I own a 2009 HARLEY FXDFSE SCREAMIN EAGLE, CVO, DYNA FAT BOB, I have not done anything mechanical (engine) until now replacing the pipes with Vance & Hines Big Radius 2 into 2. I was totally prepared when I got them installed to bring it to Harley for the tuning as well as fuel pack I was told I would need.
Before I took it in of course I wanted to hear it and take it for a spin. What I expected (based on dozens of threads on several forums) was for it to ride and sound like crap before the tuning and pack.
Not only was my bike sitting in a cold garage for 2 months but it has'nt been started or winterized, so again I even wondered about how many start attempts it may take.
To my huge surprise on the first press of the starter she cranked up like a bat outa hell, sometimes I did'nt get that on a summer day! Then, my around the block ride turned into a 66 mile all day adventure. The bike sounds and rides better than ever! Not a skip, miss nothin!? WHY? I thought with any after market pipes you need it dyno'd and fuel pack, etc. If it runs and sounds great to me, I guess I don't get why I can do damage without having it tuned? I mean the bike runs unbelievable and seems to run cooler to boot.

 

looks like you just saved yourself some cash

Sometimes I think the stealers go a little overboard with all the extras. I mean... how many times do I need my blinker fluid and muffler bearings changed? Don't get me wrong; maintenance is necessary, but in your case, it sounds like the recommended tuning wouldn't do anything but just fatten someone else's wallet.

 

Amen Brother!!!!

 

WoW, that blows me away. Thanks for your point of view. I hate to think cynical, I've been riding 35 years on and off starting 35 years ago rebuilding my first bike a Yamaha 80 from the ground up. This is my first Harley though, and pipe upgrade. Even my local HD head mechanic said, "don't even think about leavin the shop without it being dyno'd, it will run too lean or not at all"! I ended up buying the pipes and installing them myself (easier to do than my kids Legos) despite the majorities warnings.
Actually it makes me sick thinkin about it! I own my own business and literally go out of my way to save everyone money, even my filthy rich customers.
My statements are in no way to dismiss mechanics, I highly respect a good mechanic and have often thought I could enjoy doing this full time when working on my bike. It's just in all the forums and threads and posts I sifted through for months before installing my own pipes, I have not found one post that said, hey,you may luck out and not need to do anything after putting them on.
So here ya go, try it, you may not need to dyno.

 

Well, usually replacing the pipes will lean the bike out a bit. However, there are 2 reasons why this may not have happened to your bike:

1. I don't know this for sure, but I would guess the the CVO bikes have the SE tune and run a bit richer than the stock bikes. At the least, they are tuned to free(er) flowing SE pipes, so the difference between the SE pipe and VH is less than stock and VH

2. O2 Sensors - the newer bikes with O2 sensors will adjust the fuel based on what the sensor is reading in the exhaust. It can only adjust so much though, so it is still best to tune. However, Once again you are going from an SE pipe to VH, not as big a jump as stock to VH.


I've never heard anyone say thta putting pipes on a bike will make it run like crap, just that it will be lean and needs to be richened up for motor longevity and to get better performance. In addition, if you've ever heard someone who put pipes on and didn't richen it up a bit, they have a tinny sound compared to a throaty, well tuned system.

 

Thanks cbrenthus, makes a lot of sense, well put.