Hello all,

I just got back in country and took a vacation up to Potter County in PA and also did some riding in NY. My fiance and I went up state with some family to be in God's Country as it's called. Absolutely beautiful and highly recommended if you get the chance. Rt. 6 is one of the best roads I have ever been on and I've ridden in PA, NY, NH, MD, DE, SC, and TX.

We started out on a 2007 Night Train with a 96 ci but ended up coming home with a 2011 Street Glide with Power Pack and cruise. Test rode the bike with less than one mile on it and now have a little over 600. Wonderful bike. The reason for the switch was simple, comfort. This past weekend, and the three before that, we have ridden almost 1,600 miles on the Night Train. It is a great bike for smaller day trips of maybe a couple hours, but certainly not a touring bike. I had the rear lowered with a non-adjustable lowering kit and the reach to the bars with a badlander seat just got to be a little much for me. My girl was so uncomfortable on the little seat with hard suspension and no backrest (we usually only ride an hour or two to wherever we are going and she always hit her leg on the tiny backrest) that we ended up having to stop every 30 miles or so after a few hours of riding. Needless to say, we stopped at a local Harley dealership to cool off and check it out. Just out of curiosity, I asked some questions and ended up getting what I think is a fantastic deal. Larry's Sport Center in Galeton, PA if anyone is interested. I thought they did fantastic on price. They were anxious to move the 2011 now that the 2012's are in.

Anyway, I have been doing as much studying as possible and it seems the more I study, the more confused I get so I figured being a new member on a new model, I would ask for some help. All my other Harleys have been Sportsters and Softails, so I don't have much experience on the baggers even though I have ridden a few. Modification questions mainly.

First thing I want to do when I hit 1,000 miles is exhaust. This is a huge opinion topic and everyone says something a little different. I'm on a military budget but want the best options for my money if that makes sense. Can anyone offer some real advice on slip-ons versus true duals (full exhaust) please? How much performance advantage is it when going with full exhaust? I have been told that the increase will be noticeable, however, I will have to get a fuel manager (EFI controller like a SERT or Power Commander, etc.) and Heavy Breather or K+N air filter set-up to notice that difference. Obviously cost wise, it will be cheaper to get slip-ons and then potentially step up to full exhaust and fuel manager and intake later. Do you have to get all that stuff with just a pair of slip-ons or can I just get a set of slip-ons, bolt them on, then go without any of the other mods? Also, any insight on who has the best sounding and performing slip-on for the money? If it is just sound, does one slip-on work better than the other since you are still under factory mapping and running thru a cat?

What about a stage 1 download? Can I just have that done with the slip-on's to take care of any lean/rich issues? Is it even needed with just slip-ons?

I'm sure I will have a lot more questions as I get to know the bike and I will also receive a ton of different responses on who has the best, so ultimately I will have to decide what I like the best. I am really hoping to just get a clean response on whether or not you have to get a fuel manager and intake with just slip-ons.

I greatly appreciate the help from anyone who is willing. I absolutely love this bike and don't know why I waited so long to get one. It actually handles better than my Night Train in the corners because I can lean it farther, has a radio and storage and cruise, and now my girl doesn't have to stop even after four or five hours of riding back to York.

Again, I appreciate the help.

 

Nothing needed for just slip-ons. Congratulating on the new bike

 

Check out Fuel Moto USA. I'm pretty new to forum also....but wish i'd known about Fuel Moto before i had started buying parts for my SG. Most people on here have good things to say about them. It sounds like they can give you advice on which upgrades to make...and in which order to make them. When winter gets here, i'll be ordering cams and a jackpot 2/1/2 header from them!

 

You can do it piece meal if you want. You can start out with slip ons only without a tuner. Once you add a new AC you'll want to get a tuner. I'd highly recommend replacing the header pipe as this gets rid of alot of heat issues. If you buy a tuner from fuel moto, you'll always have them available to provide a map for your next mod. Most times they can nail it, other times it's a good starting point. For just a stage 1 and a new header they should be able to provide a map that's pretty close and you can buy it all from them if you like. Once I added a cam I needed a dyno tune.

 

Fuelmoto is excellent bang for your buck. Later you may want to cut out the cat in your head pipe or get a head pipe from an '09.

 

I put over 40K on my night train in 3 1/2 years.

First I had Vance and Hine Slip-on's, the stage 1 air cleaner and the Harley Tune.

My bike ran way too lean. Ran it that way for about 2 years.

Before you read any further, think about this. HOW LOUD do you want to listen to your bike while you are RIDING several days of TOURING. I think most people don't want too loud.

I purchased a PC-V from Jamie at Fuel Moto (for fuel management) and purchased a pair of Vance and Hines Big Radius Pipes. The PC-V was $300 and my pipes were like $550. I installed everything myself. Initially, I took out my stock V-H baffles and installed BIG CITY THUNDER MONSTER BAFFLES, but since last summer I run without baffles.

My Streetglide is LOUD and I after a couple of days, all day without hearing protection I can't hear anything. Personally, I love my Bike LOUD but at the price that I can't hear my radio on long trips after about 4 hours if I am cruising at High Way speeds. Actually if I am not wearing hearing protection my ears start to hurt after a couple of days.

Slip-ons were ok, but my night train had Vance and Hines Straight Shots without baffles and I always loved it loud. My streetglide didn't become the bike I desired until I put my Vance and Hines Big Radius without baffles.

Congrats on the new bike. Galeton is lovely. 641 from Mechanicsburg toward west is a nice ride and 30 from Bedford to York is nice on a bike.

 

Thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the responses and info. I think what I will end up doing is the slip-ons for right now and then step into the other mods when I am better financially able to.

Smylin, are you from PA?
SG_Dave, beautiful bike brother!!!

 

Yes, I live in Erie Pa. I grew up in Pittsburgh, lived in Claysburg, Altoona and Hollidaysburgl, Harrisburg for 3 years. Lancaster County for 3 years and Reading.

I R from PA

 

Sounds like you have been around the block Smyln.

I think what I am going to do since my money is a little tight is go with American Custom. They have a set-up that uses stock headers and cans in which they modify the baffles and basically gut out the header. Full system for $350. Good sound and guaranteed fit. Once I get some money saved up (or after I get some wheels and go fast goodies), I'll probably step up to a different system.