Do I really need exhaust????
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
You want us to tell you what you want? Who are you going to listen to, him, us, yourself? Keerist! If you can't make up your own mind do it my way! Put some big assed cams & a thunderheader on it...............sheesh...........
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 240
From: On 2 rails...
I DIDN'T ASK for anyones decisions, just their thoughts...
Novice
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Texas
You'd be singing a different tune if you were in Houston or Austin or Dallas in early August when road temps are in the 120's, air temps in the 100's. The exhaust heat on stock bikes is so uncomfortable that many simply don't ride in that kind of heat (myself included).
Air-Cooled bikes are hot, sure, but when it's so hot you don't want it to be on it, it's a problem.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 2
From: North Central CT
You guys down South make me chuckle....you aren't the only ones that see heat. We ride in plenty of upper 90's days with 98% humidity up here, lol. You poor buggers just have it a hell of a lot longer than the month or so that we do, and I feel for ya. I did a late summer ride in Florida once and left a puddle of sweat on the seat....I dunno how you guys can handle that stuff for so long.
My point was this....my rear jug is already so hot I could never dream of riding with a pair of shorts on.....a little more heat from the cats never made a difference to me and I didn't notice much of a difference after I ditched the stock head pipes.
My point was this....my rear jug is already so hot I could never dream of riding with a pair of shorts on.....a little more heat from the cats never made a difference to me and I didn't notice much of a difference after I ditched the stock head pipes.
Last edited by MadIrish; Jun 27, 2014 at 07:57 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 240
From: On 2 rails...
The humidity here in Connecticut this week was tough for a couple of days, even with the lowered seat on the King my inner thigh does not fry.
On the other hand the Dyna also has a 103 and the heat on my legs at a stop is brutal.
On the other hand the Dyna also has a 103 and the heat on my legs at a stop is brutal.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
So many options, as others have said, just ride the bike and use your money for gas in the tank.
Maybe get rid of the cat converter and enjoy the ride.
Or else...... You can decide at a later time to fiddle with exhaust/tuner/slip ons etc. Fuelmoto would be a good contact for the or else route.
Maybe get rid of the cat converter and enjoy the ride.
Or else...... You can decide at a later time to fiddle with exhaust/tuner/slip ons etc. Fuelmoto would be a good contact for the or else route.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 936
Likes: 21
From: Paying taxes in New York State
You can leave the bike stock and have the HD stage 1 download done. This will make the bike run richer and a little cooler. The owner of my HD dealer has been doing this with FI bikes for years.
I ran my 2008 SG for nearly 49,000 miles bone stock. I didn't want a loud exhaust and never had a heat issue that bike.
My 2012 Ultra Limited is a slightly different story. My bike overheated and shut down when I got stuck at a border crossing for about two hours. EITM system was activated and didn't get the job done. Had to wait for 30 min for the bike to cool down enough to run.
So, to help with this, I'm running a K&N stock replacement filter, SE Fatshotz pipes (just a little louder than stock) and the Stage 1 download. I like the slight power gain and the slightly louder exhaust note. It feels a little cooler on my right leg (yeah, not scientific), but I've not yet been stuck in traffic to see how much these changes have really helped. I trust the service manager's advice - he was the dealer's top wrench for years before getting the manager's gig.
As they say, your mileage may vary...oh, and speaking of mileage, still getting about 42mpg.
I ran my 2008 SG for nearly 49,000 miles bone stock. I didn't want a loud exhaust and never had a heat issue that bike.
My 2012 Ultra Limited is a slightly different story. My bike overheated and shut down when I got stuck at a border crossing for about two hours. EITM system was activated and didn't get the job done. Had to wait for 30 min for the bike to cool down enough to run.
So, to help with this, I'm running a K&N stock replacement filter, SE Fatshotz pipes (just a little louder than stock) and the Stage 1 download. I like the slight power gain and the slightly louder exhaust note. It feels a little cooler on my right leg (yeah, not scientific), but I've not yet been stuck in traffic to see how much these changes have really helped. I trust the service manager's advice - he was the dealer's top wrench for years before getting the manager's gig.
As they say, your mileage may vary...oh, and speaking of mileage, still getting about 42mpg.
I have a local indy who is a one man show, with a longstanding reputation of being a great dyno guy and a strait-shooter, who has treated me very well over the years.
He knows explicitly I do not want a loud bike, but is strongly recomending a tuner and a more free flowing exhaust for my Road-King. I strongly believe it's not a sales pitch, and he states that a tuner, a tune, a more free flowing air filter, headpipes and mufflers will make a different bike.
So here's my hesitation, the bike rides well, has more than enough acceleration to keep me happy, gets well over 40MPG and on the Hottest days in traffic oil temp rests comfortably below 240 degrees on a 90 degree day in traffic.
I have yet to meet a car I couldn't outrun from a stoplight if I needed to OR wanted to.
I have paid the harley initiation dues in the past and other than loud and obnoxious it changed nothing for me. He states these new Twin-Cams are a whole different animal....opinions, comments are welcome.
He knows explicitly I do not want a loud bike, but is strongly recomending a tuner and a more free flowing exhaust for my Road-King. I strongly believe it's not a sales pitch, and he states that a tuner, a tune, a more free flowing air filter, headpipes and mufflers will make a different bike.
So here's my hesitation, the bike rides well, has more than enough acceleration to keep me happy, gets well over 40MPG and on the Hottest days in traffic oil temp rests comfortably below 240 degrees on a 90 degree day in traffic.
I have yet to meet a car I couldn't outrun from a stoplight if I needed to OR wanted to.
I have paid the harley initiation dues in the past and other than loud and obnoxious it changed nothing for me. He states these new Twin-Cams are a whole different animal....opinions, comments are welcome.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: cleburne Texas
just did it.
New intake and pipes with turner, added 10 horse. Its not screeming loud.
My bike was running lean, too lean, dealer tuned. Much better now as for running, not sure on heat cause it's only 90 something out.
My bike was running lean, too lean, dealer tuned. Much better now as for running, not sure on heat cause it's only 90 something out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
Like you, we all have our own opinions.
If you're happy with your bike, leave it as is.
Anytime you start "tinkering" with a bike, truck, motorcycle, or boat to make it faster, it's gonna cost you money and more money to run it.
That said, the newer bikes run hot, da*n hot!
I eliminated the catalytic (furnace) converter and went with true duals, a tuner and a dyno tune to simply make my bike run cooler, not faster.
My MPG's dropped slightly and I think the bike runs better but that could just be in my head.
I also went with the extended warranty, just in case, and if you're goina to leave your bike stock, and especially if you ride a lot, you may want to consider this also.
If you're happy with your bike, leave it as is.
Anytime you start "tinkering" with a bike, truck, motorcycle, or boat to make it faster, it's gonna cost you money and more money to run it.
That said, the newer bikes run hot, da*n hot!
I eliminated the catalytic (furnace) converter and went with true duals, a tuner and a dyno tune to simply make my bike run cooler, not faster.
My MPG's dropped slightly and I think the bike runs better but that could just be in my head.
I also went with the extended warranty, just in case, and if you're goina to leave your bike stock, and especially if you ride a lot, you may want to consider this also.
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