Heat and cat question
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
Heat and cat question
Went for 1st warm weather ride on the M8 this weekend. Yea,...it's hot as heck! I've heard about the pipes getting hot because of the placement of the cats but this was the 1st time feeling the effects. Was great all winter and most the cool spring.
I'm stock except for the V&H 4" slip ons. I was told by dealer I can do the S/E cat-less header with S/E slips ons with cats ($1600 for parts) to retain warranty. They said I'd also need to buy a tuner as well.
One dealer even said I'd "need" a new A/C. Other one said I don't. I know....you're shocked.
My question is.....why would I need a tuner? All I'd be doing is moving the cat from the head pipe to the muffler. Or is this just more Dealer Service Guy jibberish???
I'm trying NOT to F with this bike. I have a Sporty that I've completely tweaked. I just want to ride this bike and enjoy it and throw less money as possible at it.
Thanks!
I'm stock except for the V&H 4" slip ons. I was told by dealer I can do the S/E cat-less header with S/E slips ons with cats ($1600 for parts) to retain warranty. They said I'd also need to buy a tuner as well.
One dealer even said I'd "need" a new A/C. Other one said I don't. I know....you're shocked.
My question is.....why would I need a tuner? All I'd be doing is moving the cat from the head pipe to the muffler. Or is this just more Dealer Service Guy jibberish???
I'm trying NOT to F with this bike. I have a Sporty that I've completely tweaked. I just want to ride this bike and enjoy it and throw less money as possible at it.
Thanks!
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 5,830
From: Syracuse NY
IMHO - Keep the $1600 in your bank.
Once it's outta warranty, then de-cat the bike, cams and better intake.
You know that's what you want, deep down in your soul.......
Oh yeah, you could contact HDF's Mr.Itch for his leather heat guards. Much cheaper.
Once it's outta warranty, then de-cat the bike, cams and better intake.
You know that's what you want, deep down in your soul.......
Oh yeah, you could contact HDF's Mr.Itch for his leather heat guards. Much cheaper.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,105
Likes: 9,498
From: central NC
I decatted my head pipe this past fall. I run a Powervision tuner on a 107 M8 and Fuel Moto told me that I would need to update the tune when I decatted the exhaust. They said the stock ECM's tune can’t compensate for the change in flow. I know that new HD cats flow freer than in the past. Just sharing what I was told. I have the email.
Once the ambient temps get above low 80’s you’ll still feel some heat below about 70mph even without the cat.
Once the ambient temps get above low 80’s you’ll still feel some heat below about 70mph even without the cat.
Last edited by gonemad; May 18, 2022 at 03:40 PM.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
I decatted my head pipe this past fall. I run a Powervision tuner on a 107 M8 and Fuel Moto told me that I would need to update the tune when I decatted the exhaust. They said the stock ECM's tune cant compensate for the change in flow. I know that new HD cats flow freer than in the past. Just sharing what I was told. I have the email.
Once the ambient temps get above low 80s youll still feel some heat below about 70mph even without the cat.
Once the ambient temps get above low 80s youll still feel some heat below about 70mph even without the cat.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,105
Likes: 9,498
From: central NC
agreed
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2021
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From: SC
Heat
I purchased the heat shield inserts at Daytona. Installed and have taken away the heat. DEI Engineering.
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Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
https://www.designengineering.com/muffler-shield-kit/
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
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From: anacoco, la
oh, and just for the record, you will notice a decrease in the amount of heat with the full exhaust over the standard cat. but, it is still one hot sumbitch in the summer. and truth be told, the m8 with cats is noticeably cooler than my twin cam 110 with fullsac decatted head pipe and power vision tune ever was. my experience only....
in reality, though, by flashing the ecm to the stage 1 tune, and doing a couple of auto tune runs, you will notice an improvement in the way the bike performs.
Last edited by skratch; May 18, 2022 at 09:33 PM.