Dual vs. Factory
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
Looks... in general duals produce slightly less power. The V Twin likes some back pressue so a 2-1 pipe is best and 2-1-2(like the factory) is next and duals last. Biggest first improvement is to get rid of the cat in your pipe either by removing it from stock pipes or replacing the pipes
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 98
From: Port Orange, Fl
True duals look and sound better, no doubt on that. The difference in power is correct but at the level you're at, it's a couple hp. What you should be focusing on is Mid-range Tq, it is a little more with a 2-1.
A bike that makes 80hp with true duals might make 82hp with the right 2-1. is that worth it to? That's up to you.
A bike that makes 80hp with true duals might make 82hp with the right 2-1. is that worth it to? That's up to you.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Yes. The factory 2-1-2 and earlier 'Y'pipe exhausts are pretty lousy so anything you put on that flows better is an improvement that you will feel. And that includes true duals since the factory smashes the '09 and later cross-under pipe for ground clearance.
Only on internally modified motors does a 2-1 start to out-perform a stepped header true dual. For any Stage-1 mods a true dual will be the same, or at least pretty dang close to any 2-1.
Only on internally modified motors does a 2-1 start to out-perform a stepped header true dual. For any Stage-1 mods a true dual will be the same, or at least pretty dang close to any 2-1.
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5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Rome, GA
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
In a touring bike the cat is in the head pipe where they come together. Slip ons do not get rid of the catalytic converter.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 968
Likes: 11
From: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
I love the sound of my tru duals.. sounds like a REAL V-Twin!!!!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
I had my cat removed. To do it right you have to cut the head pipe in half, clean out the mesh, then get it welded back together. I've heard the weld job can be cheap ($30-50).
I took the easy way. You can buy stock headers with the cat already removed from ebay for about $150. When it arrives, just swap headers. Make sure the pipe you get was truly cut in half and not some 'drilled out' or a little window cut out.
After market Cross pipes range in the $350-500 range so the ebay option saved me quite a few bucks.
I took the easy way. You can buy stock headers with the cat already removed from ebay for about $150. When it arrives, just swap headers. Make sure the pipe you get was truly cut in half and not some 'drilled out' or a little window cut out.
After market Cross pipes range in the $350-500 range so the ebay option saved me quite a few bucks.