Wrench report - Installing V&H Quiet Baffles

Installing V&H Quiet Baffles:

Had Python Staggered Dual pipes put on by the dealer at delivery. They're made for Drag Specialties by Vance & Hines, and are reportedly identical to the new V&H Big Shot Staggered with the crossover- except they don't have billet end caps and they're a lot cheaper.

I thought that with the stock baffles they had a sharp, percussive element to their sound I didn't care for. V&H had new "Quiet Baffles" for their Big Shot Staggered (p/n 21869 for softies) that were supposed to drop volume by ~10db, and cut some of the high freq sound, leaving a nice rumble. With the stock baffles, stock TC88s usually have a dip in the torque curve right at 3k (2003 CW Power & Performance) Folk's initial seat-of-the-pants estimates were that the new baffles improved low-end torque.

Wasn't sure they'd fit. My understanding was that the Pythons were essentially the same pipe as the Big Shot Staggered. But were the baffles, and the way they were installed, the same? The folks at V&H couldn't tell me, the folks at Drag Specialties *wouldn't* tell me, and the folks at the local dealer just said "that part# ain't even in my catalog..." So, I took the plunge and ordered them direct from Vance & Hines at 562.695.9626 (M-F 9-6, Sat 9-5).

The baffles are pretty severe compared to the stock versions. They have an outer and inner pipe, one of which is closed on the inside, stopping the direct exhaust pulse, and forcing exhaust through holes in the other and through a fiberglass wrapping. Slipped right in and bolted in place. A little quieter, but not *too* quiet. Got rid of some of the high freqs, leaving a nice low rumble - till you open her up.

Il Duce is an 88ci FXSTDI with stock heads and cams, the aforementioned pipes, and Screaming Eagle air cleaner. The Delphi EFI system has the stage 1 reflash, and is supplimented by a Power Commander PCIIIR. To make sure the bike was tuned to get the most out of the system, and to see how the baffles affected the torque curve, I had Eastern Performance Cycles in Gambrills, MD dyno-tune, and create custom maps for the Power Commander.

See the chart here. The torque curve raises slowly from 76 ft/lbs at 2.5k rpm, up to 80 at 3.5k. Then she bumps up to 84 btwn 4 and 4.4k. From ~4.5 on it slowly falls off. Power peaks at 78.4 hp at ~5.5k. About what I should expect for stock cam and heads I guess. Maybe a little better than average. Feels good on the road with lots of pull in the mid-range.

Maybe this winter I'll do something about that curve falling off on the right side ... bigger jugs, SE211 cam, SE performance heads ...

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Chilly "When Hogs Dream" Willie
03 FXSTDI (Il Duce)
Wheels for Eddie '03
NoVA