Confused about sound differences between my two bikes...?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
^^^ This man knows of what he speaks. I had pythons on my FB, and the ride was unbearable. Ended up switching to Screaming Eagle slip-ons. Much better, and I gained some low end torque.
Loud does not make a performance bike. In fact, you lose low end torque with little to no baffle.
I'm not knocking you, but eventually, loud pipes will annoy you...
GL/B
Loud does not make a performance bike. In fact, you lose low end torque with little to no baffle.
I'm not knocking you, but eventually, loud pipes will annoy you...
GL/B
He is right. I recently switched from a Thunderheader (they are called "thunder" for a reason) to SE and am surprisingly happier with the lowered db level. I lost some HP and TQ but I can live with it. I did the switch because of sympathy for my neighbors since I started having to leave the house at 0400 hrs. I thought I would miss the thunderheader but actually like riding better with the decreased noise.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
OP if unwrapping the baffles doesn't get you the sound your looking for (it won't) start with having the header decatted. This will be the cheapest route. If your trying to recreate the sound of your Dyna then you'll need to skip both of these steps and start looking for a new header setup all together. Be advised, your walking a thin line by running with the baffles removed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
instead of just going for loud, do some research. go to bike nights and listen to what other people have in their bikes. you can have loud that sounds like chit, or you can have less loud that has a nice tone to it.
like ironass, i used to be into loud. but i am finding that i actually prefer quieter (not necessarily church mouse quiet) pipes. i am running the fullsac sportpipe with the fullsac 2.0 baffles in the cvo stock cans. it has a nice deep tone to it, but doesn't kill you with the incessant droning on long trips (or even short ones). plus, i don't have to turn the radio up as loud
like ironass, i used to be into loud. but i am finding that i actually prefer quieter (not necessarily church mouse quiet) pipes. i am running the fullsac sportpipe with the fullsac 2.0 baffles in the cvo stock cans. it has a nice deep tone to it, but doesn't kill you with the incessant droning on long trips (or even short ones). plus, i don't have to turn the radio up as loud
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,185
Likes: 7,961
From: In my head
He is right. I recently switched from a Thunderheader (they are called "thunder" for a reason) to SE and am surprisingly happier with the lowered db level. I lost some HP and TQ but I can live with it. I did the switch because of sympathy for my neighbors since I started having to leave the house at 0400 hrs. I thought I would miss the thunderheader but actually like riding better with the decreased noise.
I've had countless sets of pipes on different bikes over the years and the thunderheader is amazing.
If you have neighbors and need to keep it quite then the thunderheader is not the pipe to have.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 541
Likes: 3
From: Sherwood Park AB Canada
Dead on. Once you get the cat out, or better yet, go with a new head pipe like the Jackpot 2-1-2, your V&H mufflers will be a lot louder. Your Dyna's cats were in the mufflers, so when you changed out the mufflers you got rid of the cats. Don't be too quick to be ripping out the baffles for the sake of the sound that you may not get anyway, until you remove the cat. And you will affect low end TQ enough that you will feel the difference.
I put some Rush 2.5 Big Louies on my 2013 Ultra Limited and it did sound better than the stock pipes but still not what I was looking for. I then decided to go with the new Jackpot ceramic coated headpipe and holy cow! You would swear I put new slip ons on the bike. Sounds way different with out the cat! It now sounds like a Harley should with a definate feel of more power!
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Two different bikes and two different exhaust set ups. I always found V/H pipes to be too quiet for me. They look good but way too quiet for me. Especially on Touring bikes. If you don't wanna disturb your neighbors go V/H. I do Rinehart true duals with 4" mufflers and hi-flow baffles. Twist da wick and it growls. To me it seems every bike is individual and very few sound alike. Swapping the headers will help increase volume and a little more pep in your step. Just my $0.02. Pulling the baffles will make it louder but most times make it sound like *****. Beauty lies in the ears of the beholder.
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