After having read several threads on the forum....


I'm still not sure if V&H Short Shots will.....

• Make my FLS Slim gutless below 3000 RPM.
• Make my FLS Slim gutless and loud below 3000 RPM.
• Make my FLS Slim into a rip-snorting dragon-beast of a bike.
• Make me wish I'd spent the money on Beer instead

So, who has fitted their Softail with Short Shots & what do they honestly think of them?

As an added complicator - I have an England spec bike with the active exhaust valve.
I also (currently) have the bike set up with an S&S air cleaner & V&H Fuelpak.

So, should I go with the V&H pipes?

Or not???

Any input appreciated.

Andy
'95 XLH Sportster
'13 FLS Slim
Hampshire
UK

 

You're probably going to hear two negative things about the Short Shots, loudness and loss of power. Most of these are probably coming from people who are doing nothing more than regurgitating what they have heard. On my softail I went from the 2n2 to the Shortshots so I feel I have direct experience and knowledge of the two side by side.

When I was looking at getting new exhaust for my Deuce, I thought about the Short Shots. When I inquired about them, I was told they would be too loud and I would lose power from back pressure. I called V&H and J&P and the both stated the Short Shots were very comparable sound wise to the 2n2 and that there was no noticeable difference in the sound level. Based on that, I bought the short shots and put them on my 2003 Deuce. They were replacing 2n2s that were on when I bought the bike. With both exhaust having the factory baffles installed I think the Short Shots may be a little quieter believe or not. They are definitely not any louder. There may be a slight difference in HP with the Short Shots but I haven't noticed it. Then again I'm not one of these HP nuts that worry about that. I like to cruise, if speed was my number one concern I would ride a crotch rocket. I'm a pretty big guy, about 275lbs, and my bike has all the get up and go I need when passing or anything else.

Overall the Short Shots have been one of the best decisions I've made concerning my softail. I can't be pleased enough with them. The sound good, they look good, they're cheaper, and they are different (meaning you don't see them constantly like you do the 2n2). I love em.

 

I put the V&H short shots (sans baffles) on my 2013 Deluxe and noticed no issues with power loss. I'm running the Fuel Pak and a Cobra air cleaner. I'm sure if you hook it up to a dyno you'd see some low end power loss but I can't feel it. My wife and I slightly exceed the weight limit of the bike but I have no issues getting out of anyone' way.

If you are a guy constantly tweaking his motor to get every last ounce of grunt out of it, you need to look elsewhere. If you like to spend more time riding than wrenching, then it's just fine.

Soundwise. Again, I'm running without baffles. If you follow J2825 guidelines, my bikes runs at 106 dba at idle and 108 dba at 2000 rpm sitting still.

J2825 allows for 92 dba at idle and 96 dba at 2000 rpm to pass a police check. Even with the baffle, you'd likely exceed the legal limit.

 

Well,



Having hemmed & hawed over getting myself a set ofstaggered Shortshots, I finally decided to go for it. After all, what’s thepoint of having a Fuelpak & S&S filter & still having the standardexhaust set-up? Even worse, one with catalytic baffles & the European ‘activeexhaust’ valve?



My findings have been



· It was relatively easy to get the old exhaust systemoff.

· You have to have the ignition switched on, whenyou disconnect the battery, otherwise the alarm goes off – not fun in a smallshed!

· The rectifier mounting plate catches a lot ofroad-crud.

· The crush-gaskets in the exhaust ports werealmost invisible. A torch & scriber were needed to get the buggers out.

· The standard system (complete) weighs a ton!

· The Shortshots were pretty easy to fit. Fiddlybits included re-fitting the nuts onto the exhaust port flange studs &pre-fitting the heat shields.

· Finding the right map & re-programming theEFI was a doddle* with the FP3.

After the first test-ride (50 miles, approx.)
Are they loud? Opinion is divided.
I think they soundgreat.

Everyone else thinks the apocalypse has begun…

Does the bike perform better?

Again, debatable… It couldbe that the glorious noise coming from the pipes simply ‘makes’ me twist thethrottle that bit more, resulting in more speed. I was changing up to 6that 70.

It could be thatthe top end is the same, but feels more because lower speed torque is less.

It could be that lower speed torque is the same but thehigher speed power is increased (it certainly seems a lot quicker, but that couldbe because of point one above).

But I don’t care! The pipes are great and at last the bikeis loud & proud, like it should be.

So, if you want good looks, practicality (easier rear wheelremoval), more speed and a glorious racket, go for the Vance & HinesShort-shots!

Andy

’95 XLH883
’13 Softail Slim
Hampshire
UK



*’Doddle’ Brit. slang‘an easy task’

 

V&H SS's are decent and economical, but if you plan to get low-end torque...best to go with 2-1 set-up...Bassani Road Rage is a nice option and V&H has their ProPipe...just a suggestion.

 

As said, if you're not a squeeze every drop outta the engine type then put on what looks and sounds best to you. Lots of youtube to figure it out.