Why Vance & Hines???

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Kris, Do you have the screens in your UB's? I don't and may pick up a couple of 4" floor drains at Lowes and fix them on the inside of the baffles if it tones them down a little. They are a little too loud with just the pin IMO.

Mitch,
When you heard them in Custer, I did not have the screens...only the pins. Since then I have added the screens....and they do tone them down a bit...although they still are pretty aggressive. You will like them better with the screens though for sure... ;)!

DKDixie sent me some with round holes as I could only find them with the square ones up here. The round-holed screens provide a tad more surface coverage for better back-pressure as well if you can find them. Good luck!

[Cajunrider]

Thanks Kris. I'll start my search for the screens. I had a LEO whip around and follow me and a buddy for over a mile last week. We were only doing a couple of mph over the speed limit when we met him. He may have followed me just to gauge the sound of the pipes. I really nursed the throttle while he was directly behind me. Thank God all of the traffic lights were green through town. I'll slip the V & H baffles back in until I get some screens mounted. Did you fasten the screens by drilling and tapping?

[timebandit]

Originally Posted by Krash

I just want to know the pluses and minuses before I drop a load of money on a shiny new exhaust.

I "invested" in a set of "music instruments" for the nomad, V&H brand. Finely tuned with some "ULTIMATE Baffles" and wrapped them up in some "Carbon Fiber Heat Wrap"

Why you ask?

Because

[Netnorske]

Yep....drilled and tapped....see photo....but you will have to trim the rear edge flat enough for the screens to sit on and drill. The photo is of my first screens with the square holes. I have since went to the round-holed screens....

[Cajunrider]

Thanks again Kris. Great picture.

[delivery58]

Check craigslist for Spokane(Washington) type in Vanes & Hines or Vulcan Nomad.... a guy selling a set for $300.00
I bought V&H head pipes only... then found mufflers seperate. Installed some Basani 4" Slash-Cuts

[Blue Rebel]

I went with the V&H, just liked the looks and the idea of removing the baffles.

I've had them for a couple of years now and have been running them without the baffles, (like the sound), and haven't regretted it.

[nomad561]

As others have said,I bought my V&Hs because they were customizable. I listened to several clips and liked the sound of the Baggers. At the time, Cobras didn't have removable baffles so you couldn't change anything.I think they have remedied that now.
I'm also running the Ultimate Baffles in mine and love the way it sounds.

[macmac]

OT, Would you suppose that 80+ year old geezer is gonna go get a new education because he earns less than 45,000 a year? I don't think so. Add on page 1.

[caddman11]

When I said search this for your question, I meant on this forum. Yes, I have Roadhouse. I got them at a deal I couldn't refuse, new, cheaper than any other pipe. So I guess came down to dollars for me. But then again, I wanted Roadhouse; that's what I was looking for. I wanted their sound and look; I really like the nostalgic look of those serrated heat shield. These pipes get everyone's attention at bike nites.

I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when I bought them. They are the most expensive of the group by a couple hundred dollars, but I think that its worth it. They sound great right out of the box, no need to change baffles or anything. Roadhouse does offer more options that any other exhaust, 4 different ends, 2 different heat shields and 3 different canister baffles. There are comments about special baffles that make some pipes sound better, but with the cost of the pipes and then the special baffles, you could have gotten the RH.

There is also some discussions on this forum with regards to low end torque and true duals. Harley (yeah, dirty word) uses xover pipes to keep up the back pressure, RD pipes are the only one is the group who also uses a xover pipe. Ma Kawa uses the same principle with the goat bladder, that may be another reason to consider RD.

There is lots of info with regards to cracked head pipes on this forum about the V&H, but not one comment about any problems with RD. RD customer service has been great to me; I wanted a change in heat shields when I purchased my pipes, and not only did they do it for free, but then also included a UPS return slip with the change. Knowing what I do now, I would still purchase the RD pipes even if they are $700.

[krash]

Thank you all for your feedback. I assumed all new pipes came with removable baffles...... well you know what you get when you assume ;)

I really like the looks of the Roadhouse products, just not the price. I also like the Cobra with the billet tips but can the baffles be modified? Hmmmm..... Good thing the stock pipes are still new, gives me plenty of time to shop for the best deal.

And Mac why do even read the ads? I don't even see them until someone points them out. Well not unless theres a half nekkid woman sellin beer

[mac]

Mitch, I went to Lowes and bought the circle hole floor drains and swapped out for the square holed ones. I just used tin snips to cut them to size.

Krash, I also have the V&H pipes which came on the bike and later added the Ultimate Baffles. My wife hates loud pipes, but likes these as they are loud but sound good and not obnoxiously loud.

[usranger74]

No doubt I am in the minority here, but I don't like HDs because they are loud. I will stay stock and enjoy the lack of "noise".

[caddman11]

I don't care for loud bikes either; that's why I sold my HD. Debaffling was enough to make me happy until I found the deal on the RH pipes. They are not loud, but loud enough.

[dakota7557]

Had Vance and Hines on my last 2 bikes and one thing that I notice is that on the rear cylinder, when the pipe makes it's bend, the pipes have turned light brown on me...I've also noticed this happening quite often when I observed some of the bikes @ Sturgis...It obviously doesn't deter enough though since I'm currently waiting for my 3rd set to be delivered by the UPS man today. Jody