Does removing the catalytic converter from the headpipe make a difference in heat and performance to the point of it being worth the trouble?

 

I am sure you will get lots of posts here - From what I have read, I believe if you remove the Cat - you will need to adjust the fuel / re tune??

 

Increasing flow into the motor and out of it (hi flow air cleaner, no cat headers and freer flowing ( which does not always mean loud, you can have flow and control sound at the same time) mufflers

will result in 7 to 10 horsepower performance gain. ( this is the least expensive power gain you will ever get from your bike)

most bikes will need to adjust fuel mixture to take advantage of the extra air coming in. I use nightrider.com XIEDS. they plug right in to the o2 sensors, $125 shipped

other riders use other products.

catalytic converters need heat to do the job- and riders who remove the cat should see some heat decrease.
slightly enriching the air/fuel mixture will also reduce heat.

but keep in mind you are sitting with a big motor between your legs

Mike

 

Yes you will get a lot of responses,

My opinion,

if you are doing it for powergain, you will not be satisfied.

if you are doing it to get rid of the obnoxious amount of heat felt on right side of bike, you will be more than satisfied.

if you are doing it for sound, you will be pleasantly satisfied for the price...

 

What ^ he said.

 

I must also agree. The only time i will miss gutting my cat is during the winter. But hell, even then there were times it was burning me up.

 

I have a headpipe in my garage that has had the cat removed. Ever since I put the stock ac back on I have unleashed the heat monster. Im thinking of having this headed thrown on and tryinging out the xieds. Never noticed the heat all summer until the stock ac went back on...now it is an oven lol

 

Frankly, I don't understand the heat issue. I have stock head pipes and stock air kit on my 2011 SG and I don't notice the heat any more now than I did on my 2006 Road Star, which had a 103CI air-cooled motor and a 2-1 Roadhouse Classic exhaust system!

 

+1 I went from a 2005 Road Glide to a 2011 Road Glide. I don't have any more heat with the new one than the old one. I also had a 2005 FXST.... same heat. I also had an EVO Softail, and an old Pan Head.

Sitting at a stop light and they are all hot.

I rode a friends 2011 Ultra Classic with all the wiz-bang mods to lower the heat. I think he spent a couple grand on pipes, tuner, AC, etc. The heat feels the same as my stock Road Glide.

But this should be noted...... I get 50MPG and he gets 38. Before he had all the mods done, he was getting 47.

 

I have done no mods other than removing converter I averaged 38 mpg before, I still average 38 mpg.

And the heat eminating from the headpipe preremoval was unbearable during a long ride....

On a recent trip to the cape we literally had to pull over and I had to put my wife in the car with my father.

This never happened on my suzi.

Im not complaining, but to say it doesnt exist, or that you dont notice it.... wow.....

I fixed my heat issue. A heat issue that was there.