I put Cycle Shack 2" staggered drags on my '07 Road King a few weeks ago, and just wanted to leave a little feedback for everyone. I had Rush slip ons w/the 2.25" baffles and didn't like the sound, plus the heat from the crossover was cooking my nether region. I have always liked the look and sound of drag pipes, so I figured I'd give them a shot. I do have a SERT that was mapped for the Rush's, and a K&N air filter. No other engine mods.
Here's what I found:
1. I first just installed just the pipes, no baffles. Yes, they are LOUD. I'd also get that nice bark when shifting, and that irregular Harley pop on decel. You may or may not like that sort of thing, it's personal preference. I think it sounded friggin' awesome.
2. Yes, there was a slight loss of low end torque. The only time it was really noticeable was when pulling away from a stop. If I was moving, I'd just downshift, problem solved. I did not do a remap of the SERT, it seemed to be running just fine.
3. Vibration was greater. Not what I'd consider severe for a Harley, but it definitely was more.
I leave at 7:15 for work, and was concerned that the setup was a wee bit too loud for the neighborhood. It was not ear splitting since I never really got on the throttle (3rd gear, 30 mph) and even though nobody ever said anything or even looked at me funny, I don't want to be known as "that guy". So, I put in the baffles. Here's what happened:
1. The noise level is a lot less. A LOT. Now it's maybe just a tad louder at idle than with the Rush's. Much quieter when putting through the neighborhood too. There is no longer any bark when shifting, nor is there any jake brake sound on decel. To me, it may be a bit too quiet now, but I do like the sound a lot better than the Rush's. Hard to describe really... I guess more "throaty" would be a good term. I may try experimenting with a shorter baffle and maybe some torque cones to try to find a happy compromise, but for now this setup will work.
2. The torque that was lost is now back. I've never had the bike on an actual dyno, but the good ol' butt dyno feels the difference. I'd guesstimate that it's back to right around where it was with the slip-ons. Maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, but definitely pretty damned close.
3. The vibration is less too. Not as tame as it was with the stock headers and slip-ons, but less than it was without the baffles.

I guess my reason for posting this is that most posts regarding drags make it sound like the loss of torque is huge and horrible, whereas I have found that it is not. Especially with the baffles. Many also post about how drags are somehow "irresponsible" because they are so loud. Once again, my own real world experience is that with the baffles they are not. Don't get me wrong - I'm not claiming that they're quiet, but it wasn't too too bad as long as I stayed off the throttle. Before I put the baffles in I went by a speed trap in my neighborhood one morning on the way in to work. The motorcycle deputy just waved as I went by...

Dennis Kirk price matched some crappy site I found them on so I got them for $350 (including the baffles @ $15 each). Not too bad when you compare that to what other true dual systems cost.
Yes, they do have the o2 bungs and came with heat shields.

 

Photos ???

 

Never found a set of drag pipes on any HD or other bike for that matter that did a thing except sound obnoxious. Good for you putting in baffles but then you just as well could of stuck with mufflers. Didn't say what you didn't like about the Rush sound. Also it's usually a good idea to have someone ride the bike (that you trust) and see what they pipes sound like to an innocent bystander.

 

Take a gander at this image: http://i33.tinypic.com/1zps6lu.png which I created using output of the SERT software. It compares VE maps between the touring exhaust and a dual exhaust. You need to remap. It's likely a source of your new-found vibration since both cylinders are not operating at their best now.

 

I bought my 2005 SE Fat Boy when it was a year old and the original owner had put on Samson II, Rip Saws, which are 1-3/4", OD, drag pipes. They are not designed to take baffles.
He also put power cones in. Contrary to everything I have read about drag pipes,the bike runs perfect. No deceleration pop or hesitation. My only complaint is that they are too damn loud. I managed to install Krome Werks HP drag pipe baffles. They can be tweaked so that they have to be tapped into the pipes and will stay in place. The pipes are still too loud.
I have been dragging my feet, as far as spending the money and going through the hassle of installing a new exhaust system and then having to re-tune the bike. The bike runs so well now that I hate to mess with it.
Tom

 

that cool iregular pop on decel you like is your motor screming for more fuel no mater how good you think it is running changing exhaust requires changing maps. Just trying to help it is cheaper to get the fuel right than trash the motor.

 

Drag pipes are good for one thing.......drag racing at WOT. By adding baffles, you've destroyed the one thing they're good at. And 2" headers, even with mufflers, are too big for any engine of less than 100ci or so.

 

There's a pic in my album.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/album...pictureid=3567

 

glens & asuperheat thank you for the constructive replies. I WAS getting popping on decel with the Rush's and the drags prior to putting the baffles in, but there's absolutely none now. When the map was changed last year for the slip-ons I had a suspicious feeling that it wasn't quite right, but I think I might have lucked out and put on pipes that match the map. It seems spot on now. My crotch is chillin', there's no barking or popping at all, and the vibration is much less than before I put the baffles in. As much as I like the pop I do understand that it isn't a good thing for the motor.
MrHd1 it's hard to put into words what I didn't like about the sound... it was kind of "hollow" I guess would be as good a term as any. And if all I did was get a different set of slip-ons my cajones would still be frying from the crossover.
mp, posts like yours are the reason I started this thread. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge, but you can move on to another thread now. If I was super sensitive to performance and tweaking an extra ft lb of torque here or there I'd ride something other than a bagger. (Also, putting the baffles in gives it a little backpressure, which smooths out the low end of the powerband.) Thank you again for posting basically the same responses as most other drag pipe threads, I guess you didn't make it to the part where I explained why I posted it in the first place...

 

Thank you Glens, I appreciate your input. It DID vibrate prior to the baffles being put in, but everything seems right with the world now. Runs like a top. (I do still need to pull the plugs to see if they look like it's running lean, but judging by how it rides and sounds I doubt they'll show anything abnormal.) If everything looks good plug wise would you still suggest a remap?