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[dankwiz]

Just picked up a 2014 Ultra Limited and will drive until the 2015 CVO Limited's come out next fall.  Seeing I know this is a short term hold, I do not want to put any more into it than I have to.  If I simply add a set of V & H Monster Ovals slip ons do I need to do anything to the bike ?  In the past I have added the air cleaner, added the race tuner, dyno'd etc.  Trying to avoid all of those costs.  Can I just install the slip ons and drive it without any type of engine damage ?

[deldago]

I did slip ons with no other mods without a problem.Started with a set of Samson slip ons but went with Fullsac inserts because I liked the look of the mufflers better than the Samsons.Both ran fine with no popping or other isuues right from the start.

[Melnhed]

What size inserts? 

[grc]

Just picked up a 2014 Ultra Limited and will drive until the 2015 CVO Limited's come out next fall.  Seeing I know this is a short term hold, I do not want to put any more into it than I have to.  If I simply add a set of V & H Monster Ovals slip ons do I need to do anything to the bike ?  In the past I have added the air cleaner, added the race tuner, dyno'd etc.  Trying to avoid all of those costs.  Can I just install the slip ons and drive it without any type of engine damage ?

Yes.  The small difference in air flow through the engine with just a muffler change shouldn't be enough to affect the ability of the ECM to compensate.  This is one of the advantages of a closed loop system with O₂ sensors versus the old open loop EFI system.  On the other hand, even a totally stock bike can be made to run smoother and better with a good tune.  Since you plan to get rid of the bike in less than a year I'd say if you are OK with how the bike runs stock then save the money and spend it on the next one.  Btw, how do you know already that you will get rid of it and buy a 2015?  Buying a new $40k motorcycle with the intention of getting rid of it in less than a year to buy the next model year version is liable to cost you a whole lot more than the price of a good tune.  Just curious as to the thought process.

Jerry

[dankwiz]

Thanks for the answers.  Actually I had an 09 CVO Ultra and was first on the list to get a 2014 CVO Limited.  I didn't love any of the colors to pull the trigger and spend $40K on something I didn't love.  I really wanted the new features of the Rushmore bike so traded in 2009 (with just a couple grand out of pocket) bought a basic black one, will slip on an old set of Monster Ovals and hope like heck there is a 2015 CVO that I love.

[FLHTCUSE7]

I was in the same situation, did not really love any of the colors but did sure as heck not want to wait another year, so I got a blue and it looks pretty good.

If there are a better color (one I like better) in 2015 I will trade it, if not I ride it another year or two.

[Midnight Rider]

Yes.  The small difference in air flow through the engine with just a muffler change shouldn't be enough to affect the ability of the ECM to compensate.  This is one of the advantages of a closed loop system with O₂ sensors versus the old open loop EFI system.  On the other hand, even a totally stock bike can be made to run smoother and better with a good tune.  Since you plan to get rid of the bike in less than a year I'd say if you are OK with how the bike runs stock then save the money and spend it on the next one.  Btw, how do you know already that you will get rid of it and buy a 2015?  Buying a new $40k motorcycle with the intention of getting rid of it in less than a year to buy the next model year version is liable to cost you a whole lot more than the price of a good tune.  Just curious as to the thought process.

Jerry

Jerry...he bought a regular Ultra Limited, not the CVO model.  I missed that the first read as well.

OP...you should be fine with just the muffler change, but if you really want to save a few bucks and keep the stock look, why not look into the Fullsac cores and get the best of both worlds...sound and stock looks?  Just a thought...

[old_dirt]

I disagree with the advice given.  I have found that it is our exhausts that hamper airflow way more than an AC.  Open those up, and the fuel trims will not be able to keep up.  I 100% agree with using Fullsac products, too.

OK, back onto the exhausts.  May as well install a new AC and filter to gain the maximum amount of power increase available.  WIth open exhausts, you WILL need some form of tuning or tuning device.  Lots of folks read that our ECM can adjust 10% and assume that will cover it.  It does NOT.  That 10% is the total amount of 'swing' that the ECM will allow the fuel trims to adjust.  That is BOTH ways, fellas.  So... with half of that... now it is only 5% swing.  Not Enough.  And... it may not be 10%, but whatever it is, new pipes or cans will swing the trims right to the wall.  Doing that will eliminate the ability of the trims to 'fine tune'.

My idea is you, the OP, will need some sort of tuning device, as we all do.  My recommendations to you are this:  get a 'flash tune'.  A flash tune alters the tables inside of the computer on the bike.  Any kind of fueler or add on device tricks the computer into thinking things that are not true.  Old tech for old bikes.

There are numerous ways to gain a flash tune.  Go to a dyno shop and buy whatever tuner they recommend and get a tune.  You should study this, and find a decent tuner, because there are a lot of hacks trying to say they tune, when, in reality, they don't.  SOme tuning shops offer something a bit different.  If you are NOT a DIY type of guy... then maybe you could find a shop that would tune with a 'key.  There, one does NOT buy the tuner, but the shop, instead, will use there tuner, buy a license to use the tuner, and tune your bike with that.  Two complete different systems cone to mind with this.  Direct Link uses keys, and those keys are like $3-400 each.  Also, Power Vision tuners can offer 'key' tunes fo a tad less.

I, myself recommend buying a TTS tuner for $450 and have a competent TTS tuning shop, tune your bike...  but that is just me.

If you are the type to wish for his bike to run well, and properly, changing exhausts will require a different tune to compensate.  If good enough is more your bag?  Run em.

