[eisen77]

Today i had the pleasure of dealing with Nick from AR HARLEY & SONS (UK based)
Very friendly and super fast response to all my questions.

I bought the x pipe from him:

https://www.harleycustom.co.uk/product/free-spirits-x-pipe-for-triumph-thruxton-1200-bonneville-t120-street-twin-088305

Shipping out this afternoon, so hopefully i will have it installed by the end of next week & can post a report.

I also came across this interesting item:

https://www.harleycustom.co.uk/product/free-spirits-aircleaner-high-flow-kit-for-triumph-thruxton-1200-bonneville-t120-water-repellent-304021
But i want to do some more research before i put a high(er) air flow on the bike.
Any input from you guys (who have more experience than I with custom bikes) would be appreciated!


Here are Nick´s contact details in case anyone else is interested:
Nick Isles
Sales Manager
AR Harley & Sons
[email protected]
www.harleycustom.com
www.harleycustom.co.uk

 

[Lure]

It says the side panel needs to be shaved with the air cleaner... by how much though..?

 

[eisen77]

It says the side panel needs to be shaved with the air cleaner... by how much though..?

I think a small arc shape (like the curve of the pipe) has to be cut.
Saying that - they are only plastic panels and new ones can always be ordered if you want to put the bike back to standard one day.

 

[Zanetti]

under side covers.
and with air filter flipped (for no reason except to show its an air filter)

 

[eisen77]

under side covers.
and with air filter flipped (for no reason except to show its an air filter)

I think i will order a set of the ´open´air filters.
Thet should sound pretty cool and its nice to have a modded Bobber. After all, thats what they are for!
Will take a couple of weeks though, as they are on back order in the UK.

 

[eisen77]

X PIPE arrived!
Already at the mechanic to have a service and install the de cat.
He said that my chain (is) loose, but that is to be expected on a new bike & its nothing out of the ordinary.
My feeling is that the chain will need to be adjusted quite often anyway.

 

[muensterDeath]

Looking forward to your report on how the install goes and how it sounds and feels.

Did you ever ask the dealer about your V&H mufflers discoloring?

I image that those will also sound way better once the cat is off the bike...

 

[eisen77]

Looking forward to your report on how the install goes and how it sounds and feels.

Did you ever ask the dealer about your V&H mufflers discoloring?

I image that those will also sound way better once the cat is off the bike...

I did not ask them about the discoloring.
And seeing as i´m probably going to drill holes in the non-removable baffles, i don´t see a point as they will put the blame on me regardless! >
Note: I am NOT doing the decat/drilling in the Triumph dealersip. Obviously they will null and void all guarantees anyway, so i am doing it with my usual mechanic who also happens to be an ex moto-GP mechanic. So the guy knows his stuff (a bit :nerd

 

[Anders Kanten]

This is now the most interresting thread here by far!

 

[eisen77]

Ok..
The discoloration on the exhaust is from the build up of heat exactly next to the non-removable baffles.
It would seem that the US version V&H slip ons should not suffer from this problem as they have no baffles.
If the discoloration could have been avoided with the cat delete pipe, I cannot answer as i have had my V&H´s on for over 900km now.

Report on the cat xpipe soon! (Going to pick up the bike in a few hours...)

 

[Mel]

Power Commander V is now available but only with maps for stock exhaust currently...... Just saying :wink2:

Oh and my X Pipe arrives in the morning....

 

[eisen77]

Power Commander V is now available but only with maps for stock exhaust currently...... Just saying :wink2:

Oh and my X Pipe arrives in the morning....

Did you get it from AR HARLEY?

 

[eisen77]

XPIPE:

This is the sound i was hoping for!!
Much more agressive, louder, angrier - but not offensive.
The bike is feels much better through the rev range; smooth with a nice build up to the power. Free(er) is the word. I imagine with the USA V&H, the bike will be crazy loud!! I am not going to drill the baffles as the sound is now perfect for me.

Here is a video:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Misc/UPLOADED-PICS-to-forums/i-VqQtLtq/0/1920/IMG_0267-1920.mp4

As expected, the video can´t really relay the change in sound from the Xpipe.

The install is for a qualified mechanic or a person not scared of dismantling half the bike. Access is VERY tight and a lot of parts have to come off to complete the exchange.
Once done, there were no complications and no error lights, etc.
Supposedly the ECU can relearn and adjust to the change. I can´t comment as to how much it can alter its own parameters, but everything feels smooth and jerk free to me.

All in all, an excellent upgrade and i´m very happy i did it!

Adios heavy Cat!

 

[eisen77]

Power Commander V is now available but only with maps for stock exhaust currently...... Just saying :wink2:

I have used this product for a long time and as soon as one is available for the Bobber, i will have one:

Rapidbike Easy | DIMSPORT - ENGINE CALIBRATION SPECIALISTS

I had a power commander V on my Triumph Speed Triple R and was not too impressed. Maybe the bike was so smooth out of the box that it did not need a PCV!
But this relatively unknown RapidBike A/F optimizer CHANGED and smoothed out my R1200GSA to the point of making it feel like it is a 4cyl. not a twin. Simply amazing module and can´t wait to try one on the Bobber.

 

[muensterDeath]

Nicely done!

Did your mechanic state the instructions were pretty clear? I am not afraid to wield some spanners, but would prefer to take off the right half part of the bike!

 

[eisen77]

Nicely done!

Did your mechanic state the instructions were pretty clear? I am not afraid to wield some spanners, but would prefer to take off the right half part of the bike!

There are NO instructions at all for the Bobber. They are for the Thruxton and though some parts are shared, alot had to be done on the fly!

 

[Mel]

Did you get it from AR HARLEY?

Indeed I did, nice people.

It'll be paired to US V&H so will hopefully be pretty rude and spit flames on the over run.

 

[eisen77]

Indeed I did, nice people.

It'll be paired to US V&H so will hopefully be pretty rude and spit flames on the over run.

It will sound monsterous!! >
Please let me know how it thunders/goes once done.

Glad AR treated you well!
I have decided NOT to put the freeflow air filters for now, as they will obstruct my dangly legs and make for a pretty uncomfortable ride.
I´ll wait for a fellow Bobber to put them on and see the reviews...

 

[mrM]

excellent stuff... just ordered my xpipe + V&H black exhaust

 

[Anders Kanten]

There are NO instructions at all for the Bobber. They are for the Thruxton and though some parts are shared, alot had to be done on the fly!

Could you do a quick video telling what you did to install it?
Must the tank go off and things like that?