Harley Mufflers as Replacement Mufflers

Last year when I bought my bike, I installed a pair of mufflers from a H-D Sportster to replace the blown out stockers. I originally got the idea from a Suzuki GS forum that I frequented prior to settling on the XJ. I always recommend them to others, but have never posted pics. Well, here you go!

I was able to fully dissassemble the exhaust of my XJ650 Maxim so it was easy to cut off the factory units. I then reinstalled the headers, placed the mufflers in what I considered to be good locations, and tacked them in place. I took the exhaust off again and welded them up. I then used an angle grinder to remove the kick stand and center stand bumpers as well as the muffler mounts from the original units. I installed the exhaust again and tacked the bumpers and hangers in place. I removed the exhaust and welded them all in place. I installed the exhaust one last time and have been grinning ear-to-ear ever since.

The exhaust note is very noticeable. The idle tone is nice and meaty. The cruising speed sound is meaty. The acceleration note is powerfull. I don't know how it compares to factory mufflers since I've never had good ones, but I love the sound of these. Plus, Harley has some of the best chrome on the planet. Oh, there was no indication of leaning of the fuel mixture too. And without further delay, here are the pics.

 

pvtschultz, very nice. I even like that orange paint, looks really good.
Gregg

 

what color is that paint ?
i just made my mind up, thats going to be on my 83 seca with the fairing bags and trunk
paint code ? brand ?
thanks

 

Polock, I wished that I knew because I need to paint the front fender the appropriate shade of orange. I bought the tank (with cap and key), side covers, and front forks off of Craig's list for a song. And you can imagine the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the paint on the tank and side covers! Whoever sprayed it knew exactly what they were doing.

 

Very nice job. Looks factory, and those mufflers are very well built. It's a shame they get tossed as much as they do, heavy as hell!

 

Nice looking bike! That orange jumps right out at ya. Definetely different from most.
I have a pair of those mufflers on mine also and they are about the best sound of any mufflers I've tried (several makes/models) on the 750. The stock mufflers I've heard don't seem to let the true sound of these engines come to life. I didn't want the free flow after market mufflers on mine as they were way too loud for long distance travel and early morning rides (wake the neighbors) and were just plain annoying for my tastes. I'm sure this will be the last pair of mufflers I install on my bike. The seamless chrome quality is supurb and look to be very well made. I paid $20 for mine at a swap meet and they were brand new.
I tried to inquire at the Harley dealer next door to see what they do with the stock mufflers when a customer orders their bike with louder mufflers on it before they pick their bike up. They said they take them off and send them back to the factory. Talk about recycling.

 

What did you use to plug the crossover pipe holes?

 

Harleys have mufflers?

 

Best I can tell, they're usually on the workbench with the oil plugs...

 

The crossover tubes on this set were in the main pipes and not in the mufflers. I'm not sure what model they came off from any more either. You want the slip-on mufflers though, they typically don't have the cross-over port on 'em.

Here's what they look(ed) like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harley-M ... tsupported

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-9 ... tsupported

 

Very cool! I like the look a lot. I'm thinking of doing a slash cut 4 into 4 exhaust on my XJ700. No baffles I think. Maybe. I dunno. That bike looks great except for that seat! I do pretty good upholstery
-Chris

 

Looks great!

I have a tad of HD on WyldMax as well. Needed to replace the front turnsignals and my BIL had a complete set of HD Bullets. Now I have Bullets for turnsignals. LOL

 

Those mufflers look really cool on the bike...
*sneaks to streetbob of my friend*


grz Thijs

 

Interesting. Mine are slip-ons from a Sportster, but the crossover pipe holes are in the front of the muffler. I thought a freeze plug would work, but no one in town has a freeze plug that would fit. I'll just have to see if I have anything laying around I can use.

 

I have a 2000 sportster,the crossover is up high not on mufflers,hope this helps,they do look good on the YAMI nice bike,just get that seat recoverd,very nice!

 

I used a similar set of HD Softail mufflers on an old XS850 Triple custom ... bike turned into an animal !!! It was like someone had sprayed it with instant Whup-Ass. Dunno maybe it was the lovely Formula One car sound .... sure helped performance.

Very cool, yes - the bike had a "meaty" exhaust note. PO had dremel gutted the baffles completely leaving only the waffle mesh inside the cases.

All else being equal a longer exhaust tract is usually better for at-speed / roll-on power. Note the extra length and bends now common on Buel and high-powered sport bike exhausts.

 

brianf408 The mufflers that fit the 19xx?-2003 sportsters. The newer ones have the crossover pipe form what I seen.

 

You want the stock mufflers that don't have the crossover hole in them. And make sure the previous owner didn't "gut" the insides out of them, or you'll be sorry (too dam loud) The stock Harley mufflers that just the right sound.

 

My 4 into 4 plan for my bike will just have the mesh in the pipes. Too loud ya'll think?