THUNDERHEADER vs FATCAT
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Nevadas
Since everyone here has an opinion, I thought I'd throw mine in the ring.
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.
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.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 146
From:
When I first installed my Fat Cat i thought it sounded funny at about 2500 r.p.m. it was quiet at idle and deep bass sound from idle to 2500, then sounded a little "hollow." I took it to my tuner and he rode it around the parking lot of this industrial complex to the back of the shop, and I thought it sounded great from behind it. Then I took it on a 3000+ mile trip, part of which was up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fransisco. There are lots of switchbacks and hairpins. I was constantly slowing for a turn, downshifting and accellerating through the turns and hitting it a little (sometimes a lot) in the straight aways. The sound grew on me. I now love that sound, not to mention the new found responsiveness coming out of those twistys. Low end torque is what baggers need and that Fat Cat delivers it right where I want it. I can hear it at freeway speeds but it doesn't drown out my stereo. The only other pipe I'd even consider is a Supertrapp.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
When I first installed my Fat Cat i thought it sounded funny at about 2500 r.p.m. it was quiet at idle and deep bass sound from idle to 2500, then sounded a little "hollow." I took it to my tuner and he rode it around the parking lot of this industrial complex to the back of the shop, and I thought it sounded great from behind it. Then I took it on a 3000+ mile trip, part of which was up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fransisco. There are lots of switchbacks and hairpins. I was constantly slowing for a turn, downshifting and accellerating through the turns and hitting it a little (sometimes a lot) in the straight aways. The sound grew on me. I now love that sound, not to mention the new found responsiveness coming out of those twistys. Low end torque is what baggers need and that Fat Cat delivers it right where I want it. I can hear it at freeway speeds but it doesn't drown out my stereo. The only other pipe I'd even consider is a Supertrapp.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
When I first installed my Fat Cat i thought it sounded funny at about 2500 r.p.m. it was quiet at idle and deep bass sound from idle to 2500, then sounded a little "hollow." I took it to my tuner and he rode it around the parking lot of this industrial complex to the back of the shop, and I thought it sounded great from behind it. Then I took it on a 3000+ mile trip, part of which was up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fransisco. There are lots of switchbacks and hairpins. I was constantly slowing for a turn, downshifting and accellerating through the turns and hitting it a little (sometimes a lot) in the straight aways. The sound grew on me. I now love that sound, not to mention the new found responsiveness coming out of those twistys. Low end torque is what baggers need and that Fat Cat delivers it right where I want it. I can hear it at freeway speeds but it doesn't drown out my stereo. The only other pipe I'd even consider is a Supertrapp.
Love the results I get from my D&D Boss Fatcat
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
When I first installed my Fat Cat i thought it sounded funny at about 2500 r.p.m. it was quiet at idle and deep bass sound from idle to 2500, then sounded a little "hollow." I took it to my tuner and he rode it around the parking lot of this industrial complex to the back of the shop, and I thought it sounded great from behind it. Then I took it on a 3000+ mile trip, part of which was up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fransisco. There are lots of switchbacks and hairpins. I was constantly slowing for a turn, downshifting and accellerating through the turns and hitting it a little (sometimes a lot) in the straight aways. The sound grew on me. I now love that sound, not to mention the new found responsiveness coming out of those twistys. Low end torque is what baggers need and that Fat Cat delivers it right where I want it. I can hear it at freeway speeds but it doesn't drown out my stereo. The only other pipe I'd even consider is a Supertrapp.
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