best pipes for sportsters?
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best pipes for sportsters?
what's all your opinions on which aftermarket pipes are the best - for sound, performance, etc. - for 1200 sportsters? i was thinking of ordering the vance & hines short shots for my new nightster, but i don't have a lot of experience in these types of exhausts. i had pythons installed on my dyna because a guy at the dealership said they sounded a little deeper than the v&h. i'm pretty happy with the pythons, but i don't think i want the exact same thing for the sportster, a little variety is nice. so what do you guys all have on your XL1200s? and thanks in advance for all your wise feedback. as a new harley owner, this site is a godsend...
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Charlotte County FL
RE: best pipes for sportsters?
I have short shots and I like them they are loud, have to wear ear plugs when riding now. They perform well I did a stage 1 with the pipes and over all the bike performs alot better.
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RE: best pipes for sportsters?
i've heard good things about bassani also, but i am afraid about them turning yellow. a guy told me that if you break in the bassani incorrectly that they will turn ****-colored yellow, which would royally suck.
i'm basically looking for better sound than performance. i don't really need to go fast on the sportster, just want it to sound great.
davidc, do you wear a full face helmet when you ride, and is that why you have to wear earplugs? i'm pretty much of a full-face helmet only kind of guy. i have open faced helmets, but i just get a little nervous riding in them. unless its frickin 100 degrees outside. so do you think your ears are starting to get some damage to them because of the loud pipes?
also, are v&h short shots pretty much a straight-through exhaust with no baffles, and is that why they are so loud?
i'm basically looking for better sound than performance. i don't really need to go fast on the sportster, just want it to sound great.
davidc, do you wear a full face helmet when you ride, and is that why you have to wear earplugs? i'm pretty much of a full-face helmet only kind of guy. i have open faced helmets, but i just get a little nervous riding in them. unless its frickin 100 degrees outside. so do you think your ears are starting to get some damage to them because of the loud pipes?
also, are v&h short shots pretty much a straight-through exhaust with no baffles, and is that why they are so loud?
Road Master
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RE: best pipes for sportsters?
I'm really happy with my Samson Big Gun Slashers. Bought 5 years ago and sound better than new. No rusting, bluing, flaking of the chrome, and come with full length 3/4 heat shields and removable baffles, I have the 4" and 12" and it only takes 5 min to swap out (depending on my mood)...
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
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RE: best pipes for sportsters?
i've heard good things about bassani also, but i am afraid about them turning yellow. a guy told me that if you break in the bassani incorrectly that they will turn ****-colored yellow, which would royally suck.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 856
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From: Charlotte County FL
RE: best pipes for sportsters?
I wear my full face helmet mostly when it is cold, and so far we have had cold weather here in NY the last couple of weeks and I put the pipes on a month ago. Last week when I rode I had full face no ear plugs 60 mile ride that night my ears felt like I had just come from a Metallica concert. Today went on same ride same helmet and ear plugs and my ears are fine tonight. I have heard that the sound is worse with the full face helmet, once it warms up a little I with swich to my 1/2 helmet which I aways wore ear plugs with because of wind noise. Also Vance and Hines pipes have full lenth heat sheilds so bluing is not problem.
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Tourer
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RE: best pipes for sportsters?
Clearly the best bang for your dollar are the V&H Straight Shot slip ons where they outperform many other slip onsin a stage 1 comparison, and they also sound deep and very loud. If you are after more power than sound, then a 2 into one is the way to go and there are a few heavy hitter pipes in this market such as Supertrapp, Thunderheader, D&D Fat Cat, Bub Rinehart, RB Racing and more. If you are lookingfor the nicest looking and deepest soundingof allthe drag pipes, then the mother of all evils are the customs from Gerald Rinehart http://www.rinehartracing.com/where you get the best pipes made for pure harley sound.I will tell you that they are serious dough though. 800.00 to 1200.00 for a set.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
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RE: best pipes for sportsters?
Best bang for the buck has to be cycle shack full pipes. They come in 1 3/4 or 2 inch and slash cut or I think straight or turn outs. They have removable baffles(I wouldn't)You reuse your factory heat shields whichkeeps cost down,and the pipes are easily less than 200 a set. I think I've seen them for like 160 ish. I am sure they are not the best quality if push comes to shove but I've got 10000 miles on my 05 sporty 1500C with the 1 3/4 slash cuts on for 9500 of thise miles. All is very well here. Again** price considered**