Exhaust for stage 1
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
you could post year and model when you have a question as there may be different answers depending on what you have.
2009 CA bikes have cats ( 49 State bikes do not- although CA spec bikes may be sold outside of CA.- the VIN will tell)
2010 + all touring have cats in the headers...but in a different location than the above. Also the o2 sensor type/size and location changed into 2010 and up.
the cat is a restriction to flow and sound, so many remove the cat ( search for the tutorial) or buy a new header pipe system
you can just replace the mufflers...however some riders report good results with the stock 2010+ muffler once the cat is removed.
doing just that will get a louder exhaust note.
for performance gains you will need a hi flow intake- i like the Ness Big Sucker for about $115
If you do both of these you will likely need to compensate tuning- a ball of wax with answers from $120 ( nightrider.com Xieds, which I use) to a few hundred bucks to a replacement ECM. Lots to read up.
mike
2009 CA bikes have cats ( 49 State bikes do not- although CA spec bikes may be sold outside of CA.- the VIN will tell)
2010 + all touring have cats in the headers...but in a different location than the above. Also the o2 sensor type/size and location changed into 2010 and up.
the cat is a restriction to flow and sound, so many remove the cat ( search for the tutorial) or buy a new header pipe system
you can just replace the mufflers...however some riders report good results with the stock 2010+ muffler once the cat is removed.
doing just that will get a louder exhaust note.
for performance gains you will need a hi flow intake- i like the Ness Big Sucker for about $115
If you do both of these you will likely need to compensate tuning- a ball of wax with answers from $120 ( nightrider.com Xieds, which I use) to a few hundred bucks to a replacement ECM. Lots to read up.
mike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
You do not NEED to change the header but there are some out there that perform better than stock. If you will feel the improvement with only stage 1 depends how much feeling ya have your ***. BTW I have seen no hard evidence the cat restricts flow/power on a stage 1 setup.
Last edited by 0ldhippie; Jan 9, 2013 at 08:31 PM.
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