A beautiful day up here in the Great Northwest yesterday so I decided to go down to the dealer to hang-out to see, hear and discuss different muffler options. There’s a nice patio set-up outside Sound Harley so I grabbed a table and chair, set myself up with a coffee and a book, and checked out bikes as they rumbled in. I was primarily interested in the MO’s to see how they looked and to hear them compared to my Jackpots.

I only looked at 09’s with stock head-pipes as I am convinced that the 09’s have a completely different sound dynamic than the previous year Ultra’s.

After about an hour a guy pulled in on an 09 Ultra with MO’s, black tips angled up to match the lines of the bags and fender. While he was in the shop I had a chance to really get a good look at the set-up. I had been concerned that these might look strange and boy was I wrong. Those MO’s look great IMHO. With the wider rear tire and fender and the bag rails on the Ultra, these do not look out of place at all. As a matter of fact I went and got my bike and parked it alongside his and my exhaust just didn’t do it for me any more, visually.

Anyway the guy comes out and I intro myself and explain my mission. Great guy and, as with most of us, was more than willing to talk about his bike and answer any of my questions. We fired up the bikes separately to compare sound at idle and with some rev’s. There is NO DOUBTING that the MO’s were MUCH deeper in tone. As some have mentioned here, you can actually feel the bass notes. As for overall volume, it’s tough to call which is really louder because the sound is so different. But the MO’s seemed louder because they are so much deeper.

For the final test I asked him if he minded if I tagged along behind him for a while when he left. We did some city and then hopped onto the Interstate. As we accelerated onto the onramp and got up to cruise I knew my mind was made up. I pulled up alongside, gave him a thumbs-up and a salute and then got off the next off-ramp so I could get back home to my computer and order up the new MO’s.

I understand that I may end up sacrificing some performance by giving up the Dyno Tuned Jackpots, but I’m OK with that. Even the stock set up has enough torque to thrill me and enough power to kill me.

Now to be fair, it is worth mentioning that the MO’s are almost double the cost of the Jackpots. I also am fairly certain that I may sacrifice a little performance. I think the Jackpots are a great system and definitely the best bang for the buck. They sound great but just not perfect for me. Also, the customer service from Fuel Moto is unsurpassed. I am very happy with the PCV and AC kit. If Fuel Moto sold Vance & Hines I would pay their price because the customer service IS THAT GOOD.


Taking a vacation for 10 days and the MO’s will be waiting for me when I get back. I’ll take some before and after’s to post .

 

Great, time to bust out the check book! Im ready to order the Fuel Moto Stage 1 and have been debating between the jackpots and the MO's and I was afraid of exactly what you said. By any chance did you compare the MO's to Reinhart's?

 

No I didn't. I had the Rinharts on my last Ultra but those were a full true dual system. Nice sound at idle and not bad at easy cruise but too loud and raspy for me in a climb or "getting on it". The MO's are definitely deeper in tone, IMHO.

 

I've had my MO's for about two months and 3k miles and remain really pleased with them. On tour, I use earplugs because they are loud enough that after a few hours they are fatiguing, but I am quite happy with them overall. (OK Rodeo, go ahead and say it! )

 

Yep, waiting for RODEO to chime in also but we KNOW he is wrong! LOL The Monster Ovals are the best looking, best sounding exhaust out there in my opinion. Are they worth the extra money? It's a Harley, money shouldn't even be factored in!

 

I have the MOs with stock header pipes and they sound great! I want to change out the headers but I don't know which to go with (V&H or Bassani Power Curve). My club brothers all tease me about my pipes being to quiet, but I love the look and I like the deep throaty tone. They are expensive slip ons, but it costs to floss!

 

I'm happy with my MO's too. It's funny, in the looks department there seems to be a love it or hate it mentality on the MO's, but I'm in the love it camp, I think they look great on the '09s for the reasons mentioned above.

 

Thanks for posting I have been thinking about replacing the mufflers on my 09 ultra. I have been bouncing between these two as well. Like you I headed down to the local dealer as well and I love the rich deep sound of the MO's I am leaning towards the chrome with chrome tips I have the light and dark root beer so I think it would look better. If anyone has the chance and wouldn't mind i would love to see a pic of the MO's with the slash up as the first post stated. On vances website it dosent say or show any good pics. The ones there almost look like a straight cut.

Thanks Don

 

MO's are definitely on my wish list but for now will have to stay there hopefully next month can make it reality...

 

I'm running Monster Ovals with Dresser Duals and its the best sounding pipes I have ever owned. Ive had them on about 1500 miles now , just a warning..they WILL get louder as time goes on. Not obnoxiously so, just deeper.

Spend the money dude, you know you want too.....and the looks of those cannons sticking out the rear of the bike just screams BAGGER