Drilling Sporty Mufflers; Yes or No?
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 525
Likes: 2
From: Ottawa, Canada, summer, Daytona Beach Florida, winter
Drilling Sporty Mufflers; Yes or No?
The wife is riding a new Sporty 1200XL,she wanted to change the sound and was talked out of the SE's (mainly because they were on back order). She came home with a pair of Rush Slip-ons that I installed, talk about loud and wearing you out on a ride. They are coming off.
Thinking about trying to drill a 1/2 hole down the center of the stock Mufflers for a bit of added sound without the expense of new slip-ons.
Any thoughts out there.
Thinking about trying to drill a 1/2 hole down the center of the stock Mufflers for a bit of added sound without the expense of new slip-ons.
Any thoughts out there.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 756
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX
my baffles were punched out when I bought mine and popped a lot.... I am sooo much happier after new V&H shortshots, stage one AC, and a HD tuner to put her on the dyno. the performance is better and since then my dad has stopped asking if something was wrong with the bike due to popping and firing.
Go for the quality setup...
just my humble opinion, hope it helps.
Go for the quality setup...
just my humble opinion, hope it helps.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 988
Likes: 8
From: Clinton IA
I bought my bike used, and the previous owner removed the baffle plugs in the stock exhaust. It didn't sound "bad" especially at idle, I thought they sounded better than stock, but not by much. I did get some popping, and that was with a stock intake and A/C.
Last edited by edgeofinsanity; Feb 12, 2012 at 07:59 PM.
The wife is riding a new Sporty 1200XL,she wanted to change the sound and was talked out of the SE's (mainly because they were on back order). She came home with a pair of Rush Slip-ons that I installed, talk about loud and wearing you out on a ride. They are coming off.
Thinking about trying to drill a 1/2 hole down the center of the stock Mufflers for a bit of added sound without the expense of new slip-ons.
Any thoughts out there.
Thinking about trying to drill a 1/2 hole down the center of the stock Mufflers for a bit of added sound without the expense of new slip-ons.
Any thoughts out there.
Drilling out the plug on the stock pipes barely makes any difference...but maybe that is all you want?
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: Ithaca, NY/Bristol, UK
I've got a 3/4" hole in my baffle plates and my bike sounds awesome!
There is far too much emphasis put on swapping out the stock exhausts in my opinion.
I've been riding Harleys for over 30 years, drilling out the baffles is what we always used to do before the after market and its marketing machine caught up and convinced people to do otherwise.
You've got the stock exhausts and they sound crap anyway, so drill them out and see what you think!
One piece of advice would be to fit some XiED's as a minimum to prevent your bike from running too lean, it will also eliminate any decel popping.
There is far too much emphasis put on swapping out the stock exhausts in my opinion.
I've been riding Harleys for over 30 years, drilling out the baffles is what we always used to do before the after market and its marketing machine caught up and convinced people to do otherwise.
You've got the stock exhausts and they sound crap anyway, so drill them out and see what you think!
One piece of advice would be to fit some XiED's as a minimum to prevent your bike from running too lean, it will also eliminate any decel popping.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,377
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From: Kafar Hanusi
Screamin eagles work for me, quiet (for a Harley) at idle but my wife says she can hear me open it up from about 3 miles away!
If that's not a recommendation I don't know what is.
If that's not a recommendation I don't know what is.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: USA
I've got a 3/4" hole in my baffle plates and my bike sounds awesome!
There is far too much emphasis put on swapping out the stock exhausts in my opinion.
I've been riding Harleys for over 30 years, drilling out the baffles is what we always used to do before the after market and its marketing machine caught up and convinced people to do otherwise.
You've got the stock exhausts and they sound crap anyway, so drill them out and see what you think!
One piece of advice would be to fit some XiED's as a minimum to prevent your bike from running too lean, it will also eliminate any decel popping.
There is far too much emphasis put on swapping out the stock exhausts in my opinion.
I've been riding Harleys for over 30 years, drilling out the baffles is what we always used to do before the after market and its marketing machine caught up and convinced people to do otherwise.
You've got the stock exhausts and they sound crap anyway, so drill them out and see what you think!
One piece of advice would be to fit some XiED's as a minimum to prevent your bike from running too lean, it will also eliminate any decel popping.
I don't know much about the XIED stuff, as all my junk is old and has none of that. But I concur with everything Spence said regarding the rest. Drill Baby Drill !!
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 45
From: CA
I too prefer the look of the stock pipes, but wanted more robust muffler music. I first found a wooden dowel rod that fit inside the muffler. I drilled a 3/8" hole down the center of the dowel rod (on a drill press), so as to insure that the hole in the baffle plate would be centered. With the drilled out dowel as a guide, I then drilled the baffle plate right in the bullseye.
After a few rides, I decided it could use a little more volume, so I went to
a 1/2" hole. Long story short, I went next to a 3/4" hole, and am happy with that. No popping on mine, but there is a little more noticeable vibrations happening at about 65 mph. It takes some longass drill bits though. I believe the baffle plate is about 11" deep into the muffler.
Drill baby, drill!
After a few rides, I decided it could use a little more volume, so I went to
a 1/2" hole. Long story short, I went next to a 3/4" hole, and am happy with that. No popping on mine, but there is a little more noticeable vibrations happening at about 65 mph. It takes some longass drill bits though. I believe the baffle plate is about 11" deep into the muffler.
Drill baby, drill!