I apologize in advance if this has been covered in another thread. I did a search and couldn't find the information that I am looking for.

Does anyone know if upsweeps work on rubber mounted motors in the newer sporty's? I have a 2009 xlc and wanted to put on a set if they can be made to work.

I emailed the sales team at FMB Choppers - they said, 'can't be done' and recommended I talk to Vance & Hines. Emailed them last week but didn't hear back. edit...Vance and Hines guys emailed today - they said they'd be happy to sell me a set of pipes...but not upsweeps.

Thanks!

 

I am right there with you in the search. I have contacted many exhaust companies and they all say the same thing, that it can't be done. It is because of the 04 and up motors being rubber mounted, the pipes can not be connected to the frame. If they are you risk damage to the exhaust ports or the pipes bending and cracking. Upsweeps are so long they have to have some kind of mount towards the end of them.

You could buy a set of upsweeps from Paughco for an 03 and older rigid motor model and then make your own rubber mount for the end of the pipes. Similar to the rubber mounting systems used on car exhaust systems. This rubber mount would provide support but also allow the pipe to move enough to prevent damage. This is what I have planed once I have a specific plan for the mount.

 

The exhaust mount for V&H Sideshots and Short Shots is BEEFY but mounts directly to the motor. The mount extends far enough rearward that I don't see any reason it wouldn't be strong enough to support the little amount of weight the upswept portion would add.

The simple fact that the upsweeps are unavailable as a pre-engineered system would be motivation enough for me to make a set.

 

I used stock exhaust brackets to hold mine

 

That's my favorite paint job of yours...

 

I have a '09 XR1200 Sportster and the stock exhaust pipes are upswept and are rubber mounted so that they can move alone with the engine movement. This set up is very close to how my ’75 Norton Commandos are set up too in that the exhaust pipes are rubber mounted to match the movement of the rubber mounted engine. I am not saying that this WILL work, but I am saying that this set up COULD work. You would have to check it out to see what you think before spending any money on it. Just because someone that works for a Harley dealer said it can’t be done doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. I was told by a service department employee that a tachometer could not be mounted on a ’09 XL1200L Low because of the way that the Speedometer was mounted into the handlebar mounts and risers. I had the stock XL1200L Low mounts and risers removed and the mounts and risers from a stock Roadster installed along with the Tachometer that I was told couldn’t be mounted on my bike and I was done. I was also told that my stock drive belt could not be used if I replaced my stock 27 Tooth drive pulley with a 30 Tooth drive pulley and with almost 54,000 miles on the odometer showing now, I have to think that they are wrong again! In any case, go check out a XR1200 and see how the pipes are attached at the back and see if you think that the upswept pipes that you want to install will work that way too! Good luck with your project and ride safe out there!