Slip-Ons...what else do I need
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 49
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From: Michigan in Summer & So. California Winters
Slip-Ons...what else do I need
I have a 2012 ElectraGlide Classic, it's a California bike. The bone stock 103 ci motor doesn't seem to have as much power as my previous non-CA 88 ci Road King. Anyway, when I was recently at the Laughlin Run, I noticed that it seemed that I was the only bike there running stock pipes. I am not interested in doing a lot to the bike, but I guess I am considering adding slip ons. I talked to the manufacturer rep for Cobra USA, and I liked their 3" slip ons. They would add some sound (I don't like a lot of noise, just want more than the stock offers), and he said that just by adding his slip ons, it would add about 5 more horsepower, and about 8-10 lbs of torque. This is exactly what I was looking for. A little more sound and a little more go power. I asked him if I changed out the stock mufflers to his 3" slip ons, what else I would need to do. He said nas long as I don't change the breather/air cleaner, nothing else needs to be done. No re-mapping, no tuner, nothing.
Now, yesterday I was at our local HD dealer, and I was talking to one of the service techs about this. He said if I make any change to the exhaust, and don't change the breather, get new cams, re-map, new tuner, and run a dyno, that my motor will blow up around 35,000 to 45,000 miles.
Now I am really confused, and don't know what to do. Who is right, the Cobra guy or the service tech?
Now, yesterday I was at our local HD dealer, and I was talking to one of the service techs about this. He said if I make any change to the exhaust, and don't change the breather, get new cams, re-map, new tuner, and run a dyno, that my motor will blow up around 35,000 to 45,000 miles.
Now I am really confused, and don't know what to do. Who is right, the Cobra guy or the service tech?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
They're both tryin' to sell you something, but the guy from Cobra is being honest with you. I might suspect his numbers a little, but mufflers won't hurt the motor. The stock ECU will adjust for something as simple as different mufflers. Your motor blowing up for lack of all that crap the dealer is sellin' is just bullshit.
Last edited by Jinks; May 16, 2012 at 06:13 AM.
I have a RK with the 103 stock. I did add slip-ons (Pythons) and believe there is some improvement in response. The bike in its current form (an heavier weight) pulls harder than my TC88b Deuce (sold) with V&H pipes and stage 1. The RK really doesn't NEED anything further but I do plan on a stage 1 upgrade in the near future. 
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
There are a lot of myths with modifying current Harleys. Your bike is built to meet emissions regulations, so runs on weak air/fuel ratios. Anything you do to change it will alter the finely judged settings.
Those who tell you not to do anything are ignoring two facts. Your bike is designed to run from sea-level over mountains and from the equator to Alaska, so it has a built-in adaptive system. Minor mods such as slip-ons use up some of that adaptability. The electronics on your bike are not there to allow you to make mods!
The other thing is that having started modifying it, your bike will run much better and cooler if you adjust the air/fuel ratios to optimum, from emissions settings. That requires making adjustments, commonly done by using a 'tuner'.
IMHO if you are going to modify your bike from stock and want to get the best out of it, do it properly. Chose your 'expert' wisely!
Those who tell you not to do anything are ignoring two facts. Your bike is designed to run from sea-level over mountains and from the equator to Alaska, so it has a built-in adaptive system. Minor mods such as slip-ons use up some of that adaptability. The electronics on your bike are not there to allow you to make mods!
The other thing is that having started modifying it, your bike will run much better and cooler if you adjust the air/fuel ratios to optimum, from emissions settings. That requires making adjustments, commonly done by using a 'tuner'.
IMHO if you are going to modify your bike from stock and want to get the best out of it, do it properly. Chose your 'expert' wisely!
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 2
From: Texas
You should have asked him for dyno charts, LOL! Simply changing to slip-ons will not give you a boost in power. It'll sound more like a Harley which is why 99.9% of people do that mod. If you just want the sound then go for it, you can swap the pipes without any other mod's and it'll be fine. But if you're looking for a boost in power you should consider going with stage 1- exhaust, air cleaner, tuner. With a good stage 1 tune your mileage should remain about the same, but you'll pick up a boost in power and your engine will run cooler too.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 814
From: Nevada
Now, yesterday I was at our local HD dealer, and I was talking to one of the service techs about this. He said if I make any change to the exhaust, and don't change the breather, get new cams, re-map, new tuner, and run a dyno, that my motor will blow up around 35,000 to 45,000 miles.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,074
Likes: 12
From:
you wont hurt anything but you aint gettin no 5 hp and 8-10 ftlbs of torque out of those slipons. Dont forget that you have a CAT in the headpipe and thats where most of the back pressure is
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Just do the stage 1 it is the best bang for the bucks.
Air cleaner and slip ons with a good tuner and some time on a dyno will make you happy.
Air cleaner and slip ons with a good tuner and some time on a dyno will make you happy.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Please look at the New Supertrapp Stout Slip-Ons
They will give you everything your asking for plus 9 more ftlbs of tq. with just a Slip-on
Go to www.supertrapp.com and go to there Forum section
One more thing if you look at the 2012 Screamin Eagle Catalog (or go on line) you will see on the first few pages four of Harley's Raceing Bikes ,three of the four have Supertrapp Mufflers,,Now if the Harley Racing Teams are using Supertrapp,,What does that tell you ??????
They will give you everything your asking for plus 9 more ftlbs of tq. with just a Slip-on
Go to www.supertrapp.com and go to there Forum section
One more thing if you look at the 2012 Screamin Eagle Catalog (or go on line) you will see on the first few pages four of Harley's Raceing Bikes ,three of the four have Supertrapp Mufflers,,Now if the Harley Racing Teams are using Supertrapp,,What does that tell you ??????
