Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ironhorse]

I like the sound, I'm okay with the looks, but I do not like dragging them in corners. Has anyone else dragged their SPOs yet?

I was out running errands and took a freeway on ramp. As I pressed and leaned the bike in, I heard the left muffler scrape. I uprighted and pressed again, and it scraped again. I knew it was the muffler because I am used to hearing the jiffystand, the floorboards, and on occasion the Rivco Center Stand drag from time to time. Sure enough when I got to my destination, I felt under the left muffler and it was scraped.

My Ultra is not lowered and has the stock shocks, and stock tires and wheels, so the ground clearance should be "factory".
Now I'm thinking of getting ANOTHER set of mufflers but don't know what other mufflers are as quiet and as well performing as the SPOs.

Suggestions are welcome.

Mark

[VaEagle]

I have SPOs on my 2006 Ultra but only have a couple of hundred miles on them so far. I have not had a problem with ground clearance but I don't ride that aggressively either so I can't offer much in test results for you sorry.

[GC_Super]

I like the sound, I'm okay with the looks, but I do not like dragging them in corners. Has anyone else dragged their SPOs yet?

I was out running errands and took a freeway on ramp. As I pressed and leaned the bike in, I heard the left muffler scrape. I uprighted and pressed again, and it scraped again. I knew it was the muffler because I am used to hearing the jiffystand, the floorboards, and on occasion the Rivco Center Stand drag from time to time. Sure enough when I got to my destination, I felt under the left muffler and it was scraped.

My Ultra is not lowered and has the stock shocks, and stock tires and wheels, so the ground clearance should be "factory".
Now I'm thinking of getting ANOTHER set of mufflers but don't know what other mufflers are as quiet and as well performing as the SPOs.

Suggestions are welcome.

Mark

Mark, I just ordered some Supertrapp magaphone tuneable disk mufflers from M&M.  I really like the CVO fullsac conversionsthat I'm running now, but I'm still looking for something quieter. I just couldn't handle the looks of the SPO's.  The ST weren't my favorite either for looks, but the ability to adjust for sound helped me decide.  I was happy with the Bassanni's that I had been running, but ever since I've switched to a full face helmet, it has changed the sounds that I hear. I should have them by the weekend for a test.

[TCinVA]

I like the sound, I'm okay with the looks, but I do not like dragging them in corners. Has anyone else dragged their SPOs yet?

I was out running errands and took a freeway on ramp. As I pressed and leaned the bike in, I heard the left muffler scrape. I uprighted and pressed again, and it scraped again. I knew it was the muffler because I am used to hearing the jiffystand, the floorboards, and on occasion the Rivco Center Stand drag from time to time. Sure enough when I got to my destination, I felt under the left muffler and it was scraped.

My Ultra is not lowered and has the stock shocks, and stock tires and wheels, so the ground clearance should be "factory".
Now I'm thinking of getting ANOTHER set of mufflers but don't know what other mufflers are as quiet and as well performing as the SPOs.

Suggestions are welcome.

Mark

Mark,
Turn the radio up and you won't hear the scraping .  Just kidding.  I've been planning on using the SPOs when (and if  -Damn strike!) I get my B&O Jester.  Hoist has his SPOs, but I don't know if the weather up in the Big Apple has cooperated enough for him to get them on his SERK.  He'll probably be interested in hearing this, because if I'm not mistaken, the SERK is lowered - right, Howie?
Anyway, this is disturbing news.  Now what do I do to get a bit more umph, but still be able to hear when I get off the bike after a day's ride??
TC

[Hoist!]

Mark,
Turn the radio up and you won't hear the scraping .  Just kidding.  I've been planning on using the SPOs when (and if  -Damn strike!) I get my B&O Jester.  Hoist has his SPOs, but I don't know if the weather up in the Big Apple has cooperated enough for him to get them on his SERK.  He'll probably be interested in hearing this, because if I'm not mistaken, the SERK is lowered - right, Howie?
Anyway, this is disturbing news.  Now what do I do to get a bit more umph, but still be able to hear when I get off the bike after a day's ride??
TC

Just caught this Tony. Well, I'm glad they're Stainless Steel! Good thing they're trying to slow down the Dragon, huh? I hope it's not too much of an issue. I like the sound of them. The weather sucks here. I've ridden my new bike exactly twice! Tuesday is supposed to be 40 deg. Yippee! Dyno day! (and PC, and SPO's, and PP w/PV, and True-Track and SS gas lines...!) I'll let you know and of course...the pics! Hoist!

