New exhaust for X-mas?!

[jagcamp]

I have a 2005 nomad 1600 with 28k miles. I bought the bully controller from gman about a year ago and added a k&n exposed air cleaner. * I want the best aftermarket exhaust to increase either power or fuel economy and not be too loud. * I have the baffles out now on the stock pipes and it is almost loud enough. *I like the low rumble, *not the brassy sound I hear on a lot of Harleys. *I would like your opinion on options for both power and efficiency especially if you have the bully fi controller. *I enjoy tweaking the bully and it has made a big difference in power and torque but I only get 30 mpg if I cruise at 75 mph. *I would sacrifice economy for power if it would be noticeably faster off the line. *However if it would only be slightly faster I would rather have better gas mileage. *Hopefully it would be 4-5 mpg better. *I would pay big money for pipes that were just barely louder than baffleless stock and gave me 5 mpg more and 10 more ft-lbs. *I bet a lot of people would!

[redjay]

I would leave your bike the way it is and cruise at 65 instead of 75 if you want better mileage.

[Sidewalkman]

Originally Posted by redjay

I would leave your bike the way it is and cruise at 65 instead of 75 if you want better mileage.

OK, you have to admit, that's funny!

[Framer]

I have V&H pipes on mine but if I were to do it over I'd go with Cobras. Your bike should come alive with aftermarket pipes. As for gas mileage, as long as you run over 70 mph your mileage will suck.

[kmaysob]

Cobra billet true duals.

[jagcamp]

Do those Cobras have removable baffles? What's the difference between billet tips vs other tips like slash cut? I've been leaning towards Cobra so thanks for helping me decide. Hey do they get rid of the goat bladder?

[landman]

Originally Posted by jagcamp

Do those Cobras have removable baffles? What's the difference between billet tips vs other tips like slash cut? I've been leaning towards Cobra so thanks for helping me decide. Hey do they get rid of the goat bladder?

to answer your question the cobra billet tips do have removable baffles while the slash cut do not.yes they get rid of the goat bladder.

[Framer]

Go here and look they show both pipes http://www.cobrausa.com/ and yes it get rid of the goats bladder.

[Vulcan Bill]

You might want to try leaning out your fuel mixture some to see if your mileage improves with out losing to much power. At 30 MPG I bet your running rich. As already said, these bikes are not too fuel efficient at speeds of 75 and above but even so, at freeway speeds (about 75) I'm averaging 37mpg with a Dobeck TFI, Hypercharger and Cobra slash cut true duels.

[redjay]

Thank you.

I was trying to add some levity but in reality it was the only way to answer the question.
http://www.mpgforspeed.com/

[Vulcan Bill]

It does work though. I got 49 MPG once on a hundred mile ride where we never went over 55 miles an hour.
Best milage I ever got and the most boring ride I ever went on.

[roadhawg]

Originally Posted by redjay

Thank you.

I was trying to add some levity but in reality it was the only way to answer the question.
http://www.mpgforspeed.com/

"2) Engines are designed for specific speed, temperature, and rpm ranges. Driving out of these ranges goes against the fundamental design of the engine. "

Comparing apples to oranges,
THis article is talking about passenger cars not motorcycles.
Would not motorcycle engines be a much different calculation?
And also wind resistance would be much less on a bike I would think

[Sidewalkman]

in all seriousness, you will start the chase for perfect performance, that = less gas mileage. Its simple, you open up the air flow and the bike will require more gas to mix with the greater volume of air or it will lean out either at lower end but more usually top end, so you open up the exhaust. Unless you mess around again with fuel mixtures you loose bottom end. Do you have to go with fuel management. Then you mess around with the pots until you almost have it right, but a performance cam could make all the problems go away right? More fuel needed!!!

I had one of the first 20 VMax's ever made, bought an 85 in 84, demon fast, 0-60 in 2.8 or something. I could and did light up the back tire in ever gear at every speed, first back tire (a monster 150 in those days) lasted 4200 KM and it was down to the cords. then it didn't scare me any more so after market 4-1 exhaust, jetting, chasing the perfect match, every year it was something. By the time it was done, first gear was effectively useless, the intake was so loud I needed earplugs to drive it. It set off car alarms at idle. And got single digit gas mileage. I've learned to get to a place where the performance is acceptable, the bike is fun to ride, comfortable 2 up and fires up when I push the button. I want to get good mileage I keep it under 65, but mostly I don't care and cruise at 80 or so.

[rick6375]

I think the only way I'd see 49 mpg on my Voyager is if it was all down hill. Average 34-36 riding 2up with a G-man controller, drilled baffles and a stock air kit. Without thecontroller and air kit, I average 36-38, these both st the pump. Dash shows somewhat higher up to 5 mpg.

[blowndodge]

you're going to lose bottom end power with an aftermarket header system.