Topic: thunder header vs fatcat bigbore quite baffle (Read 10197 times)

workingdan · « **on:** February 15, 2009, 02:32:51 PM »

OK i have a 2007 SEULTRA, I am running a thunder header 2 into 1 now and i am thinking of changing to a D&D fatcat with bigbore quiet baffle When I port my heads. I am also raising compression to 10.25:1 and installing a 625 cam. My question is, Is the fatcat going to be louder or quieter? How much more power do you think i will get over the thunderheader?

hd-dude · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2009, 06:17:35 PM »

The TH may have the slight edge on peak numbers but the DD will give you better low and midrange performance. The TH will be louder as well. For quality and fit and finish you cannot beat the DD.

TimBone · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2009, 11:23:17 AM »

Yup, just like Jim says, go with the D/D, very quality piece of gear and the performance is awesome!

Godeater · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:46:52 PM »

Never forget that the TH have non-removable baffle, so there is nothing you can do to tune the pipe. The Fatcat has different baffles to choose from as well as being able to pull out and mod as needed.

AXIL · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:31:27 PM »

select the pipe,then tune the engine not the pipe. imoh. axil

Godeater · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2009, 10:36:51 PM »

Not to be rude but thats a little like building 7 foot wide bridge then tring to figure out how to get a 9 ft wide truck across it. Costs allot less to mode a baffle then change cams because pipe has to much back pressure for your build. Since we are performance shop we see this allot with the untunable type slip-ons and pipes. Thunder headers being the number one offender. Drilling couple of holes or shorting a baffle is a very cheap and fast way to fix back pressure issues, Or going the other way and adding more back pressure. I'll dig up some dyno runs where simply changing baffle had major increases in hp, tq, or both. Guess depends on what you want the end result to be.

workingdan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2009, 07:21:37 AM »

Thanks guys, I am ditching the thunderheader for the Fatcat with bigbore quite baffle. Bring on the power

AXIL · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2009, 10:12:36 PM »

workingdan, dont give up on the thunder header to qwik, when you know what engine your going to end up
with then select an exhuast system to fit your build. i know a few guys that want there thunder headers back.
the d&d have a better fit and finish but who can tell at 80 mph. imho th runs well and sounds good.
get more input before making a move. axil

rednectum · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2009, 03:50:39 PM »

t-header was designed for 80 inches. not on par with the higher flowing engines today. it also is known for cracking.

winner is fatcat! fit, finish, overall quality kicks some serious t-header ass. and it will make BETTER power!

AXIL · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:27:41 PM »

rednectum, my twin cam is not an 80 ci. and it runs like a raped ape, you what to try again... axil

rednectum · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:26:56 AM »

axil, i think you may have misunderstood. i didnt say a mild twin cam wouldnt run good with a t-header. when you step up in size or power, the t-header starts to fall short compared to other "newer design" pipes.

t-header has proven itself over the years, but unless it has been redesigned lately, the base design was for the 80 inch motor. nothing sounds like the t-header, gotta love that.

AXIL · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2009, 04:31:19 PM »

rednectum , i again dissagree. the thunder header was made for stokers not an 80 cid motor, i humbly say- please
rethink the facts on why the thunder header has come to be!!!!! on an 80 inch motor the thunder header is almost a
wast of money, mine is a 103, an i'll match it to any 103 out there. i may not win but i'll be rubbing there tail light.
the d&d is a great exh. and so is the thunder header, but let's get the facts straight. I think you have been
misimformed. axil

DCFIREMANN · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2009, 05:38:08 PM »

Well as most of you know I am a true fan of the Thunderheader and have been for years. I do not run one on Ole Punkin anymore, not because I don't want to but when I was building the motor I was worried that it would peter out on top end with a big inch motor. I am now rethinking this as I am going to need to tune this motor in a few weeks. I know in the smaller motors a Thunderheader will out perform a D&D on top end. Once I try it on a built 113 we shall see as I already have a baseline for the Fat Kat with a performance baffle. OH and BTW the D&D Fat Kat with a performance baffle is much louder that the Thunder Header. I PROMISE!

If Rich Products would increase the tube size of a Thunder Header to 2 1/4 inch it would be the ticket for sure!

Be Safe

THE DAWG

hd-dude · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:19:05 PM »

For what's it worth I am a Rich Products (Thunder Header) and a D&D Dealer. I have installed both many, many times. They both work well and are great performance pipes. My choice? D&D. Why? Quality, fit and finish. I cannot tell you how many Thunder Header brackets, pipes, and heat shields i have replaced due to breaking, cracking. I have not yet had a D&D failure. I do sell about 3 times the TH product to D&D even though it is more $'s. Around here (Rich Products is local), They are the standard pipe on most bikes.

