THUNDERHEADER vs FATCAT
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
I gotta admit, I love the sound of the Thunderheaders, but I hate the way they look. I love the way the Fat Cat looks, and I've convinced myself I like the sound, but I think I know I'm lying to myself. When I get my money right, I will definitely go Fat Cat, but love the Thunderheader sound.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 5
From: Biddeford, Maine
I've had a Thunderheader 2-1, Supertrapp 2-1, and now the Fatcat 2-1.
Still love the sound of the Thunderheader but it can get loud, the quality sucks, and heatshields suck.
Supertrapp is quiet but with an odd "phhtt" sound that I didn't like. Quality is good, and heatshields are good. You can change the discs and endcaps to adjust performance and sound.
Fatcat has great build quality, great chrome, changable baffles to adjust sound and performance, and I personally love the sound of them.
Been thru 9 exhausts...............it's hard to find the right combo of looks, sound, and performance.
Steve
Still love the sound of the Thunderheader but it can get loud, the quality sucks, and heatshields suck.
Supertrapp is quiet but with an odd "phhtt" sound that I didn't like. Quality is good, and heatshields are good. You can change the discs and endcaps to adjust performance and sound.
Fatcat has great build quality, great chrome, changable baffles to adjust sound and performance, and I personally love the sound of them.
Been thru 9 exhausts...............it's hard to find the right combo of looks, sound, and performance.
Steve
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,919
Likes: 3,721
From: Hill Country, TX
I have a 2010 Ultra Classic Limited. Wanting a 2 into 1 header. Was really turning towards the D&D and was at the local dealership today asking about it. Service manager said ya want power go with the thunderheader. A lot of the employees are running them and I do love the sound but not really impressed with the back of the pipe. I told them that & they said ya have to give up something. I know this has been beat into the ground and opinions are like aholes..everyone has one but would love some input. Thanks all !!!
Satchmo, you own a long distance touring bike...are your ears really prepared to endure the decibel level that the Thunderheader puts out over a long distance ride? Thunderheaders are great performing pipes that sound fantastic, but they are REALLY LOUD. What...huh?? Yeah, that's right...they're loud as hell. Think about it. If I owned a bar hopping, around town kind of bike that I didn't plan on taking long distance trips, I'd get the Thunderheader in a heartbeat. On my Streetglide, unfortunately it's a non player.
The D&D Fatcat is an aesthetically beautiful pipe...I really love the look and quality of this pipe. However, I've heard them on more than one occasion and they sound "tinney" to me. They lack that low bass rumble that I love, and they just don't produce the sound that you'd expect when you look at the physical beauty of the pipe.
What I ended up getting:
Vance and Hines Pro Pipe High Output (black ceramic). It's a great looking 2 into 1 pipe that delivers performance and a sweet sound. With the quiet baffles installed, the pipe has a really nice low bass rumble to it when idling, and when you crack the whip, she barks loud enough to get your attention without making your ears bleed. Again, this is just my perspective, and our taste in sound and looks may be 180 degrees out from each other.
In summary (In my very humble and subjective opinion):
Thunderheader: great sounding and performing pipe, but too loud for sustained long distance riding.
D&D Fatcat: beautiful looking pipe, but the sound quality just ain't cutting it.
Vance and Hines: best of both worlds. Great looking pipe, with a deep rumble (not obnoxious loud) sound that would work well on your long distance touring bike, and keep Johnny Law off your *** for loud pipes.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
I've had a Thunderheader 2-1, Supertrapp 2-1, and now the Fatcat 2-1.
Still love the sound of the Thunderheader but it can get loud, the quality sucks, and heatshields suck.
Supertrapp is quiet but with an odd "phhtt" sound that I didn't like. Quality is good, and heatshields are good. You can change the discs and endcaps to adjust performance and sound.
Fatcat has great build quality, great chrome, changable baffles to adjust sound and performance, and I personally love the sound of them.
Been thru 9 exhausts...............it's hard to find the right combo of looks, sound, and performance.
Steve
Still love the sound of the Thunderheader but it can get loud, the quality sucks, and heatshields suck.
Supertrapp is quiet but with an odd "phhtt" sound that I didn't like. Quality is good, and heatshields are good. You can change the discs and endcaps to adjust performance and sound.
Fatcat has great build quality, great chrome, changable baffles to adjust sound and performance, and I personally love the sound of them.
Been thru 9 exhausts...............it's hard to find the right combo of looks, sound, and performance.
Steve
The only thing I'd add is that the T-Header has a nasty torque dip at the bottom and the FatCat's claim to fame is the it make killer torque right off the bottom.
If sound is all that matters, then it's had to beat the T-Header.
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 2
From: Western Wyoming
9200 miles with the Fat Cat,got back from a 6900 mi x-country trip a couple of weeks ago.Fit,finish and performance of the Fat Cat's great.If I didn't always wear a helmet with noise cancelling ear buds or ear plugs I'd be deaf.If I had invested $600.00 in amp/speaker upgrades like I had on an '08 EGC the Fat Cat would be for sale.One reason I went with the Limited a $30.00 set of earbuds cancels out most of the engine and wind noise at highway speeds and I don't have to struggle to hear the radio anymore.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 26
+1 Phil, I have always loved the Thunderheader but got very tired of the TQ dip that no-one could tune out. If I was below 3K it was a must to down shift. With the fatcat I can just roll the throttle and the bike pulls. Still not sold on the sound of the Fatcat but love the performance. Might try the new quiet baffle sometime. Gota say I really like the looks of the Thunderheader over the fatcat as well but their quality doesnt come close the fatcat.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 860
Likes: 1
From: Deep South Texas
Just another opinion but I think 'Then came Bronson' hit the nail on the head. I have a Fat Cat and at certain rpm's in some gears it does sound 'tinny'. Like at 30 mph in 2nd gear or 65 mph in 5th. I have a Woods cam and try to keep the rpm above 2500 but in doing so I sometimes get that tinny sound. Had I to do over again I would have bought the V&H Pro Pipe Chrome at 1/2 the price of the D&D. Never had a Thunderheader and probably never will because I just don't like the looks. For sure I certainly like the looks of the Fat Cat over all of them. I'd like it even more if it had a deeper sound.
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Urbana, Ohio
WOW...What great responses.... Thanks to all who put in their 2 cents worth. Some VERY good input to think about. Again THX all to replied honestly even though I know how hard that can be..LOl