After market pipes

[marekm]

I have a 05 nomad 1600 with stock exhaust. I want to get Vance&Hines or Cobra or something ales, BUT i was told i will need a power commender with it, is it true if I'm just changing pipes. Also any good store i can look at? thank you much

Mark

[landman]

not true unless you also modify the air intake.

[dantama]

Though I haven't done it, because I'm fine with a quiet bike, I'd recommend the do it yourself for nearly free 'Bafflectomy' to your stock pipes. There are instructions in the garage forum I think.

It gives it a great sound, without being loud and obnoxious.

[ringadingh]

You don't need a Power Commander unless you really want one. For just a pipe change it will run fine, if you start changing the air intake as well, then you may need to think about one.

[marekm]

thanks guys...fill much better now:-)

[hammer]

Yep I have the V&H and no PC.

[crapper]

i also run the vance & hines with stock airfilter and works fine
love the rumble also.......

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Check out the debaffle as Dan said. A lot of guys have done this and like the sound. I did it myself and it gives the bike just a little more rumble. I also installed the Cobra FI2000R digital fuel processor. Didn't have to but it allows you to fine tune the bike.

[nomadwest]

When I first put my V&H's on with no controller I did not like them and thought about sending them back. The sound and performance felt unballanced and rough.I also had the PC lll controller and decided to put it on before sending back the pipes. I was very pleased with the difference. Exhaust note was noticeably smoother with smoother acceleration. My PC lll was programmed for the V&H pipes and stock air cleaner. I later put on a K&N filter and found further improvement in acceleration. I have heard a couple of members say on this site they had problems with their PClll. I have put on about 10,000 miles on mine and it has been flawless.
For me, I would not be happy with no controller.

[cheriann]

Hubby has the V&H pipes with no other changes. It runs fine. Since I am usually riding behind him, I will mention that every now and then I hear a loud backfire "pop" from his pipes.

[trosco]

A comment about loud pipes, Fuel Injection controllers and air cleaner mods.
I had V&H duals on my bike but don't anymore. Think they are a high quallity product and looked great but they only make the bike sound faster (they don't make the bike any faster!). I loved the way they sound everywhere except when I was riding the bike on trips. They became anoying after an hour, painfull after several hours and unbearable after two weeks on the road.

Before you spend $500-700 on pipes spend $20 on a hole saw and do the Debaffle mod listed in this forum. It may not be enough for you (I'm still happy with it after 2 years) but it will get you through your first summer and educate you about how much noise you really want.
A FI controller is in my opinion an absolute "must do" for anyone living below 6,000 feet. It will get you safely to regular or at least mid grade fuels, eliminate or at least greatly reduce the pre-iginition problems these nomads are so prone to, and improve the driveability of the bike while reducing its operating temp. It is the very first thing I would do to the bike if it was me.
Air cleaner mods also benifit your engine and the chuckster right side only would be my recomendation based on cost and result. I have a hyper-charge but that is a personal choice and a more expensive one at that.
And if you do the FI controller and aircleaner mods correctly you will create a small increase in power, but most likely it will be a lot less than the claims that your buddies will make.

so my advice is debaffle, and put the FI controller (I have a Cobra FI2000R) on. Then don't do anything else for about 3 months. That will help you see what your next steps should be?