[Ironhorse]

I was surprised to hear the SPOs scrape, but maybe that was not so unexpected considering how I have my bike set up.
Although my floorboards are pushed out a bit, they are raised as high up as they will go, and I still drag them from time to time along with the jiffy stand.

I never considered myself an aggresive rider, but maybe I am.

I'll keep 'em for now and see how it goes.
 
Mark

[VaEagle]

Well I finally broke down and got a digital camera.
(Cannon PowerShot A630) These are the first photos from it and I wanted to show my SPOs at different angles so you all can see the amount of clearance with these pipes and stock headers.

[VaEagle]

This shot makes them look low but it's not.

[VaEagle]

Here is a low angle shot to show how they are tucked under the bags.

[Hoist!]

My impression is that they don't come down as low as the 4" stock ones. But because of the wide shape, the outside bottom of the muffler, is closer to the ground when cornering. Can't see it being a restriction to handling. A little clearancing, as dj calls it, might be required though! I guess I'll find out soon! Hoist!

[TCinVA]

My impression is that they don't come down as low as the 4" stock ones. But because of the wide shape, the outside bottom of the muffler, is closer to the ground when cornering. Can't see it being a restriction to handling. A little clearancing, as dj calls it, might be required though! I guess I'll find out soon! Hoist!

Howie,
I'm not sure "this old guy" will ever get enough lean angle to scrape those things .  They really don't look much different (meaning lower) than the V&H ovals I had on my '03 for awhile.  I'm still waiting to "hear" your report on yours.  Looks like the weather may cooperate a bit this week.  Good Luck.
Tony

[Hoist!]

Howie,
I'm not sure "this old guy" will ever get enough lean angle to scrape those things .  They really don't look much different (meaning lower) than the V&H ovals I had on my '03 for awhile.  I'm still waiting to "hear" your report on yours.  Looks like the weather may cooperate a bit this week.  Good Luck.
Tony

Hey Tony, it's strarting to warm up slightly. Still have a couple of inches of ice in front of the house. The streets are fine though. The work's tentative for Thurs/Fri now. If it's not raining, I'll do it then. Otherwiswe, it's next week again. You know I'll report when I'm done! It's not like I'm riding without 'em, I'm just not riding! Looks like you're getting a bike, huh? Hoist!

[TCinVA]

Hey Tony, it's strarting to warm up slightly. Still have a couple of inches of ice in front of the house. The streets are fine though. The work's tentative for Thurs/Fri now. If it's not raining, I'll do it then. Otherwiswe, it's next week again. You know I'll report when I'm done! It's not like I'm riding without 'em, I'm just not riding! Looks like you're getting a bike, huh? Hoist!

Howie,
I'm guessing late March or early April.  That works out fine.  Hand surgery in a couple of weeks, so that should give me plenty of recovery time.  Hope the weather works for you.  Know you're anxious to get going with the mods.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Tony

[Ironhorse]

But because of the wide shape, the outside bottom of the muffler, is closer to the ground when cornering.

And that's just where it is dragging in the curves.

This weekend I am going to lay the whole bike down on some rubber floor padding in the garage to see if the mufflers touch the ground before the rear crash bar does. Part of the Ride Like a Pro instruction course that I teach includes a demonstration of the proper technique for picking up a downed dresser. I don't want to find out the hard way during an in class demo when the muffler get crushed.

There has GOT to be another muffler on the market that is just as quiet, stays quiet, and flows just as well as the SPOs.

[Hoist!]

And that's just where it is dragging in the curves.

This weekend I am going to lay the whole bike down on some rubber floor padding in the garage to see if the mufflers touch the ground before the rear crash bar does. Part of the Ride Like a Pro instruction course that I teach includes a demonstration of the proper technique for picking up a downed dresser. I don't want to find out the hard way during an in class demo when the muffler get crushed.

There has GOT to be another muffler on the market that is just as quiet, stays quiet, and flows just as well as the SPOs.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of one! I hope the scraping is not overly annoying. Hoist!

[TCinVA]

And that's just where it is dragging in the curves.

This weekend I am going to lay the whole bike down on some rubber floor padding in the garage to see if the mufflers touch the ground before the rear crash bar does. Part of the Ride Like a Pro instruction course that I teach includes a demonstration of the proper technique for picking up a downed dresser. I don't want to find out the hard way during an in class demo when the muffler get crushed.

