I am putting a set of cycle shack slip-ons on the wifes 06 1200 custom. Has anyone ever sealed off the cross-over or considered it? I am seriously thinking about sealing the woven stainless steel seals fron the mufflers to the cross-over tube. Anyone know why this would be bad or not work?

 

YOU WILL HAVE TO REJET THE CARB AND WILL PROBSBLY LOOSE LOW END TORQUE. THE CROSSOVER IS THERE FOR A REASON. ALL HARLEYS ARE BASICALLY 2 INTO 1 EXHAUSTS. THOSE PROVIDE MORE TORQUE. THEY JUST MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE DUALS BUT THEY ARE NOT.

 

I put on a set of Santee slip-ons and they did not have a cross over and I still saw a increase in power. I talked to the dealer about the benefits of having a crossover and I was told there wasn't any. Not sure if this is true but he said the SE do not have a cross over either.

 

I think the dealer that said there is no benefit is uninformed. The crossover balances the two pipes, and to an extent allows the gasses to share both pipes, enabling it to expell through less overall backpressure (better performance). It also balances the sound, giving a smoother exhaust note. Crossovers are used on performance street car exhaust systems, too.

 

The stock Harley head pipes, combined with free flowing mufflers, is nearly as good, performance-wise, as any exhaust system you can buy- on a near stock bike. DO NOT ELIMINATE IT! Some aftermarket 2into2s like the Cycle Shacks are excellent even without a crossover. But they are DESIGNED to work without a crossover.

 

Another reason not to eliminate that stock cross over pipe - you may let all that heat get out that it collects!

 

There may balance somewhere, but the stock cross-over sure doesn't have it. My definition of balance is 50/50, and my 06 RKC stock exhaust, before or after free-flowing slip-ons did not have balanced exhaust.

I agree a performance automotive exhaust w/cross-over can offer benifits, but it was designed a little better than the stock HD system.

 

I've not tried blocking off the crossover on my bike to compare with and without, but I have to believe it improves the flow. I can't believe the Moco would continue to use them if it had no benefit. I know it's not exactly the same, but as an example, I had a custom exhaust put on one of my cars once (small block Chevy) and it was quite loud without the crossover. I had the crossover installed, and it mellowed it considerably, with a much more mellow rumble.