I've read through the thread here about performance differences, but I'd like to hear from somebody who rides like I do, i.e. not an aggressive rider, never scraped a floorboard, when I go for a ride, I go for a ride --- not a race. I ride like an old guy! (Hey, I AM an old guy!)


Anybody ever gone from PDs to DDs, and didn't see a whole lot of performance difference if you ride like I do, but you liked the sound better? I'm on a 2011 Limited Ultra, and have PDs hooked to Big Louies & a 2.5 baffle, and Stage 1, but I'm all about a nice sound, and I hear the DDs are the ones to get for sound. Power Dual sound isn't bad at all, but Dresser Duals could be nicer?

 

The way V&H explained it is that you are suppose to get a louder sound with dresser duals but with the power dual 2-1-2 headers you get a nice deep rumble until you get on it and gain better torque but it's not as loud as the dresser duals. I went with the S&S Power Dual Tune header because I wanted a 2-1-2 header, thought it looked better, and good quality, cheaper than the V&H Power Tune. Love my setup.

 

The point is the cover on the X pipe can contact the pavement and relieve traction from the rear tire causing the bike to slide....and this is BEFORE the floorboard contacts.

this was a 2011 FLHTK solo with 1" lowering F&R, there is a dip in the turn which will cause the suspension to compress.

The turn on the bottom of my street- a turn I have taken hundreds of times on dozens of bikes...riding pretty normally- there are usually kids playing in the yards a couple of doors up from the corner.


the floorboards ( and pegs) on motorcycles are made to move out of the way and not dig into to the pavement, that would start a tumble- the PD's are hard mounted.
and this may never make a difference over the life of the bike- but one day it could.

Mike

 

Good point. I have heard people complain about the PD scrapping in turns. I have never had my S&S scrape and we have some really narly twisties here in AZ.

 

Can't say anything about the difference in performance but I can state that my bike is louder than my buddy's who has the Power Duals with the square V+H mufflers. I have the Dresser Duals with the High Output 4.5's and love the sound, the performance, and have never had any issue with scraping. We both ride pretty aggressively and live in PA where the roads are......well horrible to say the least.

 

I like and use both. I am a very aggressive rider with a hopped up '03 running DD's and a mild hopped '13 using PD's. The biggest difference is the PD's tend to blend the Potato Potato sound until you get on it while the DD's have distinct notes for each cylinder. I frequently get complimented on my PD's however it us running a mild cam that enhances the sound. Being a mild rider i would say you may but most likely will not notice a slight reduction in torque as the DD's do not scavenge like the stock x-Over or the PD's.

BTW - I have never hit the PD X-Over shield before rubbing the floorboard on my '13 Don't know how that could possibly happen but this isn't the 1st Ive seen it posted.

 

I have Power duals now and love them. Cruise down the highway 80 mph and listen to the radio. On my 2012 Limited with Dresser Duals there were times I could barley hear the radio and I had an amp on that bike Both bikes had V&H Monster Ovals which are supposed to be quieter than most.

 

It seems to me from reading these PD posts that most of the guys that have scraped the cover on the X pipe have either lowered their bikes themselves or bought the "low" version of the bike they ride. I have PD on a standard height '12 Ultra. Bike has 47k on the clock and has had the PD for 40K of that. Never scraped anything except foot boards.

 

I have the Power Duals on my '12 SG. The only way you would scrape the power duals would put a hell of a lot of rash on the rest to the bike and the rider. Have scraped the boards a few times though. and with my SG, I have had the back of my V&H Hi-Flow mufflers tips drag coming out of driveways with a dip.

 

My boards scrape frequently already and never close to pd. I would expect other hard parts to hit well before the pd crossover. I suspect those that can hit have lowered the bike and or raised the floorboards as well.