hey all, I drive a softy, but I'm trying to help out a buddy. Anyone know why V&H Shortshots don't fit the 03-05 fxdwg, but the same pipe in a staggered version will? The staggered pipes are really nothing more than a slash cut, so I can't figure out why they fit but the straight cut ones wont. There would hardly be an inch difference in the length of the two pipes. Any help would be great, and I'd love to hear about a possible mod to make the straight cuts fit.

 

Are you asking because you actually tried to fit them up, or because the manufacturers application guide says they won't fit?

 

V&H site says they wont fit, and I'm trying to figure out why...

 

If you look at the pictures closely, you can see the staggered are actually longer than the straight ones, so I would assume it has to do with the mounting bracket.
The staggered ones look like they extend a few inches past the frame tube, and the straight ones end right at the frame tube.

 

well the standard short shots won't fit with 03-05 stock forwards. So the forward controls will interfere with the way the front pipe is routed. the pipe may run too close to the engine and frame to have room for the brake rod. Or they just may interfere with the pegs or something like that.