Had a set of SE slipons installed on my 08 Heritage about 500 k ago. Was told by the stealer at the time that they were not so loud as they would alert the boys in blue, but would fail if they got EPA tested.Got put through the ringer by the EPA at a police blitz tonight, so was a bit nervous. Was told it failed the stationary noise test by 1 db, but he was not going to defect it on that. 88 db at idle, and I suppose 95 db during the test (as the limit is 94 db I think). Suggested I have a recheck done in 12 months to see if it had got louder and take appropriate action if it had. The guy had called his mate over to hold the handheld tacho while he did the noise test. After the test he commented to his mate " and they were screaming eagles". I got the impression he expected them to fail big time. I've read somewhere that the new SE's are not as loud as the old ones.
Will put a copy of this post in the softail section too.
as of 07 Screamin Eagle can only sell street legal mufflers, no more comp only mufflers
They are street legal in 50 states in the USA and should be legal here
I think VIC has tried to lower the noise standard from the rest of Australia
it is a load of crock
They have stamped on them that they are 80 db, but think this is in driveby test. Unfortunatley, according to the guy who did me over, in Vic they have to pass the static (stationary) test, which has a limit of 94 db. For older bikes (pre 90 something I think), its a bit louder. As per previous post, mine went just over when basically new, so they will get loauder as they settle in. EPA man suggested I get them voluntarily retest in 12 months.
Stock Harley pipes sound poor so I have S and S slash cut slip ons for the nightster arriving on Friday. I decided not to go with SE because I dont think you get a real good note from them but they are certainly better sounding than stock. I just don't reckon you don't get enough bang for the buck. I did not go V and H because I reckon S and S will be a good performance muffler, have a good note, not stupidly load and are a good price $530 from rollies. Also I don't want to frig around with baffles, EFI systems or take a risk on unreasonable noise.
I will have no other mods apart from the S and S slip ons (stock air cleaner) and I am not doing anything to the EFI, I am relying on the stock closed loop system to calibrate. People say various things about slip ons and EFI upgrades, so I will install the S and S with NO fuel management upgrade and report back what happens. If I get a snap, crackle, pop or a backfire I wil upgrade the EFI system.
Anyone want to make a prediction on what will happen. I will then seek to either verify or debunk the predictions.
Those who say - No drama's with slip ons and NO EFI upgarde say Aye - Those who say I will have drama's say Nay
Hi Steamer, sorry for not answering sooner. Mine are slash down. Screamin eagle Part number 80495-07. They were about $500 from harley City in Brunswick. See link below to some pics I took when I put bits on. Sorry but dont have abetter one of the pipes
http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=13&postid=82751&view=topic
Rowie
ps these are listed as fitting 07 softail equipped with short duals. My ride is an 08 FLSTC
Put the S&S on the bike tonight and fired her up in the underground car park where I live and I was surprised, they are quite loud, but it could have been echo from the car park. I drove up and down the carpark and no backfires as yet. Will take her for a spin tommorow and let the forum know how I went.
They were relatively easy to install, toook quite a bit of wigglin, jigglin and pullin as well as WD40 to help the process along.
I did notice a REAL INCREASE in POWER, a REAL FULL ON INCREASE. This increase was not slight, it was pretty significant.
At this stage I would describe the sound as a BARK. Yep thats it, these Slip on's have a BARK
All well at this stage. But punters, I would not say they are quiet pipes, I very much dobt they would pass a sound check. In fact, they almost certainly would NOT pass a check.
I'll let you know how I feel about the sound once I get them outside the enclosed car park.
Ok have taken the Nightster for a two hour ride up into the mountains with S&S slip ons and no change to the stock EFI system. No popping, no backfires. The bike went like shit off a shovel. The performance was incredible and there was a very noticible increase in torque. In fact I was so happy with the performance that I am NOT doing any other upgrades at this stage. No heavy breather and no change to the stock EFI. The way I see it, what the hell would I do with any extra power anyway. The bike handled great and sounded great. Is it LOUD, well yes it is loud. It's a slight bit louder than I would like. but it's not quite loud enough to wake the dead, but it would probably wake the living.
When I opened it up on the freeway I was hootin and hollerin. After listening to it on the open road I would describe the sound as a deep rumbling bark.
When I started it up at Pie in the sky, I gave it a few revs and it certainly turned heads. I reckon the S&S on the nightster is the one of the best sounds I have heard on a Harley. Its a real V twin sound - AWESOME.
The guy at Rollies was right, S&S on a sporty sounds better than many other higher priced Harleys.
howdy, i have s&s slash cuts on my 07 883c and find them way too loud, maybe its just me but i find myself riding conservatively to keep the noise down, i am considering putting on the new SE mufflers, anyone compared s&s to the new SE street performance mufflers?? Are they much quieter than the S&S?? ..
They are surely A TAD BIT loud but I don't think they are to loud, I don't open it up around town and I have S and S slash cuts on a nighster. The SE's have a good sound but they surely are less "Harley like"
Are you really sure you want to make the change? S and S are truly a performance slip on. You haven't been hassled by the cops yet, so maybe wait and see what happens.
I just don't think the SE's sound or look tough. If you're on a Sportster, you need it to be a little tough. I just reckon that S and S on a sporty sound the ducks guts - as tough as any harley sounds.
If you cop shit for having a girly sportster, why make it sound like a chick bike? No offence intended. Keep the S and S and have a think about for 8 weeks, thats what I say.
The problem with EPA tests is that it doesnt matter if they are loud but you ride in a quiet fashion. They fine you according to the potential loadness by testing at a specified rpm. Does not matter jack if you ride them at half that rpm to be quiet, At the moment it seems you can be requested to be tested just because its got HD on it.
Aussie, there are rules that they have to follow when doing the testing, including distances from reflective surfaces etc, There is a bit of discussion somewhere on the forum about it, if you want to search. Cant recall where it was.
There are rules but how do you argue with 2 EPA "Officers" & 3 police officers.
1/ I didn't like where the test was taken.
2/ I didn't like that my bike had no tacho & he told me to just rev it until he told me to stop & it was just his ears that decided the revs so was little wonder I got done for 103 dcb.
3/ The fact that he was having a bad day & told me that he could de-register a vehicle to never be registered again.
It was agreed the next day by someone who was there that I was treated harshly but to just put up with it & pay the fine. It was an expensive trip to the chemist for headache tablets.
im thinking seriously about putting vance &hines big shot duells on my r king classic 2007 model twin exhoust dealer told me there should be no problem any advise on this stories etc cost if fined n s w or going to any other state
