I'm relatively new to Harleys but not motorcycles. 

My latest ride is a 2008 Nightster; it came with cycle shack slipons and was stock apart from that. Compared to my 2005 Roadster, this thing has masses of torque and acceleration. I love it; apart from the exhaust note.. just didn't sound right.

I came across a cheapish set of V&H Sideshots on ebay; they had been in an accident and the heatshield were badly scraped. So I mounted the pipes, ditched the heathields, and used heatwrap instead. The sound is incredible. However, it feels like it has distinctly less torque than the cycleshack slip ons.

Anyone else with sideshots noticed the same thing on their 1200?

Yesterday, my fuelpak and SE stage 1 air filter arrived in the mail. So I will get these fitted soon. However, if all I get back is the torque I already had with the cycleshack slip ons, then I have to ask, is it worth it? Also, would I get even MORE performance installing the airfilter and fuelpak and switching back to the cycle shack mufflers?

Mike

 

pretty sure you need it turned for short shots, I went from screaming eagle stage 1 to short shots and seems to be fine. But I dont think EFI likes the short shots without a tune. What baffles do you have in it at the moment?

V&H blurb - " Sideshots deliver increased horsepower and torque served up by our revolutionary Power Chamber technology. Hidden under the heat shields, the Power Chamber uses the volume of both mufflers to improve scavenging of each cylinder for more efficient combustion."

My guess is you should notice a big difference once the SE filter & Fuelpak are fitted & yr setup tuned right. If yr happy with the power/torque & you obviously like the note of the Sideshots then stick with them.

Wouldn't mind seein a pic of them wrapped pipes.

Cheers.

Slap.

 Short shots are known to produce less torque in the bottom rev range, but Side Shots should be better due to the pipe length being longer.  My thought was they may have had the baffles removed (affects back pressure etc)  Your bike may have been tuned for the Cycle Shaks without you knowing it.  

Get it tuned and go from there.

Cheers

 

Hi Mike,
I runnin side shots with baffles on the 48 with a high flow and a SEPST tuner and had it dyno'd.
After my mechanic got it mapped he recons he had trouble stopping it from doin wheelies on the dyno.
Short answer....no problems in this camp....lovin it.
good luck
Chicken

I got the V&H fuelpak fitted and plugged in all the correct settings. It is smoother with almost no popping on deceleration but it definately doesnt feel any more powerful or torquey. I don't think it's in my mind.. and I doubt I've gotten used to it yet.
Might try some different settings on the Fuelpak, and maybe even go back to my cyclechacks.

My first attempt at exhaust wrap wasnt too good... they seem to have loosened a touch and need to be redone anyway.

Cheers for the replies.
mike
Brisbane