[screaminthewind]

I just bought a 04 fuel injected night train and im looking for some new pipes. I want somthing as close and radical as drag pipes. From what everyone is telling me you cant put drag pipes on fuel injected motors, so i was wondering if anyone knew of any good load pipes to put on. Thanks

[RocketCityRider]

Hello,

You can, in fact, put Drag Pipes on a FI bike. I have an '05 Softail Deluxe with Vance and Hines Drag Pipes and I love them. I also installed torque cones and had the Power Commander III tuned on a dyno after I got everything installed. The bike runs great. I would imagine that you could install them on a FI bike before a carb bike because FI is so much more tunable.

Most people will talk you away from drag pipes because of the reversion problems they cause. Search BikeTalk for old threads on reversion. I was willing to sacrifice a little low end torque for the look and sound of drag pipes. My bike makes 77.08 ft-lbs of torque at 3900 rpm and 74.27 Hp at 5750 rpm with a standard Stage 1 setup.

I just got back from a riding trip through Florida where I put almost 1300 miles on my bike. Here's a "beauty shot" from Key West:



-RCR

[hotroadking]

Where's the beauty?????

i just see a black bike LOL

Just funnin with you

Drag pipes tend to hurt low end performance on carb and efi bikes it's part of the design.

Slip on mufflers on a stage 1 are the best bang for the buck Khrome Werks HP+ are good with a stage 1 filter and a Powercommander/DFO setup, or carb tune.

Haven't tested the V&H Like in the post above but I do like the look.

Pipes like the long shots don't always help power out of the box.

[yesilkce]

How does the drag pipes sound? Could You please tell me the difference with the big shots? Thanks...

[Seahag]

If you just gotta have the sound of drag pipes, atleast don't be one of the dummasss throttle jockies at the stoplight pissing off everyone who doesn't ride. Its only a matter of time before the option won't be there anymore.

[IceFire]

I just installed a set of V&H Big Shots Staggered on my 97 Heritage. Fit like a glove, no install issues at all. The sound is awesome, deep, crisp clean sound along with greats looks and a noticable power increase. It you need more sound just pull the baffles, I think you would be immpressed.

[voodoo1]

IMHO..study up a bit one things..the stage one works very good...try it first with slip ons..... like HRK reccomended as well..this is a very good set-up for the engines...imagine two bikes identical except for the drags....both on the highway....heading for a hill.. at 68mph... if both wanna stay at that speed one is probably/will/gonna have to pick up the rpms sooner/more(drags) than the other(slips)...so when ya get to the top one will be louder and working harder than the other...not knocking the fella with the sweet looking ride(Rocket)..but study up some..save money..and you can alway drill holes in baffles to make the slips louder!!(LOL) ..I mean buy the drags from CD.I got friends that have switched back from drags to slips after listening to mine and listening to how well the engine is working in the power band it is built for. It is the a-cleaner in conjunction with any type of betterflowing exhaust system that makes a change.. most people change both at the same time...and think it wow..butthe powerband of each pipe-system may differ.the loudness does not mean better performance or use of the engine's capability.Good luck.....have fun...if loudness is a must for-ya..then by all means draps...if there may be more to it......

[goliath]

I have the same V+H set on my custom softtail. They are quiet enuf while cruising or stopped at a light but when you get on it they light right up. TO me, it's the perfect combination. And they look great with that huge diameter pipe on the end.

[yesilkce]

Which one should I prefer, the big shots or stepped drag pipes, I am looking for a deep throaty sound? Please, give me an idea in according to your experiences guys, thank You?

[hotroadking]

Any V&H pipe will have a deep throaty sound, go for whatever you like in the looks department,

[goliath]

agreed. the drags sound awesome.

[yesilkce]

What about the performance? Actuall, I also want to get something like a nostalgic Harley sound. May I get that sound if I use the quiet baffles with the big shot longs?

[voodoo1]

go to their web page and listen to the Wav. files?
That might help you choose before you buy any of them from CD.

[chucktx]

Originally Posted by yesilkce

What about the performance? Actuall, I also want to get something like a nostalgic Harley sound. May I get that sound if I use the quiet baffles with the big shot longs?

if you have a newer bike, like the tc88 you wont be able to get the old "potato..potato" sound. the bikes need to be idled at 800 rpm to 1000 rpm for oil pressure requirements
chuck

[cjborton]

I have a question for those of you with V&H pipes. I just ordered a set of Straightshots and was wondering what's involved in removing the baffles. I just want to know how easy/hard it is, how long it takes, tools involved, etc. Thanks.

[IceFire]

The Big Shot staggered have a screw that holds the tips on , once the tips are removed then there is another screw that holds the baffles in. very easy to change especially if they are off the bike.

[Tnicean]

I changed my baffles in the big shot staggered after I had them on the bike and it took about 30 minutes. Hardest part was lining up the holes. Luckily, I was able to get to the screws without removing the heat shields.
Tnicean

[hotroadking]

Get a long allen screw I have one about 10 inches long came with some kit of chrome parts or make an L shaped long tool from a coat hanger, then use it to hook and pull out the baffles and then use it as a guide when putting them in, I put the short end of the L in the baffle retaining nut and slide the baffle in when it gets to the hole in the pipe it drops through then you can wiggle the L around and you're lined up.

If they are hard to remove it might be first time or wrapping is still good around them. you can thread a nut/bolt in but not too far from inside the baffle use some vice grips and pull out.

Baffles out sound cool only to you on the bike FWIW everyone around you that you ride with will hate them, they won't want to be next to you or behind you.

People in cars will hate them (different than loud is obnoxious) then they complain and the gov't gets involved hence the new CARB?EPA rules.

Personally I think the rules are more aimed at quieting down pipes than mileage and polution, the best way was through anti-tampering laws.

[cjborton]

So they're basically as loud as true straight pipes with the baffles out? It also sounds like from the responses that removing them would be hard to do with the pipes on the bike? Thanks for the responses, guys.