, and like you said you can fabricate the mounts, then yea they should work.
That crossover is critical to low end torque. Without it she will notice a big drop in low end grunt.
The ECM will adjust some, with just the new slip ons, but if you add a free flowing intake, you MUST adjust the fuel either with a programmer, or something like ViED system. Not doing so will cause it to run far too lean for long engine life.
As a comparison I swapped out my OEM mufflers for Cobra slip ons and lost a lot of low end torque. They WERE connected to the crossover, but the free flowing design (I already had a Screaming Eagle intake) cause a big loss of low end. I added a pair of Thunder Torque inserts, amd the power came back.
The Sportsters from 2014 on have the crossover between the two header pipes.
Your muffler change should not change the crossover effects.
The AFR (Lambda) values in the fuel table are richer in the closed loop range on the 2014+ Sportsters compared to the 2007-2013 tunes.
The earlier EFI Sportster models 2007-2013 had the crossover connected to the mufflers.
The ECM is able to adjust the closed loop AFR (lambda) using feedback from the O2 sensors so unless the change required is outside the allowable limit to set a code you should be ok.
Once you get to about 25-30% throttle position or over 4500 rpms you will be in open loop and the AFR will be in the 13.5 to 12.5 to 1 range even on a stock Sportster.
If you get codes for rich or lean than you would need to adjust the tune.
It is common belief that you need to tune if you change both exhaust and Air cleaner.
Are these for you or for her? Those Short Shots are pretty loud, but if she likes 'em then go for it. There is some debate on adding a muffler/header combo, which the Short Shots are, and needing a tune. I would try it. You might notice some minor popping on the decel though. At some point, get a tune.
Thanks for the update. I was not aware of the improvement on the 14 and up models.
And you obviously know more than I do about the FI system, so thanks forvthe info.
I went with Khrome Werks that look like stock but are fairly open for a nice tone and didn't kill the bottom end torque.
Hello. The top pic is actually the stock muffs ( with cats ) and they sounded very sewing machine like. Quiet and kinda sputtery. The bottom pic is the V & H straight shot slip-ons and they are quite loud in comparison. Louder now than when on FXD for about 500 miles, before change. There is some decal pop and lots of tinging exhaust after shut off for 5 minutes. Think Im going to put the xied nightrider fuel management on it. I used them with my 2014 Street glide, with full boar slip-ons and decatted headpipes and stage 1 air box, and they seemed just right.
Are these for you or for her? Those Short Shots are pretty loud, but if she likes 'em then go for it. There is some debate on adding a muffler/header combo, which the Short Shots are, and needing a tune. I would try it. You might notice some minor popping on the decel though. At some point, get a tune.
Her and me..lol She likes being heard.. They are just straightshot slip-ons but seem to flow insane on her bike.. Her original muffs had the cats in them. Slight decal pop, but seems a noticeable bit of more pull. Definitely needs to be in lower gear now for less chugging.
On topic of this sporty, I have a question that maybe someone can answer. There seems to be some top end sounds that Ive never hear on my big twins. Sounds like gears or pullies ?
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