Crossover pipe on a Sportster?

[tatts2]

Have got a 90 sportster does anyone know if i take out the cross over pipe if its going to make much difference..

[Headbanger]

Make much difference to what?

[TripleZee Dyno]

Have got a 90 sportster does anyone know if i take out the cross over pipe if its going to make much difference..
probably lose a bit of hp around 3-4000, probably need a bit of a retune, probably noisier, but you will find out when you do it.
the good thing is you will be able to fiddle with your carby without burning all your fingers at once.

[pete376403]

The balance pipe is to reduce noise without loosing too much power, allows each cylinder to share two mufflers, standard mufflers are probably pretty restrictive. (are there any HDs on the road with standard mufflers anyway?)

[Crasherfromwayback]

Have got a 90 sportster does anyone know if i take out the cross over pipe if its going to make much difference..

Balance pipes help all HD's run nicer...especially down low. Two into ones are better for the same reason

[one fast tl1ooo]

less weight mite i say mite give you half a k more top speed :laugh: if you are lucky

[NOWOOL]

My opinion is the motor will run smoother, quicker response and more torque but you'll lose a couple of horse (based on stock motor). exhaust pitch will change too.
Costwise, its up to you to decide, but it will make the bike more 'you'.

[Crasherfromwayback]

My opinion is the motor will run smoother, quicker response and more torque but you'll lose a couple of horse (based on stock motor). exhaust pitch will change too.
Costwise, its up to you to decide, but it will make the bike more 'you'.

Not true. They run far nicer with the balance pipe in place.

[NOWOOL]

Not true. They run far nicer with the balance pipe in place.

I'll accept the criticism and you're entitled to your opinion, but could you please explain to the original poster why your comments pertain to his motor and bike?
Please also add why what I said was 'untrue' when your statement affirmated what i said.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Have got a 90 sportster does anyone know if i take out the cross over pipe if its going to make much difference..


My opinion is the motor will run smoother, quicker response and more torque but you'll lose a couple of horse (based on stock motor). exhaust pitch will change too.
Costwise, its up to you to decide, but it will make the bike more 'you'.

I said not true...as it would appear to me you're answering tatts2 by saying you think it'll run smoother...with a quicker response...and have more torque if/when he removes the balance pipe.


I'll accept the criticism and you're entitled to your opinion, but could you please explain to the original poster why your comments pertain to his motor and bike?
Please also add why what I said was 'untrue' when your statement affirmated what i said.

All HD's bar none run far nicer down low...and are smoother with the balance pipe in place. It's the same reason hideously expensive 4-1 race systems have the header pipes linked. It's all about the balance of exhaust pressures. It's also good for low end power as it 'tricks' the engine into thinking it has a longer header pipe that it actually has (also good for low end power). You'll loose torque if you remove the balance pipe. And gain nothing. A 2-1 on an HD, does help them run a lil smoother down low...with not quite as much torque, but helps with the power delivery up top. I fucked about with different exhausts a LOT when I was racing 883s (every lil bit of power and torque was important)...and we have one of the trickest dynos in NZ here.

Header rap was the thing that impressed and surprised me the most with how well it worked with HDs.

[Edbear]

I said not true...as it would appear to me you're answering tatts2 by saying you think it'll run smoother...with a quicker response...and have more torque if/when he removes the balance pipe.



All HD's bar none run far nicer down low...and are smoother with the balance pipe in place. It's the same reason hideously expensive 4-1 race systems have the header pipes linked. It's all about the balance of exhaust pressures. It's also good for low end power as it 'tricks' the engine into thinking it has a longer header pipe that it actually has (also good for low end power). You'll loose torque if you remove the balance pipe. And gain nothing. A 2-1 on an HD, does help them run a lil smoother down low...with not quite as much torque, but helps with the power delivery up top. I fucked about with different exhausts a LOT when I was racing 883s (every lil bit of power and torque was important)...and we have one of the trickest dynos in NZ here.

Header rap was the thing that impressed and surprised me the most with how well it worked with HDs.

Rapping header's? Music to the ears of some...:shifty:

[popelli]

My opinion is the motor will run smoother, quicker response and more torque but you'll lose a couple of horse (based on stock motor). exhaust pitch will change too.
.

??????????? more torque and less horsepower ??????? strange combination?????

the balance pipe will give more mid range power and reduces noise

its an old trick used by a lot of companies to quieten down noise and to get a little more power without spendiong very much money bsa / triumph twins used in from around 1970 onwards

removing the balance pipe will even if you rejet the carbs result in less power, more noise, slower reponse

harley still use balance pipes but they now link the mufflers together as it gives a cleaner less cluttered appearance to the engine

[Headbanger]

Have got a 90 sportster does anyone know if i take out the cross over pipe if its going to make much difference..

The answer is no, It will make bugger all difference.What are you trying to achieve?

[JohnC]

The bike will run better with the stock headers,mainly bottem end responce.
If you want to change for better top end breathing,change the mufflers only.

[Molly]

I dumped the stock headers from my old Evo Springer as I thought the cross-over pipe spoiled the look of the 'V' motor. Can't say I noticed any performance increase or loss of midrange etc. but then I'm not really performance minded (just as well since I'm fond of air cooled v-twins).

Do it for aesthetic reasons if you will but don't bother if you think it'll improve the power.

By the way, there's a nice book out there called 101 Performance Projects for Evo & Sportster that you might enjoy.

[tatts2]

Thanks Guys i have taken it all in and appecate the feedback am going to keep it in and change the muffers..

[invisiblehand1]

probably the best bet is to try these two sites.

www.xlforum.net

www.sportster.org

they will confirm that sporties are VERY sensitive to mufflers. The stock mufflers are too small and quite restrictive. The balance pipe tricks the bike into thinking it has a much bigger muffler - essentially because it uses both of them.

for best bottom end, get bigger/less restrictive sausage mufflers.

For best overall power a 2:1 seems to be the go. They turn up from time to time on trademe, the one from the 883R or its screaming eagle alternative are probably the best bet in NZ. AMP in Auckland can import you anything from the Vance and Hines range at quite good prices. They advertise in bike rider and kiwi rider a lot as power something or other.

Enjoy.

The absolute best thing to do is get the sportster Buell performance book and have a read. They reckon the 1200 conversion is the best power boost you can get, then pipes and aircleaner.

All the sites call pipes and aircleaner "paying the harley tax" it makes a real difference to take off the stuff put on for compliance reasons.

For the same reasons, maybe hang onto it for WOF time?

[rok-the-boat]

The crossovers just help steady the tickover at low rpm. I changed mine and it became more lumpy. It improved once I put different mufflers on. Most of the power is transmitted into noise anyway so who cares ...

[rok-the-boat]

By the way, best pipe for a Harley is the Thunderheader. I can't beleive the differnece they make - unbelievable! Rather noisy, but just amazing power delivery. I have ridden various HDs with variouis pipes and the Thunderheader is the only pipe that makes a noticable difference in terms of power and power delivery after you bolt it on.