There has GOT to be another muffler on the market that is just as quiet, stays quiet, and flows just as well as the SPOs.

IH,
That's what I'm talking about.  Hope someone lets us know when they find it.  I'm beyond the "big bark".  Like the sound of the SPOs, but a bit skiddish now with this "scraping" thing.  Good luck on the "lay down".  Hope nothing BENDS.
Tony

[Midnight Rider]

If they scrape before, or at the same time as the front floorboard supports, that would be a big problem, because you WILL push the bike to the point of the floorboard supports touching.  From the looks of those pipes, the scrapes would be visible...   It's startling to have the floorboards touch, so any other racket might make you flinch, and that's never a good thing.  JMO...

[Hoist!]

Are you scraping around turns on a hill only? Or are scraping around turns in the flats too? I put mine on today. It seems like they won't scrape on flat turns. And everything scrapes on turns on a hill. I love these mufflers. I will definitely be trying to live with them. You're definitely not getting this performance with any other quieter muffler. Hoist!

[Ironhorse]

Are you scraping around turns on a hill only? Or are scraping around turns in the flats too? I put mine on today. It seems like they won't scrape on flat turns. And everything scrapes on turns on a hill. I love these mufflers. I will definitely be trying to live with them. You're definitely not getting this performance with any other quieter muffler. Hoist!

Hoist,

The turn it scrapes on is a left handed on ramp going up a slight incline. The curve is slightly banked too. I'm thinking of the D&D Police slip ons right now.

[Hoist!]

Hoist,

The turn it scrapes on is a left handed on ramp going up a slight incline. The curve is slightly banked too. I'm thinking of the D&D Police slip ons right now.

My '03 scraped floorboards/mufflers going down the Dragon. Scraping on an incline doesn't surprise me. And in those cases, it would seem the SPO's width might make it worse. If I get to the point where it's that annoying to me, I might look to replace them too. But I like the performance, sound and looks so much, it's gotta be real bad. You can't get used to that scraping, huh? Shame! And I know, slowing down is not an option! Hoist!

[BalDeagle]

Isn't scraping unavoidable ? I have scraped everything on my Heritage Softail, floorboards, Jiffy stand, tails of pipes, securing nuts and bolts on the pipe brackets.

Must be me - I just thought it was normal depending on type of roads you were riding and how the bike was loaded up.

Cheers,

Sparky Nige !

P.S. yes I have the suspension wound up as hard as it will go.

[TCinVA]

Hoist,

The turn it scrapes on is a left handed on ramp going up a slight incline. The curve is slightly banked too. I'm thinking of the D&D Police slip ons right now.

Ironhorse,
The D&D Interceptors are what I'm thinking about as well.  I've sent an email to D&D asking a few questions and also asking for a sound clip.  I'll let you know if I get anything back.
Tony

[Ironhorse]

Isn't scraping unavoidable ? I have scraped everything on my Heritage Softail, floorboards, Jiffy stand, tails of pipes, securing nuts and bolts on the pipe brackets.

Must be me - I just thought it was normal depending on type of roads you were riding and how the bike was loaded up.

Cheers,

Sparky Nige !

P.S. yes I have the suspension wound up as hard as it will go.

Somethings I don't mind scraping, like floorboards and the jiffly stand. I've even scraped the bottom of the fairing lowers. Those items are designed to have some "give" to them under pressure, and they are towards the front of the bike. When I scrape those, I know I am at the end range of the OEM lean angle. For me a muffler is different. The only "give" that is happens when you scrape a muffler too much, is the levering the rear end off the ground. I had that happen on a Police Kawasaki once, and that ain't good thing.

[BalDeagle]

Somethings I don't mind scraping, like floorboards and the jiffly stand. I've even scraped the bottom of the fairing lowers. Those items are designed to have some "give" to them under pressure, and they are towards the front of the bike. When I scrape those, I know I am at the end range of the OEM lean angle. For me a muffler is different. The only "give" that is happens when you scrape a muffler too much, is the levering the rear end off the ground. I had that happen on a Police Kawasaki once, and that ain't good thing.

Levering the rear end off the ground is definitely not a good thing. I guess my muffler scraping has been the least of anything that has touched down, with only the very end (maybe 1 inch) of my V & H Bigshots catching. As Hoist said this has normally been at slow speeds on inclined right hand bends - so not too much speed involved anyway.

I still haven't decided which exhausts/slip ons I'm going with on my SERK yet though.

Nige

[Ironhorse]

I still haven't decided which exhausts/slip ons I'm going with on my SERK yet though.

