Exhausts Fat Bob newbie Stage 1 question

[Squiz]

Originally Posted by grbrown

Lyndon,
We fitted one to my wife's Dyna, which reduces its theoretical top speed from 140mph to 117mph. Costs about £120 plus fitting. You will never do 140 on a Harley, probably not even 117! Reduces gearing from 25T to 21T, or around 19mph/1000rpm.

One day I hope to be able to sit down with you over a pint and have you explain this bit to me, I just don't get this "theoretical top speed" stuff at all. Let me be 100% clear here, I'm in no way saying you're wrong and being critical in any way shape or form. I've read lots of your tech advice and all seems excellent stuff, I just don't get this bit at all, even though you attempted to educate this bit of Pork (me) once before on this matter, it just aint going in!


Scratches head and wonders how/why a theoretical figure is applied to an actual piece of machinery that can simply be tested and in turn produce recorded results?? Nope, just don't get it!

[Chris L]

Regarding pipes and whats stamped (or not stamped on them) Now my old SEs had not for road use or track use only (I forget now) so this is obvious what this means..illegal on the roads (even in the USA I presume),but a set of pipes with nothing on ie my D&D slip ons I have now,how can they be illegal ? is it amount of noise only ? if so if you do get a 'tug' and the Officer cant see a 'track only' stamp,how is he to know its too loud,unless he carries a decibel meter (which I doubt is standard equipment in all police cars)
Or put it another way,when I buy a new zorst for my beaten up old Hyundai,do I look for stamps on it ? no I dont,and anyway why should an American made zorst have a BS stamp on it ?...or have I missed summat here ?

[Squiz]

Originally Posted by Chris L

Regarding pipes and whats stamped (or not stamped on them) Now my old SEs had not for road use or track use only (I forget now) so this is obvious what this means..illegal on the roads (even in the USA I presume),but a set of pipes with nothing on ie my D&D slip ons I have now,how can they be illegal ? is it amount of noise only ? if so if you do get a 'tug' and the Officer cant see a 'track only' stamp,how is he to know its too loud,unless he carries a decibel meter (which I doubt is standard equipment in all police cars)
Or put it another way,when I buy a new zorst for my beaten up old Hyundai,do I look for stamps on it ? no I dont,and anyway why should an American made zorst have a BS stamp on it ?...or have I missed summat here ?

You're right Chris. If you read the letter of the Law, unless it states "not for road use" they are not necessarily illegal. The Law uses the term "reasonable" when relating to noise. A bit grey that, but a point you can debate with said Officer that tries to be a funny Knunt. Bit like when they have a board to measure your number plate. That is absolute bollocks. The plate size is irrelevant. It's letter size that should be measured and it need only have an 11mm plain border around the letters to be legal. The actual plate size is not mentioned in Law.

[paddypatrick]

Very useful stuff.

I've also recently bought a Fat Bob, and am looking to have Stage 1. I've went to my local dealers this morning, and they are charging £1400 all in, which includes Vance and Hines 2 into 1 Big Radius. We discussed the legality issues, and I was told that they are not legal, but the cops tend to leave you alone provide you are riding responsibly.

Something I forgot to ask, which you guys may be able to answer for me is regarding the warranty. The bike was purchased in Feb 2009, and is therefore still under warranty. Is this affected/negated if I have Stage 1 done?

[Charlie]

When I bought my bike recently I decided to fit the Stage II from new as this was the only way it appeared you could maintain the warranty. I am sure it mentions this in the catalogue, it is certainly somewhere in the literature.