So I'm in the market for some new exhaust. I've found lots of good deals on here but have a question... is there a difference between a gutted 2010 stock head pipe vs. An aftermarket head pipe? I'm not too worried about power gains but more about a truer/deeper Harley sound. More noise if I add some slip ins or a full stage 1 setup.

 

an after market pipe may be somewhat better and probably cost 3 times as much, so that's your call.

For my $, I'd be putting along with a gutted H-D header.


some riders seem happy with the stock 2010+ muffler once the cat is gone.



true harley sound: one of these days I'll have to record my panhead- the noise from the valve train and the gear driven cam/idler/timing/generator is almost as loud as the pipes!

Mike

 

Many prefer to swap the stock (cat) headpipes for after-market (non-cat) headpipes, so they can keep their stockers in case some new crazy emissions laws are enacted.

I personally swapped out the stock headers on my 2011 RGC for some True Duals for three reasons; (1) because I wanted take care of the heat issue, and (2) because I prefer the look of True Duals, and (3) because I like the enhanced sound that True Duals offer. You obviously have other after-market header options than True Duals, but the heat issue alone is a good reason to swap out the headers on newer HD's.

 

I don't know what year your stock stuff is, but I have my complete 2011 exhaust I'll sell you if you want the header.....no miles on any of it, it was all removed and replaced before I took the bike home from the dealer.

 

Just gutted my head pipe on my 11 RKC. Not for performance but the heat. There is a big improvement in sound with the stock mufflers just by doing this simple mod. Cost me $35 to have it welded and about $30 for new exhaust gaskets and muffler clamps.

 

Yeah gutting the Cat def increased the db a couple #s not excessively tho.

 

Agreed, I think the sound is just about right. I'm not into loud so it's just about perfect.

 

i have a 2011 sg with a stock head pipe.. i was thinking of gutting the cat..was it hard to do?..do i have to get it retuned afterwards.. ?. i already have a se stage one download on it with a set of se supertrapp slip ons

 

Excuse me for jumping into this thread, but I would like to know if your right side stock muffler that came off your SG has a cat. I recently went back from a 2into1 exhaust to a stock system off a 2011 SG. I gave my stock system to a friend. I didn't like the looks of the stock muffler's that came off my 2010 RK. I liked the tapered slightly slashdown look of the 2011 SG muffler's. I got them from a local Dealer. He said they had just sold a 2011 SG and the guy didn't want the stock system.

To answer the OP's question. I've been both route's with exhaust. If I were going to gid rid of the cat, I would spend the money and get a FuelMoto headpipe or Fulsac X-Pipe. There's been a lot of question's about Cross Talk between the 02 sensor's with the cat removed from the stock header. Plus you will gain maybe 5 HP with a tuned header. JMO

 

When I was in the same place trying to make a decision I had a Harley tech who runs his dealership's Nito drag Bike tell me that the after market head pipes are great but in all reality on a stock bike you are paying around $100 to $150 per Hp depending on what brand you buy; that sold me on gutting my Cat.