Road King Muffler reference material for the uninformed

[Dave77459]

I know! MORE Road King crap! But maybe this is useful.

 

I'm part way through the install of my "Harley touring pipes". I went to the local H-D dealer and asked if I could have a pair of "take-offs"... pipes they take off new bikes when the owner wants a different set. I was given (my cost: $0) a set they said came off a touring bike. I don't know that they are Road King, or what. They were free and in good shape. They have minor scratches, but I did mention they were free, right?

 

The rest of this is to alert newbies to what the issues are when they read install threads. If you don't know what people are talking about, you miss the information being conveyed. So... here's some information.

 

So here is a top view of my stock RSTD mufflers above the H-D touring pipes. The front of the mufflers are to the right. You can see that the RSTD pipes have the bracket welded to the middle of the pipe, offset to the inside. In contrast, the H-D pipes have the nut holes at the tale of the pipes, centered. This causes the main mounting problem, of how to get the bolt on the bike to meet the nut holes on the H-D pipes. Commonly, you make or buy a bracket that spans that gap.

 

 

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3691214905_9f02c43f0b.jpg

 

 

Another view. In my opinion, the RSTD pipes are very attractive.

 

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3692021524_579efc409b.jpg

 

Alternative installation method: Zip ties.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/3691215573_0aa375d98c.jpg

 

JUST KIDDING! My brackets are coming, but I wanted to hear how they sounded and couldn't wait. But this does show where the H-D bolts go. The mate is visible on the inside of the black pipe, further towards the front of the bike.

 

Here's one of the other issues: the muffler clamp. I have a V-Twin part coming (P/N 31-9920), but this photo shows the ugly mating of the H-D muffler to the Yamaha header pipe. I had to pry the muffler open a little to get it to go over the exhaust header. It probably needs to go on further, but I am waiting for the bracket to come--that will determine final locations.

 

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3691215821_4cdd0907ef.jpg

 

OK, so here is the good stuff. I made videos of my stock pipes before I installed the touring (Road King) mufflers.

 

Stock Pipes:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWIMtsJhDY]YouTube - Stock pipes on the Royal Star Tour Deluxe[/ame]

 

Harley-Davidson pipes:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt6QoJtem0s]YouTube - Road King Mufflers on the Royal Star Tour Deluxe[/ame]

 

You can judge for yourself whether you think they are louder. I think they have a different tone and bleat much more when you throttle. And you can see that they shake the camera with the exhaust. But for me, the jury is out as to whether they need modification or not.

 

Hope this helps make the issues a little clearer.

Edited July 6, 2009 by Dave77459
Munging of the links! Pffft!

[flb_78]

What kind of stand is under the bike?

[Dave77459]

What kind of stand is under the bike?

 

This is the Carbon_One lift adapter, with the optional legs. The legs are a fantastic addition and work extremely well.

 

You can see it in the classifieds: http://www.venturerider.org/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/1586