There is a difference between fuel dumped in a cat and a rich mixture.

 

I just did this to my "new to me" 2017 Road King yesterday. The King is bone stock except for slip-ons and after two days of riding, the heat coming off that catalytic convertor was un-bearable. As recommended elsewhere, I removed right side muffler and used a long 1" auger type drill bit to punch a few holes through the convertor material. I then spend another hour with a long chisel and hammer to remove the remainder of the material. The exhaust note is slightly louder now but the right side exhaust is oh so much cooler and no more fried right thigh. Well worth the effort.

 

Thanks canuk - no check engine light? - my only concern now at this point!

 

I'm new to the M8 engine but with all the talk, post and reading I did about how hot the M8 and the cats can get, I decided to address this day one on my 2023 Street Glide.

Before I took delivery I had the dealer do a Stage 2 SE torque cam, heavy breather, Bassani head pipe, DBX45 exhaust, SE tuner and the Harley oil cooler fan.

I live in a Coastal Southern HOT tourist area with lots of stopped traffic and the heat from the engine is not a problem. My wife and I at times will ride with shorts on the very hot days ( yesterday was 91F) and I always ask her is the engine heat ever uncomfortable? She always responds no...

I suggest address the stock head pipe.

 

No check engine light and runs just fine. I did disconnect the battery for a while so that it could "re-learn" in the event the fuel tables changed a little. Don't miss the heat coming off that furnace contraption...