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[stantonm]

Hello everyone. I am new to this site and have a question reference changing out pipes. Also, I know things are worthless without photos but here it is anyway. Ha!

I bought me '07 Ultra SE last June. I am way over the loud pipe era of my riding career but would like just a little louder and deeper sound than the stock pipes provide. A friend has a regular Ultra with Rineharts that is really close to what I am looking for. Hear is my question. Is it absolutely necessary to get the $500.00 HD race tuner to switch pipes? Has anyone upgraded without the tuner and what problems if any did you experience? My local HD tech says the only pipes you can install without the tuner is Screaming Eagle pipes. Is this true?

Thanks,

PS...I will add photos when I figure out how to do it...

[DakotaZeb]

I think your local HD tech should go back to school.  There are a number of slipon mufflers that can be installed without requiring a race tuner.  However, since these bikes run so lean I would recommend that you install either a race tuner, powercommander or some other tuning device to make your bike run better and cooler.

Also, be aware that the Rineharts on your bike with the 110" engine will be louder than your friend's with a standard Ultra.  Especially if your friend's is an 88".  Then they will be significantly louder.  If you don't want loud pipes I don't think the Rineharts are what you want.

Unfortunately, finding the right mufflers is a difficult process.   I've tried 7-8 different sets and still haven't found exactly what I want.  The HD street legal Screamin Eagle touring mufflers are a little louder than stock but not much.  Those are probably the muffs your tech is referring to.

Vance & Hines has just come out with a new muffler called the Monster Oval that is suppose to provide performance with less noise.  I've got a set on order.  They won't be available until April 15th.

Look around this site.  There are numerous discussions on mufflers.  But sound is very subjective and what may sound great to one person might sound like crap to you.

Good luck in your search.  A lot of us have been down the same road.

[Midnight Rider]

Rush http://www.epiflex.com/ makes some nice slip-ons, available in baffle diameters ranging from 1.5" to 2.5".  They even make them to fit the RH TD header pipes which are larger in diameter than the stock headers.  On the Rush, if I didn't want too much noise, I'd probably stick to the 1.75" or the 2".   They are available as a one piece muffler, or a two piece, and you pick the end cap that you like best.  I personally prefer the two piece look.  The "quiet" baffle for the RH's is a waste of money, from all reports I've heard.  The RH TD pipes will be a lot louder on your stroker motor than on a stock 88" motor, as has been mentioned.  I have the RH's on my 103" motor and they sound great, but they can put a ring in your ears at the end of a long day on the road, even with a full face helmet on.

A recent popular pipe is the Fat Cat 2 into 1 with quiet baffle...good low end torque and not too loud.  It's a two into one, but you can get a ghost pipe if you must have the dual pipe look from the rear of the bike.

If you're going to do this, I'd go ahead and put a high flow air cleaner/backplate on the bike and get it tuned with either the SERT or PCIII, depending on what your tuner is most comfortable with using (and whether your tuner is worth a chit).  The bike will run cooler with more fuel than the stock ECM configuration, which is REALLY lean, and if tuned properly, you will get the maximum performance and drivability.

[MUFFMAN]

Hello everyone. I am new to this site and have a question reference changing out pipes. Also, I know things are worthless without photos but here it is anyway. Ha!

I bought me '07 Ultra SE last June. I am way over the loud pipe era of my riding career but would like just a little louder and deeper sound than the stock pipes provide. A friend has a regular Ultra with Rineharts that is really close to what I am looking for. Hear is my question. Is it absolutely necessary to get the $500.00 HD race tuner to switch pipes? Has anyone upgraded without the tuner and what problems if any did you experience? My local HD tech says the only pipes you can install without the tuner is Screaming Eagle pipes. Is this true?

Thanks,

PS...I will add photos when I figure out how to do it...

I think your local HD tech makes more money on the screamin Eagle pipes than the others. What a knob.

[MUFFMAN]

Forgot to mention. Welcome to the site.

[SPIDERMAN]

Forgot to mention. Welcome to the site.

Welcome to the site. Always glad to see a new member

On an 07 and later Harley-Davidson you can swap your stock air filter for a K&N air filter and install a set of free flowing mufflers without having to reprogram your ECM or install a PCIII or SERT. I know this works because I did it. As a matter of fact, the service manager at my local dealer called it H-D's dirty little secret in 07. Even though the sensors connected to your ECM are narrow band, they will adjust to these two changes. If you install a highflow breather kit like a Screamin Eagle, Doherty, Ness etc etc, you will need to re-map at the least. 

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