I'm convinced that throwing money at swapping slip-ons on Harley models such as late Harley tourers, Fatbob, Switchback, XR1200 and even V-Rods is an utter waste of money unless you actually like that 2-in-1 sound.
I personally can't handle it.
I've tried numerous arrangements on my Road King (luckily low cost and experimental) and nothing comes close to the sound I got from my Dyna which had staggered pipes and a true dual system with crossover pipe, even with the relatively value- for-money Sonic mufflers. You'll never get that classic Harley patata patata sound as long as you retain the stock (2-1 type) headers.
I don't know why Harley has decided to trend towards this type of header system ?
Maybe the nanny states/countries around the world kicked up a stink about the cats being located in the mufflers and therfore so easily being eliminated when aftermarket slip-ons are fitted ?
Then again, maybe it was to save cost; one cat instead of two.
Don't waste your money fellers; don't try 3 or 4 different slip-ons trying to chase that patata patata sound that we have all grown to love and then sell them as second hand units and lose value every time.
The answer is to either reconstruct the headers all together to get two separate exhaust pipe passages
or
buy a dual header system from one of the many suppliers.
Just remember, it is best to get an exhaust system that has a cross-over pipe for best exhaust scavanging.
The vance and hines True Duals headers, for example, look great but don't have a cross over pipe where as other, like the Cobra True Duals have a neat hidden cross over pipe.
Switchback stock exhaust below
Fatbob headers below
Sponge Boy, the cross over gives a stock Harley a bit of grunt just off idle as you first use the throtle, but if you have a non stock set up it might be different.
i think most of the problem with stock pipes now is they have the Cat in there. but new harleys are never going to sound like Knuckles Panheads or Shovels, as those old classics had big open combussion chambers, were you get unburnt fuel going out the pipe then the hot pipe fires it in the system so lot different to todays modern combussion chamber.
I'm not talking about the old Harleys; my 2008 Superglide had the sound I'm talking about.
The secret is the separate headers, preferably with a cross over tube
QUESTION ?
IF u cut out the cat-converter in the pipe/muffler on a newer model like a 2012 model which has the fuel injection etc, does it use MORE or LESS fuel, and does the bike have a oxygen sensor assosciated with the pipes ?
I am thinking that the lack of back pressure might cause issues after removing the cat, would that mean a automatic retune/remapping of the bikes ECU ?
OR is it totally different to a car which does have hassles after removing the cat converter/oxygen sensor hassles etc ????
How did those pipes perform/sound after u cut out that cat (I am assuming thats why u cut open the muffler box) ???????
I didn't cut out the cat; that was just a picture I found on the internet to show how stupid the exhaust system is.
My whole point is; if you want your bike to sound like a Harley you need to change the headers all together. This is what your dealer should tell you.
As for cutting out the cat; from what I've read, it only improves performance and economy. The CO2 sensors are in front of the cat and, therefore the removal of the cat doesn't affect engine computer. As far as I've read, as long as you don't change the intake system you don't need to re-map it.
Once the cat is cut from the headers you get cross talk between the 02 sensors. Best to buy new headers and keep the stockers in case you get a canary to front the EPA.