AXIL · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2009, 07:02:24 PM »

hd-dude, I agree with the fit&finish but the beauty is in the flaw's. I have no problems with there pipes or mufflers,
but I've had a few heat Shields clamp mounts break. but none the less some one says the thunder header is for a
80 ci motor is a bunch of bravo Serra...not just my opinion but my experience. axil

DCFIREMANN · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2009, 07:10:58 PM »

Jim I must agree with you on fit and finish. I have had a NO brackets on my Thunder Headers break. They have been good as gold. Like I said in the above post I just wish they made the Thunder Header with a 2 1/4 primary. I think they would help the big motors breath.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

AXIL · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2009, 07:29:49 PM »

evo or twin cam exh. you stiil have the same size exh. pipe at the head. axil

hd-dude · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2009, 07:33:46 PM »

Quote from: AXIL on March 15, 2009, 07:02:24 PM

hd-dude, I agree with the fit&finish but the beauty is in the flaw's. I have no problems with there pipes or mufflers,
but I've had a few heat Shields clamp mounts break. but none the less some one says the thunder header is for a
80 ci motor is a bunch of bravo Serra...not just my opinion but my experience. axil

Quote from: DCFIREMANN on March 15, 2009, 07:10:58 PM

Jim I must agree with you on fit and finish. I have had a NO brackets on my Thunder Headers break. They have been good as gold. Like I said in the above post I just wish they made the Thunder Header with a 2 1/4 primary. I think they would help the big motors breath.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

We all agree on quality and fit. Some are luckier on the breaking brackets. I have had many fitment issues as well. As Axil stated heat shields straps break so often I keep extra sets of the 3 shields in stock.

I think the 80CI statement has to do with when the TH was designed. What was around then was the 80" EVO's . For what its worth the basic design of the pipe has not changed. It does work VERY well on engines up to about 113" or so. One thing I do not like about the performace of the TH is the torque dip around 2500 RPM, This can be tuned out in some cases, also bending the fins in the pipe down to create more back pressure works well.

AXIL · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2009, 07:36:18 PM »

thank you jim. I completely agree. axil

DCFIREMANN · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:19:31 AM »

Quote from: hd-dude on March 15, 2009, 07:33:46 PM

We all agree on quality and fit. Some are luckier on the breaking brackets. I have had many fitment issues as well. As Axil stated heat shields straps break so often I keep extra sets of the 3 shields in stock.

I think the 80CI statement has to do with when the TH was designed. What was around then was the 80" EVO's . For what its worth the basic design of the pipe has not changed. It does work VERY well on engines up to about 113" or so. One thing I do not like about the performace of the TH is the torque dip around 2500 RPM, This can be tuned out in some cases, also bending the fins in the pipe down to create more back pressure works well.

Jim I will have to call you on this one. There is a fix. You insert a bolt in the pipe down by the revision cone and adjust from there.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

rednectum · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:30:17 AM »

Quote from: hd-dude on March 15, 2009, 07:33:46 PM

We all agree on quality and fit. Some are luckier on the breaking brackets. I have had many fitment issues as well. As Axil stated heat shields straps break so often I keep extra sets of the 3 shields in stock.

I think the 80CI statement has to do with when the TH was designed. What was around then was the 80" EVO's . For what its worth the basic design of the pipe has not changed. It does work VERY well on engines up to about 113" or so. One thing I do not like about the performace of the TH is the torque dip around 2500 RPM, This can be tuned out in some cases, also bending the fins in the pipe down to create more back pressure works well.

you got it hd-dude. you said what i was trying to say-------thanks.

09 S/T FLTRSE3 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2009, 01:29:46 AM »

Quote from: Godeater on February 16, 2009, 08:46:52 PM

Never forget that the TH have non-removable baffle, so there is nothing you can do to tune the pipe. The Fatcat has different baffles to choose from as well as being able to pull out and mod as needed.

Not quite true, The TH has vanes inside to direct exhaust gasses into a swirl pattern . You can bend them to create a bit more back pressure / torque. The D&D is a great pipe as well. A bit easier to tune. The TH is definately louder.

Cheers, Ken

FiveO CVO · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2009, 03:25:59 AM »

I would go with the D/D Fatcat for fit/finish/sound. I've seen too many TH's with rust developing at the back reversion area for whatever reason. Granted I live in Honolulu. IMO the TH just doesn't compliment an HD or make it sound like it should. I'm in Iraq right now, but when I get home in June on my mid-tour, I'll be installing my LSR 2-1 Spyder's by RB Racing. I can't wait to get them tuned in and running. I attached a few pic's of a set installed on a 2008 103" FLH, the same pipes I ordered. SS Titanium finish/coating and chrome heat shields. In the pic, he has his slash facing out but I'm getting mine with it down. The other pic is the chrome version of the same pipe. I'll post and let everyone see once I get them installed on my FLHRSE4/Anniversary. If you do a "RB Racing Exhaust" search on You Tube you can see and hear how some of RB Racing pipes sound. Good luck with your purchase and satisfaction on whichever you choose.

FiveO CVO · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2009, 03:31:14 AM »

Sorry, here's the other pic of the chrome version of the LSR 2-1 Spyder by RB Racing. Enjoy.

JohnT. · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:33:24 AM »

I am contemplating on switching out my Rinehart "True Dual" system for a 2 into 1. I actually like the look of the RB Racing pipe better than TH or D&D's product.
My friend has a LSR 2 into 1 system by RB and loves his. I know that when it comes to exhaust, every product is subjective, with some people prefering more loudness,
than others. Some people will give up on a pipe that actually makes good numbers on the dyno, but the sound is not what they prefer, and vice versa. I personally,
like the RB Racing Blackhole System, this is really a good looking exhaust, plus, I've heard its quiet, which for me, I prefer quiet over loudness. Sometimes I like to
ride late at night, and the Rineharts are mile or mores when it comes to sound. You can hear them for a mile or more. I don't like attracting unwanted attention to myself by running a loud exhaust. Plus, alot of states are cracking down on motorcycle "noise" .. Curious as to why I don't read of more people running RB Racing products on their bikes on this site, their website is FULL of positive testamonials, why are none of those people here?? They make loud pipes as well as quiet ones..

Author Topic: thunder header vs fatcat bigbore quite baffle (Read 10197 times)