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05 Honda VTX1300R....thinking about pipes....
I dont want them too loud...am told they come with baffels that help dampen noise but can also be removed...any thoughts
This jet kit thing....scares me a little to mess with a new bike.....does the modification with pipes and jets have any impact on engine wear???
Any one have same bike with pipes and how was performance

thanks for the help...........rick

A pipe and jet swap (If done correctly) should have no impact on the life of your engine - as long as you properly maintain it.

Just make sure that you have the bike worked on by a professional, or at least (If you do the swap yourself) take it in to a pro to verify that your jetting is proper.

If not for volume, then why get them at all. Maybe if you really want the look, but I think volume is the only reason to get new pipes on a VTX. I put V&Hs on my VTX two weekends ago and it was one of the best decisions I've made (also added the USB Power Commander). Good luck.

Ockham....
What model pipes did you put on? I hear Vand H are very good pipes.
The jet kit...how did you know which one to install.....did a dealer install and dyno test....just curious and.....do you see a difference in power??
did you have to install a new air flow also???

Dont mean to be a pain in the A$$....I am kinda new to this and want to make the right choice.........thx

No worries, sorry for the late reply. I got the V&H Big Shots with a Power Commander III. I did not have it Dyno'd and just installed the correct map from Power Commander (pretty cool to see that thing work). I understand that there is supposed to be a 5% increase in hp, but I don't really feel it. A lot of other people get an air compressor as well, but I've found the machine to be responsive to throttle adjustments and so I haven't done it. So, no, there really isn't much of a difference in performance. The big difference is in look and sound.

Look - obviously up to you, but I really like these better than the giant potato gun. I like the way the Big Shots cut around the engine as opposed to going straight back, but that, too, is a styling issue.

Sound - really unbelievable. I've said that it's like I added a subwoofer to the bike. I was worried that they would be obnoxiously loud, but it's more of a low rumble. Even my wife loves 'em. There is some 'popping'/backfiring upon deceleration, but either it seems to have lessened in the time that I put these on or I'm just getting used to it. Either way, it now sounds like the monster it is. I recommend these without reservation and would have put these on a lot earlier had I known.

What is this air compressor you speak of? Surely not a blower or turbo? Can't see how an air comp will help with the power unless your artificially asperating the engine.

thanks for the reply...you have been very helpful....now I just need to find the cash to add them on.....man are they expensive......

FYI...if you want a backrest for the passenger seat I just got one off Ebay for $225 with brackets......dealer is over $420.....Just put it on and it looks great......the guy has a few more for sale....

thanks again for the help...ride safe...have fun

Go with Cobra slip ons. I didn't have to rejet and they are louder than stock, but not obnoxious. They do have a nice deep rumble to them. BTW...slip ons are much cheaper than full pipes.

Mer...explain to me the slip ons....not sure how the work....I have not heard of them....that is exactly what I am looking to do is just get a little more sound.....not totaly loud......that might be the better way for me to go......thx for the input

I'm not real good at explaining the differences in the slip ons vs. full pipes, but here is a link that explains it all.
http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... full+pipes

Slip ons, are mufflers only, that simply "Slip-On" to your stock head pipes in place of the stock mufflers. The mufflers are the Fat part...the last 18"-24" of your stock exhaust system.

A full pipe system requires the removal/replacement of the entire exhaust system, from Cylinder Head to the Exhaust tip.
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