Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Newbie Here Needs Help With Exhaust Choice

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 07:16 PM
  #1  
travis.l.rider's Avatar
travis.l.rider
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Seminole Oklahoma
Default Newbie Here Needs Help With Exhaust Choice

I have an 09' SG. I have read so many post of this site about different exhaust it is making my head spin. I have a few questions as I am new to the Harley world. I know when it comes to exhaust everyone has their own opinion but I wanna hear them. Which is better as far as performance, duals or a 2-1? When it comes to 2-1 is there anything that can compete with a D&D Fat Cat as far a look and performance? I know its usually a love/hate thing with the D&D sound. If I was to go with duals should I change the head pipe or just go with slip ons? I have read where some people feel like with duals they lost low end torque, is this true. Any insight into this matter will greatly help. I know there is hundreds of post of this subject and I have read many of them but am still not sure.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 07:26 PM
  #2  
hdslam's Avatar
hdslam
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: N. Scottsdale, AZ
Default

D&D FatCat, can't comment. I am running a Vance&Hines Pro-Pipe full system and could not be happier. Perfect sound and performance w/ mods I have done. Many factors to your questions, ie...are you only looking for top end or bottom end. Pro-Pipe give great bottom end torque and grunt.

You will loose some top end, if you live with that. On my roadglide I am running true duals w/ Bub7's. Again, GREAT sound and performance w/ completed mods. Custom mapping w/ SERT done by Nick Trask at Custom Performance in Phoenix. I won't let anyone else but Nick and his crew to wrench on my bikes for tuning or major work.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 07:33 PM
  #3  
RoadWhipper's Avatar
RoadWhipper
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Default

Hey Travis- exhaust is a matter of choice (YOURS!). I just put V&H fishtail slipons on my FLHRC, and I like the old school looks and the V&H sound. Best thing you can do is match your pipes to the style of your bike and the look you like! Some of the pipe manufacturers have sound on their websites so you can listen to the pipes. Most of the standards (Vance & Hines, Bub, etc) all perform well.

As far as loud, I assume you're in the US and there are laws in your state regarding the Db level allowed legally. Maybe you don't care, but if you want to avoid tickets, you may want to check the sound levels of the pipes you're considering versus the allowable limits in your state.

True duals are said to have the best performance, and will be a complete set including headers which don't collect into a 2-1-2 manner like the stockers. Slipons are easy to install and imho, suit the majority of riders. They're also less expensive than a full set. The bigger cost is in the high flow air filter system and the re-mapping for your ECM. I'd really suggest you have the bike dyno'ed when the stage 1 is done to maximize the performance.

Hope this helps- ride safe
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2010 | 07:49 PM
  #4  
travis.l.rider's Avatar
travis.l.rider
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Seminole Oklahoma
Default

I don't want to loose a lot of bottom end. I think the bike has plenty of top end now and if I had to give something up it would be a little top end. I have a SE Heavy Breather on it now. Is there anything performance wish to be gained by just putting a set of slip ons on the bike?
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2010 | 09:06 AM
  #5  
RoadWhipper's Avatar
RoadWhipper
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Default

High flow slip ons will make a difference, yes. As I said previously, the best route when completing your stage 1 upgrade is to have the bike dyno tested and adjusted with a race tuner. The race tuner isn't cheap (just paid 600.00 for one in Canada). Running your bike with the SE heavy breather without remapping means you're probably running excessively lean, and that can damage your bike.

Ride Safe
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mcarso1
Touring Models
6
Dec 15, 2014 02:23 PM
Friday55
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Jan 19, 2011 07:27 PM
okkat
Touring Models
10
Jan 10, 2011 08:21 PM
chinbagger
Touring Models
2
Dec 6, 2009 07:45 AM
zenwee
Touring Models
34
Jan 22, 2006 12:56 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:03 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE