New headers with stock exhaust
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
Heat and sound. Sorry I still dont get it. I spent 400 bucks putting headers on with no cat and the bike sounds the same as it did before. As far as heat....the pipes are exhaust pipes. Their gonna be hot. If you can tell a degree difference between cat and no cat then your the man!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
I believe you....and it makes sense that a cat traps heat cause a cat is supposed to trap heat to burn the gas emisions. I got all that...I just never thought that anyove could feel the difference in heat under the heat shield BUT>>>>>>I dont ever ride a passenger so I guess I wouldnt know.
As far as sound....I wanted the bike to get louder with the headers. Perhaps if I had a DB meter I could measure it but my ears say it's basically the same as before....
As a matter of fact when I took off my stock headers I was shocked that my new headers were the same diameter pipe as the stock pipes! I was pissed!
Come to find out the only difference was it's cat less.
Live n learn.......
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
I believe you....and it makes sense that a cat traps heat cause a cat is supposed to trap heat to burn the gas emisions. I got all that...I just never thought that anyove could feel the difference in heat under the heat shield BUT>>>>>>I dont ever ride a passenger so I guess I wouldnt know.
As far as sound....I wanted the bike to get louder with the headers. Perhaps if I had a DB meter I could measure it but my ears say it's basically the same as before....
As a matter of fact when I took off my stock headers I was shocked that my new headers were the same diameter pipe as the stock pipes! I was pissed!
Come to find out the only difference was it's cat less.
Live n learn.......
As far as sound....I wanted the bike to get louder with the headers. Perhaps if I had a DB meter I could measure it but my ears say it's basically the same as before....
As a matter of fact when I took off my stock headers I was shocked that my new headers were the same diameter pipe as the stock pipes! I was pissed!
Come to find out the only difference was it's cat less.
Live n learn.......
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 1
From: Superior, WI
The CAT will add a lot of heat. I rode over 5,000 miles on my bike before I switched it out. Night and day difference. The CAT DOES restrict (been proven on dynos), but not as much as people would think. Will you notice the 0-5 hp increase by dropping the CAT, most likely not. You WILL notice the loss of heat and more healthy sound.
Switch out the header (or gut the CAT, your choice) and see if you like the sound difference. I KNOW you will like the temp difference. If you still want more sound, get different mufflers.
Like already mentioned, you already have the mufflers, give them a shot. I like louder, deeper pipes, but I understand not everyone does.
Switch out the header (or gut the CAT, your choice) and see if you like the sound difference. I KNOW you will like the temp difference. If you still want more sound, get different mufflers.
Like already mentioned, you already have the mufflers, give them a shot. I like louder, deeper pipes, but I understand not everyone does.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
From: NZ
If you are going to keep the stock mufflers, why not save a lot of money and take your std header to an exhaust shop and have them cut the cat out and replace that section of tubing.
We get the butterfly valve in the exhaust on overseas models and thats what I did to get rid of it , cost me $40.
dewky
We get the butterfly valve in the exhaust on overseas models and thats what I did to get rid of it , cost me $40.
dewky
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 9
From: Monmouth, OR
I just upgraded to the fuelmoto 2:1 head pipe in my 2010 to get rid of the cat. I had to really turn over stones to find one, since they discontinued it, but I'm really happy with the results.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Maybe you got my old pipe
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 19
From: USA
stock header pipe
If I just remove the cat from my stock header pipe and use something like Rush slipons. will it give the deep sound like an after market header pipe will do. If so that would save me a ton of money.