removing the converter would void warranty.
Aftermarket parts do not and cannot void warranty. Do not fall foe that BS that dealers like to push.

 

I believe it voids the federally mandated "emissions" warranty, In places like Commiefornia, with strict emissions laws, this can open you up to actual legal violations that can get you in trouble.

This takes on new meaning when you consider cars with all sorts of expensive oxygen sensors, flow rate sensors and other expensive parts.

" Under the Federal Emissions Warranty, all emissions related parts are covered for 2 years or 24,000 miles*, with the catalyt- ic converter and engine control unit (the computer) covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles*. The Federal provisions cover light-duty vehicles up to 8,500 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)."

Having said all that, I fought the argument against crossover pipes on bikes and cars for literally decades. I finally had to admit the crossover pipe, against all my experience, does not rob horsepower.

BUT, I still like true duels best. You know, my RK with 103 ci engine, to me, is enormous. I do not care how much horsepower you strive for, GO FOR IT!!!!!!

For me, 103 ci is more than enough horsepower. And I really like the rumble of my true duels.

 

I'll agree that dealers push all kinds of BS to make sales....

But the highlighted part of your post is just not true....

The warranty is between the customer and the MoCo... not the dealer...

The MoCo gets to set the conditions of their warranty. Anything said by a dealer, in contrast to the written warranty, is not binding. Most people have not read the actual wording in their factory warranty. They should pay particular attention to "Exclusions" and "Other Limitations"... and it's pretty clear what could void your warranty...

What the MoCo CANNOT DO, is require a customer to buy a certain name brand part to maintain their warranty. That was the basis for the Magnuson-Moss warranty Act.

They cannot require you to buy a name brand oil, gas, etc... As long as what you use meets their OEM specifications and does NOT alter the performance of the vehicle, they cannot void your warranty without first proving the part caused the issue..

Any part that DOES NOT meet OEM spec (which are all EPA compliant by the way) or alters the vehicle's performance IS NOT covered by the MM Act and it is solely up to the MoCo to determine if it voids their written warranty...

In the past, the MoCo and dealers played fast and loose with the written warranty, to promote sales... The MoCo themselves had a pretty much hands off approach to warranty issues, mostly trusting the dealers to submit valid warranty claims. The EPA Consent Decree (filed 8/18/16) between the EPA and the MoCo, has drastically changed that entire attitude and process..... probably forever..

 

HD has been fighting the EPA standards since at least 1978. In fact, they just lost a big case in 2021 involving their tuners!!!!

HD lost a case with the EPA and had to recall the tuners that allowed mere mortals to modify the computer upon changing air intake, exhaust, etc. According to the EPA, modifying the bike yourself is a bozo no no and subject to god knows what hassles. In all fairness to HD, they have been fighting the good fight for us for decades. All this mandated gear adds a lot of cost to a motorcycle.

The MoCo has just about thrown in the towel against the feds. They have no choice. As Hattitude stated above, you don't have to replace the part you remove with a Harley part, but you must replace it with a part that meets the approved EPA standard mandated by the Feds, or it voids the warranty:both the fed warranty and the HD warranty.

Harley warranty info here.

https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....w%3Fid%3D58666

 

OP has a 2004. He is not worried about warranty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I get that. The OP post veered horribly off topic in several areas.

 

Harley signed the consent decree with the EPA long before 2021(2017 in fact).....this was the agreement that disallowed use of anything but the new Harley Street Tuner to tune 2017-later model bikes.

Use of any aftermarket tuning device results in the powertrain warranty being voided. And that is still true today, regardless of what your dealer tells you.

 

If looking for performance, than "true duels" are not the way to go. I have an '03 RK, so not dissimilar from your ride. I have 95" jugs, cams, intake, slip ons and a tune. It's a heavy bitch and doesn't feel real fast, but a lot of that seems to be because it's so big and stable. If you get on it and watch the speedometer she scoots along pretty damn good. If you just go by feel you can be fooled. Unless building an engine and component set designed to compliment each other (and I'm not claiming mine is.) Exhaust alone is more about sound. A well selected exhaust/tune/intake can no doubt add a bit of performance, but it's a lot of money for marginal gains. Think about what you're comfortable spending at what you want to accomplish. If it's just the Harley sound, then throw on slip ons. If it's noticeable performance gains... Credit card

 

Just to be accurate, I mentioned the date in the last paragraph of my post, #23.

The EPA Consent Decree between the EPA and the MoCo was filed on 8/18/2016...

 

My 2 Cents…..

My current bike (2015 FLHTK 103”) has V&H duals and high output mufflers, and a tuner, and I absolutely love the performance.

I would love to test ride a similar setup 107 and 114, but without that, I truly love the performance of my bike, and can’t imagine ”needing” or wanting a stage 2,3,4, or 107, 114, 128, or 131….well maybe a stage 2 with cams…….

Obviously - your wants and desires are yours….