Question about performance/sound/cost?
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Stage III
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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Question about performance/sound/cost?
Greetings all,
I am the proud owner of a new Iron 883. I have had it for about a month now and I am enjoying the ride. With that being said I would like to get a better sound and a more customized/gritty look for the bike. I have been researching and researching the difference in pipes and slip on mufflers. From what I gather drag pipes look cool and sound the meanest but they kill your low end torque, whereas 2:1's are the best for performance but do not sound the best (or look the best IMHO). So here is my question:
Which combination would be best in your opinion for the following goals:
Deep growl, blacked out look, minimal expense on tuning and equal or greater than stock performance.
Here is what I am considering:
V&H Big Radius Blacked out 2:2's, SE Heavy Breather and a Factory Reflash
I am not concerned with making more power than stock but I definitely don't want to lose any performance either. I really like the looks of the V&H's and I know that they have a good sound but are they tunable with baffles (i.e. keeping low end tq)? Will the ECM reflash keep me from leaning out?
Any opinions or experiences would be greatly appreciated. I want to change the looks/sound characteristics of the bike but I do not want to sacrifice performance.
Thanks,
-Bam
I am the proud owner of a new Iron 883. I have had it for about a month now and I am enjoying the ride. With that being said I would like to get a better sound and a more customized/gritty look for the bike. I have been researching and researching the difference in pipes and slip on mufflers. From what I gather drag pipes look cool and sound the meanest but they kill your low end torque, whereas 2:1's are the best for performance but do not sound the best (or look the best IMHO). So here is my question:
Which combination would be best in your opinion for the following goals:
Deep growl, blacked out look, minimal expense on tuning and equal or greater than stock performance.
Here is what I am considering:
V&H Big Radius Blacked out 2:2's, SE Heavy Breather and a Factory Reflash
I am not concerned with making more power than stock but I definitely don't want to lose any performance either. I really like the looks of the V&H's and I know that they have a good sound but are they tunable with baffles (i.e. keeping low end tq)? Will the ECM reflash keep me from leaning out?
Any opinions or experiences would be greatly appreciated. I want to change the looks/sound characteristics of the bike but I do not want to sacrifice performance.
Thanks,
-Bam
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Joliet, IL
I put he V&H Big Radius 2-into-2's on my bike. Sounds great and didn't lose performance. I don't have any specs for you as it has never been dyno'd. I picked them up for ~600. Don't know what your price range is, but depending on who does your work (with the equipment you want) you're probably looking at over $1k.
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks for the info. I expected about a grand for the parts and I plan to do the labor myself. I got a quote from a local speedshop for a dyno tune and they told me that the tune itself (w/ purchasing the tuner from them) would be $800! I was blown away! Do you think that the factory reflash will be good enough to keep me at equal or greater performance than stock or do I need a fuel pack or SE tuner? From everything I've read here on the boards the fuel pak or other tuners are better than the factory reflash but they are also twice the price and the added headache for the install.
So basically what I am asking is with that combination (VH big radius, SE heavy breather, factory reflash) will I experience any tq loss down low, or anywhere in the powerband for that matter? Also should I wait until the bike has the 1,000 mile check up?
Thanks in advance
So basically what I am asking is with that combination (VH big radius, SE heavy breather, factory reflash) will I experience any tq loss down low, or anywhere in the powerband for that matter? Also should I wait until the bike has the 1,000 mile check up?
Thanks in advance
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 317
Likes: 3
From: North Florida
I put the VH big radius on my softail, but bought the chrome ones and simply powdercoated the shields (see my sig pic below). I think they were like 250 bucks plus 30 bucks to have my local powdercoat shop spray em. Anyway, with a stage 1 (pipes and open air cleaner) you will need to reflash. I used the VH fuel pack and loved it. If you do not reflash you WILL see a significant loss in tq/hp in the low end. If you reflash you will be fine and should gain tq/hp (small amount but noticable in the low end) from the exhaust/open air cleaner.
As for your statement on 2 into 1 pipes: My friend has a nightster and rocks the Rush 2-1 pipes. Man, its loud and deep like no other as far as my ears can tell. He loves em - I hate the look of big 2-1 cannon but they do provide the most efficient gains and with a sound like his, if your a 2-1 kinda guy its a no-brainer.
As for your statement on 2 into 1 pipes: My friend has a nightster and rocks the Rush 2-1 pipes. Man, its loud and deep like no other as far as my ears can tell. He loves em - I hate the look of big 2-1 cannon but they do provide the most efficient gains and with a sound like his, if your a 2-1 kinda guy its a no-brainer.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 646
Likes: 159
From: New York
seems like everyone is running vance and hines. they sound ok, but imo they don't sound the best. i have pythons on my bike (vance and hines makes them) they are a slip on muffler. you can pick them up for $250-$300. you want a deep mean growl, these pipes will deliver. they come in chrome but sanding them a little and rattle canning some high heat rustoleum on them will do the trick for the blacked out look youre wanting. i just did this to mine and i love how they look. really raw. and it'd look awesome on an iron if youre going for an old school look. another thing that works is wrapping your header pipes in exhaust wrap. Exhaust wrap keeps the exhaust pipe hot and that helps to scavenge the spent exhaust gasses. Does it add power not much, sound no, looks cool though! i have it on my bike. i'm more into an old school raw look.
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Stage III
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks for the input guys. The python slip ons eh? I was thinking of going with some good slip ons to save money and keep the low end performance at least as good as stock. I am planning to go with the header wraps too, can't beat that old school rat rod look. Any suggestions on the dealer tune vs. fuelpak for the stage 1 upgrade?
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May I ask If I find out that lets say Im running lean when I get to try my fuel pack, how do you know what numbers to go up or down with??