Drag pipes on Harleys

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 21:42

Hi. Just after some advice. I bought some drag pipes for my superglide ages ago but haven't put them on because i have been told the performance of the bike will suffer?? I'm not really after the noise of the drag pipes I just like the look of them. The ones i have do not have baffles. Am wondering now if I would be better just getting slip ons? Have seen these advertised but I don't know much about them. Do they just slip on to the front part of the existing pipes? Do i still need to get the bike tunes when I put them on? Will they affect performance of the bike?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

**awayatc** · 17th April 2009, 21:47

apparently not having enough backpressure makes the bike perform less with the dragpipes.
But there is a simple solution to this according to the HD forums I read.....

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 21:48

Originally Posted by awayatc

apparently not having enough backpressure makes the bike perform less with the dragpipes.
But there is a simple solution to this according to the HD forums I read.....

Do tell...

**Taz** · 17th April 2009, 21:50

If you're not after the noise just stick with the standard pipes. They are made to work well with the bike.

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 21:52

Yes, and they do. But i just don't like the look of them

**Taz** · 17th April 2009, 21:55

Originally Posted by rosie631

Yes, and they do. But i just don't like the look of them

Could you learn to like them??

**gammaguy** · 17th April 2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by rosie631

I'm not really after the noise of the drag pipes I just like the look of them.

you would be one of the few then.

most harley owners seem to enjoy making a noise,whether anyone else enjoys it or not.

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 21:59

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Could you learn to like them??

Have tried for two years

**sinfull** · 17th April 2009, 22:02

Originally Posted by rosie631

Have tried for two years

Chuck the things on, you wont notice the power loss ! Though you will notice the noise lol

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 22:08

Originally Posted by sinfull

Chuck the things on, you wont notice the power loss ! Though you will notice the noise lol

Yeah, am thinking maybe i should just give them a go. If no good, can always take them off again.

**rosie631** · 17th April 2009, 22:10

OK to put them on myself? Does the bike really need to be tuned to them or is that just the bikeshop drumming up business?
Anyone know anything bout slip ons?

**awayatc** · 17th April 2009, 22:10

send you a pm about washer trick to increase backpressure/performance with dragpipes

website here http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/exhaust.htm

**sinfull** · 17th April 2009, 22:21

Originally Posted by rosie631

OK to put them on myself? Does the bike really need to be tuned to them or is that just the bikeshop drumming up business?
Anyone know anything bout slip ons?

If ya put them on yourself, just remember that tension plus vibration equals cracking ! In simple terms if the brackets don't line up exactly, dont force them to fit !Move the bracket or elongate the hole but dont force the pipe up or it will crack at the manifold end !
Worst ive seen is a dead spot ! think more exit needs more entry so if you have a standard air filter it may starve for air ! If you change the air it may starve for fuel !
But hey throw em on and see what happens ! Should be a simple job to swap them ! (he says tongue in cheek)

**awayatc** · 17th April 2009, 22:31

Originally Posted by rosie631

OK to put them on myself? Does the bike really need to be tuned to them or is that just the bikeshop drumming up business?
Anyone know anything bout slip ons?

Slipons are pretty straight forward....
Tuning can be done at home, not that involved.
Needs more air and fuel. Airfilters like K&N just a matter of having some $, and bolt it on.
CV carb can be "tuned". may need rejetting, but is not that complicated either.
Need new jets, or jets and needle , and a bit of time....