Nige

Well I just ordered the D&D Police Interceptor Mufflers to replace the SPOs.
Soon I will have four sets of mufflers in my garage.

OEMs with the plugs knocked out. Too "Ratty" sounding.
FullSacs Mufflers. Too loud for extended freeway riding.
SPOs. Scrape on left hand turns when leaning way over.
And soon, D&D Police Interceptors.

I hope to God my wife don't start rummaging in the garage.

Mark

[ultrafxr]

Well I just ordered the D&D Police Interceptor Mufflers to replace the SPOs.
Soon I will have four sets of mufflers in my garage.

OEMs with the plugs knocked out. Too "Ratty" sounding.
FullSacs Mufflers. Too loud for extended freeway riding.
SPOs. Scrape on left hand turns when leaning way over.
And soon, D&D Police Interceptors.

I hope to God my wife don't start rummaging in the garage.

Mark

We'll be anxiously awaiting your report on the Police Interceptor slip-ons.  Have you considered the D&D Fat Cats with their new quiet baffle?

[TCinVA]

We'll be anxiously awaiting your report on the Police Interceptor slip-ons.  Have you considered the D&D Fat Cats with their new quiet baffle?

Mark,
Ditto on that.  I'm waffling between SPOs and the D&D Interceptors.  Need some "sound" advice  .
Tony

[Ironhorse]

We'll be anxiously awaiting your report on the Police Interceptor slip-ons.  Have you considered the D&D Fat Cats with their new quiet baffle?

No, but I have to be honest. I installed a regular FatCat on my bike last year. Took it off three days later. It made some damn much noise that I felt like an idiot. For my tastes, I'm guessing the quiet one is still not quiet enough for me.

I called D&D and asked them about the Police Interceptors, specifically if it was a free flowing muffler.
They said it was. I asked if you looked down one end could you see day light at the other, they said yes.

I figure I have nothing to lose here. I have tried just about every damn muffler that fits my bike.
Anyone interested in a set of SPOs?

[Twolanerider]

No, but I have to be honest. I installed a regular FatCat on my bike last year. Took it off three days later. It made some damn much noise that I felt like an idiot. For my tastes, I'm guessing the quiet one is still not quiet enough for me.

I called D&D and asked them about the Police Interceptors, specifically if it was a free flowing muffler.
They said it was. I asked if you looked down one end could you see day light at the other, they said yes.

I figure I have nothing to lose here. I have tried just about every damn muffler that fits my bike.
Anyone interested in a set of SPOs?

IH, I've been thinking about it all day and just can't make myself pull the trigger right now.  I know my mufflers have the upcoming year left in them and was thinking might take advantage of the bargain and just set them back.  But I don't want to foreclose any new options that might be available between now and another year's passing.  Thanks though.  I appreciate the day to think about it.

[Ironhorse]

IH, I've been thinking about it all day and just can't make myself pull the trigger right now.  I know my mufflers have the upcoming year left in them and was thinking might take advantage of the bargain and just set them back.  But I don't want to foreclose any new options that might be available between now and another year's passing.  Thanks though.  I appreciate the day to think about it.

Not a problem.

Mark

[BalDeagle]

Well I just ordered the D&D Police Interceptor Mufflers to replace the SPOs.
Soon I will have four sets of mufflers in my garage.

OEMs with the plugs knocked out. Too "Ratty" sounding.
FullSacs Mufflers. Too loud for extended freeway riding.
SPOs. Scrape on left hand turns when leaning way over.
And soon, D&D Police Interceptors.

I hope to God my wife don't start rummaging in the garage.

Mark

I'll be interested in what you think about them too. This is another product that we don't seem to see over here in the UK. Is there a website I can pop into to have a look at them and read up on some info. I'm presuming they don't make a model which takes into account the O2 sensors and our little European flapper.

Cheers,

Nige

[hwyfever]

Ironhorse...  I'd be interested in those SPOs...  Send me an e-mail or reply here...

[Ironhorse]

Ironhorse...  I'd be interested in those SPOs...  Send me an e-mail or reply here...

Bill,

I just sent you an e-mail. I put 'em on e-bay last night and no one has bid yet. I see you are in Newport Beach. I live in Westchester, near LAX and Loyola Marymount University. You can save a ton on shipping and just come by and pick 'em up.

Think about it and let me know.

[BalDeagle]

Hmmmmm !!

Musn't be a site then.

 

Nige