First off I will say that this exhaust rocks and its the exact perfect sound I have been looking for. The pipe has a lowest deepest rumble I have heard. My buddy has a Fatcat and the my TH sounds much deeper. This pipe growls and when I blip the throttle it has a very loud, low tone bark that sets off car alarms. Crusing at 3200 rpm and I can hear a very low growl but the wind is louder. The members in here that have commented on the differences between the fatcat and TH are real. With the TH the fit and finish suck pretty bad. The header pipe fit perfectly to the heads but the bend was way off and the floor board pushed against the front lower pipe. I found this out when I took it for its first spin and felt a vibration in the handlebars like the engine was coming apart. Turned out the engine vibration was transfered into the bike thru the floor board. I was pissed, had to take the whole system back off again and try to correct it. Than I noticed its because the lower clamp and bracket are the wrong design and are pushing the header pipes out away from the bike too far. I didnt feel like pulling the brackets and huge metal clamp to fabricate it to fit better, since I was going to get the floor extensions anyways. So I re-installed everything and placed 2 thick washers between rear floor board bracket and frame which did the trick until I get the extensions kit. The chrome on the heat sheilds is definatley not show chrome, not even close. But its chrome and to the un trained eye you cant tell.

All this fit and finish crap and I can honestly say that I still dig the system and if I had to do over again I would get the same system. That is how good this system sounds. It has a sound all to itself, no other pipe compares. Kind of like Harley has its own sound. It sounds so freakin good its like music. The inversion design is wierd, it kind of makes the exhaust do a sonic boom or the exhaust beats smack the air. Its the coolest sound, I dont care how hard it is to install. But for what its worth, you guys where right about fit and finish. But I'll still take the ol traditional loud Harley grumble over the FatCat race car sound any day!

 

If you're happy, then don't read the following.









I guarantee you that the Thunderheaders sound tinny and have anything but a deep rumble compared to a pair of CFR FL slipons. And finish and quality are top-notch on the CFRs.

CN

 

I agree with you, the TH 2-1 does sound great..........but all the quality issues is what pushed me away from it.

Did you do the baffle mod to fix any low-end torque dip?

Steve

 

Call me crazy but I'm a "fit, form, and function" kind of guy. If I wanted noise I would take a crowbar and hammer and knock out baffles. Too many better choices for my money but thanks for the post.

 

Actually I forgot to write about the performance. I didnt change the map and have never dyno'ed the bike. I am using a standard map from the super-tuner for a 96 cid with seac and race pipes. I didnt expect to see any difference in performance since its not fine tuned but theres definatley a difference. Maybe its just luck or coincidence with the map I use but I can feel a much stronger pull that pushes me into my back rest , or reach higher rpm's faster thru the entire rpm range up to 5,000 than with the rush 2" slip ons. But I am guessing thats because I had very little back pressure with the stock header pipes and wide open 2" baffles. The TH did make a significant improvement and I dont see any reason to spend $450.00 on a dyno until I do the cams.

 

after awhile they look bad, but that growl is unique loud, and a pleasure to hear over all the d&d s, btw I run v&h tru duals

 

Not to mention that nice monster TH torque dip.

 

I had Thunder Headers on my Softie, and while I loved the sound and performance, I couldn't get past having to keep clean the end of that pipe where the slots are. It' just a PITA. But if I go all Black, that Thunderheader might be in the equation.

 

Had a TH on a Fatboy. I LOVED the sound. It also was a very smooth pipe and was much better than any dual pipe configuration. I did have to bend the baffles for low end torque however...overall I really liked the pipe and didn't find it all that hard to keep clean if you washed your bike regularly.

 

Well I can't wait much longer. Ordered mine the other day got everything except the trans mount bracket waiting on the vender to get it in. I removed my D&D to go the 2-1 with a false on the left. I liked the D&D but it sounds better on twin cam carb bikes just my thought on the subject. I plan to sell the D&D if anyone is interested? hint hint!

Well good write up I look forward to get mine installed hopefully monday.