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[tmitchellofpg]

I have a 2005 SE Fat Boy. I bought it used a year and a half ago with 1,000 miles on it. The previous owner had Samson II, Rip Saws put on it. They are basically 1 3/4" OD drag pipes, that come with no baffles. He also had power cones installed. I have put another 4,000 miles on the bike since I bought it and the bike runs great. I have no idea if he had any retuning done for the air/fuel ratio.
The exhaust is extremely loud. I have tried a few things to quiet it just a bit. I settled on putting Khrome Werks HP drag pipe baffles in the pipes. These are very minimal metal baffles about 9" long. I didn't notice any difference in the performance. It lowered the volume a little, but it is still very loud.
I have decided that the only thing left is to change the exhaust. I would like to go with the D&D Fat Cat, with quiet muffler. My concern is that the bike will not run properly with the D&D exhaust and  I don't know if it already had a SERT download or any other type reprogramming done to the EFI.
Does it seem feasible that that if he changed to drag pipes without remapping, that the bike would still run as good as it does. If that is possible, then switching again to the Fat Cats shouldn't be a problem.
I would appreciate any input on this, whether or not my reasoning makes any sense.
Tom

[Gecko]

I'd think after 4000 miles you would have noticed if something was seriously out of tune, hesitation, heat, falls on its face at high rpm, poor idle...  If the plugs look like they okay (not eroded from detonation or shiny grey from heat), give the new pipes a try.  It might also be a good time to verify whether it has a SERT installed.  The previous owner should have given you the interface if it has.

[rednectum]

you need to verify tune anyway. odds are that anyone that would put those PIPES on anything, would not care enough to worry about tune. even if they did, the tune will change tremendously after installing real EXHAUST.

not saying this to flame-------but you just think the bike runs good. install the fatcat and get er tuned, man you are in for a real treat!!!!!!!!!

[Hugh Janis]

I guess the intent of Red's post is that the Samsons are great at making noise but not much else.  If you have an after market tuner on your bike you should be able to find it plugged into your ECM.  It might be hidden under your seat.  But like you said, you might not have one.

[tmitchellofpg]

Thanks for the replys. I had more or less talked myself into spending the $600 for the Fat Cat, 2 into 1. The only thing holding me back is that after I put the new exhaust on, I may have to spend a lot more money getting an after market tuner and having it dialed in.  Then I would have over a grand invested, just to get a quieter exhaust.
I am more then happy with how the bike performs now, all I am really after is a quieter exhaust.
My hope is that there was nothing done to adjust the EFI, when he switched to these pipes. If that was the case, then switching again to the Fat Cat, should bring the settings closer then they are now.
I'll pull the seat and make sure there is nothing attached to the ECM. Can the dealership look up my VIN # to see if the ECM has been flashed/retuned by any other HD dealership?
Tom

[Hugh Janis]

I think you're thinking about this wrong.  The BEST thing for you is that there is a tuner on your bike.  That's about $400 that someone else spent on your behalf.  You can change out the exhaust and download a canned map.  There is a board on this forum you can search for other members with similar mods.  You may find someone generous enough to share their map.  If you are strictly looking for quieter exhaust without spending any money did you ask the original owner if still had the stock pipes?

[LRebel]

Tom,

Sounds like you are a little concerned about spending too much $$ right now?  May I suggest that you stick with the pipes you have for now and prepare to spend what it may take to do it right later on down the road.

If the bike is running good now, it is very likely that if you only change the exhaust, the bike is not going to run as well.  When you change the exhaust to the Fat Cat 2>1 you are going to dramatically improve the look of your bike (IMO).  The performance can improve as well, but perhaps only if you spend the $$ to add a SERT and dyno time with a good tuner.

If you do this right, you will realize that it was $$$ very well spent.

[tmitchellofpg]

It doesn't appear to me that there is any after market tuner attached to the ECM. The only thing extra under the seat, is the red with the black and white checkered pattern, Tailbones converter
Tom

[Midnight Rider]

It doesn't appear to me that there is any after market tuner attached to the ECM. The only thing extra under the seat, is the red with the black and white checkered pattern, Tailbones converter
Tom

Tom...I would try and find out if the bike was flashed at the dealer...you could get flashes back then for 100 bucks or so, OR if the guy had the bike tuned with a SERT...if so, the black box does not stay on the bike, so the only way to tell is to get the dealer to hook up to a computer and see what's in the ECM.  If it's stock, and the owner put straight pipes on the bike without doing any kind of flash/tune, I'd say you are probably running lean right now.  No offense, but straight pipes are chit for anything but making a bunch of racket.  Get the new exhaust...you will be MUCH, MUCH happier with the bike in the long run.  Call Jamie at Fuelmoto USA, get him to ship you a Powercommander...PCIIIUSB.  For less than 300 bucks, he'll send you the PCIII, with a canned map that will be very close.  However, IMO, you need to find out if the ECM has been flashed or SERT'd before you go any further.

Not being disrepectful here, but you can't do this chit right by doing it halfway.  If you want the bike to run and sound like you want it, getting a good MAP or better yet, a good tune, is very important.  Then you're done...you're happy, the bike's motor is happy, and you're getting all the potential out of your hard earned money you spent on the exhaust.  The fatcat or a similar pipe will make a LARGE difference in the way your bike runs/feels.  You will not regret spending the money.

[tmitchellofpg]

I have read quite a bit about how drag pipes cost you low to mid range power, but some how my setup runs great. I took the plugs out earlier today. I was expecting them to indicate the bike was running on the lean side, but they were fine. The previous owner must of had some type of flash done to the ECM. Saturday I will go by the service dept. at the dealership and ask them if they can look up my VIN, to see if there is a record of the ECM being flashed.
I will also try and find the previous owner's phone number, maybe he will remember what was done.
Tom

[rednectum]

I guess the intent of Red's post is that the Samsons are great at making noise but not much else.  If you have an after market tuner on your bike you should be able to find it plugged into your ECM.  It might be hidden under your seat.  But like you said, you might not have one.

clarification-------not beatin on samson, just the straight pipes. centerfold pipes do not work, no matter the manufactor.