Fullsac will sell exhausts to suit you plus sell you a TTS with a decently close tune, for your bike, included.  With THAT tune?  All of the settings, etc are done and all you would need to do is go do some tuning runs to dial things in better.  This IS something a newbie can accomplish, too.

[GC_Super]

I disagree with the advice given.  I have found that it is our exhausts that hamper airflow way more than an AC.  Open those up, and the fuel trims will not be able to keep up.  I 100% agree with using Fullsac products, too.

OK, back onto the exhausts.  May as well install a new AC and filter to gain the maximum amount of power increase available.  WIth open exhausts, you WILL need some form of tuning or tuning device.  Lots of folks read that our ECM can adjust 10% and assume that will cover it.  It does NOT.  That 10% is the total amount of 'swing' that the ECM will allow the fuel trims to adjust.  That is BOTH ways, fellas.  So... with half of that... now it is only 5% swing.  Not Enough.  And... it may not be 10%, but whatever it is, new pipes or cans will swing the trims right to the wall.  Doing that will eliminate the ability of the trims to 'fine tune'.

My idea is you, the OP, will need some sort of tuning device, as we all do.  My recommendations to you are this:  get a 'flash tune'.  A flash tune alters the tables inside of the computer on the bike.  Any kind of fueler or add on device tricks the computer into thinking things that are not true.  Old tech for old bikes.

There are numerous ways to gain a flash tune.  Go to a dyno shop and buy whatever tuner they recommend and get a tune.  You should study this, and find a decent tuner, because there are a lot of hacks trying to say they tune, when, in reality, they don't.  SOme tuning shops offer something a bit different.  If you are NOT a DIY type of guy... then maybe you could find a shop that would tune with a 'key.  There, one does NOT buy the tuner, but the shop, instead, will use there tuner, buy a license to use the tuner, and tune your bike with that.  Two complete different systems cone to mind with this.  Direct Link uses keys, and those keys are like $3-400 each.  Also, Power Vision tuners can offer 'key' tunes fo a tad less.

I, myself recommend buying a TTS tuner for $450 and have a competent TTS tuning shop, tune your bike...  but that is just me.

If you are the type to wish for his bike to run well, and properly, changing exhausts will require a different tune to compensate.  If good enough is more your bag?  Run em.

Fullsac will sell exhausts to suit you plus sell you a TTS with a decently close tune, for your bike, included.  With THAT tune?  All of the settings, etc are done and all you would need to do is go do some tuning runs to dial things in better.  This IS something a newbie can accomplish, too.

All true, but the OP only wants to basically rent the bike until the 15 comes in. So the answer is yes he can run the bike with just slip ons without doing any damage.

[JKM]

another option is to put mufflers and fuel module (use canned map instead of dyno) and then remove and use on the 2015 bike.  This way not really wasting money as you will be reusing the fuel module on the 2015 bike.  Put the 2014 back to stock when you sell it.
If you buy fuel model from a vendor like Fuel Moto or Fulsac they will give you a canned map for your set up

[old_dirt]

All true, but the OP only wants to basically rent the bike until the 15 comes in. So the answer is yes he can run the bike with just slip ons without doing any damage.

I disagree, but what do I know....  Alls good.

[motor1]

Keep in mind that the biggest restriction on the new Harleys is not the muffler, it's the catalytic converter. I did Fullsac a
baffles ( and road around for several months ) before doing a headpipe and TTS, never had an issue.   

[owl893]

All true, but the OP only wants to basically rent the bike until the 15 comes in. So the answer is yes he can run the bike with just slip ons without doing any damage.

X2 been there done that, ran fine.

[old_dirt]

Here is how I view it... runs fine as compared to what?  Your own bike before the changes?  I recommend what I do based upon running bikes on the wheel and sniffing exhausts.  NOT a butt dyno with the same bike.  That being said...  It won't kill a bike to do this, but it is not correct either. 

The cat material is NOT the impediment some of you guys think, either.  NOBODY bothers with removing these anymore on cars unless they are strip duty only...  like Z06s, big Mustangs,etc. all run cats anymore.  Funny thing that I have seen....  removing the cat material, on our bikes, will lower the TQ down low.  Sounds better, but less power.  The shape of the pipe is made to have the Cat material inside for proper flow.  Want better sound?  Swap pipes is my own recommendation, and...  I recommend the Fullsac pipes over Fuelmoto's pipes every time.  Dyno don't lie.

[owl893]

ok, "runs fine" may be a subjective reference but I believe the sentiment is: "idles normally and smoothly, accelerates and decelerates without hesitation and popping, starts quickly and shuts off without engine run-on".  GRC, Haird, 2k, timo, Ken and a bunch of other guys can give you a more complete description of "runs fine" if necessary.  The point was made that dankwiz just wants to "get by" for a year without dropping a lot of cash into a bike he fully intends to trade, he wants to use it, but he doesn't want it to sound "stock" either. You sound like an experienced tech old_dirt, surely you would agree he won't damage the bike with a set of slip-ons and although he won't obtain remarkable performance, he can ride until the 2015's come out.

As far as the cat observations, the main thing I noticed when I switched headers was less heat. But I agree, several guys have gutted their stock pipes, but I have never read a post where that was the end of it, they all received additional tuning. But if you want to kick that around, post the question in "intake, exhaust, etc" and discuss it there, we have some incredibly experienced people here and I'm sure they would enjoy discussing it with you.

OWL