I have just crossed 6K on our '12 RGU, the cat is a smoker on this machine and I am considering just gutting what I have on the bike. First question is will the heat reduction be worth it, second what kind of tune do I need to go to after and third, will it reduce overall engine heat?

 

Lots and lots of threads on this.
Worth it? Abso-freakin-lutely!
Tune? Not if you just replace the head pipe. If you replace the slipons as well, maybe. Go with a high flow air cleaner as well? Yes... tuner or some means to enrich the mixture is needed.
Engine Heat? Without a tuner, not too much difference to the amount of heat the engine sees, but you will notice a BIG reduction. With a tuner, your engine will run cooler, but you may not see much difference yourself compared to just getting rid of the cat.

 

With or without the cat, no other changes, the engine generates the same amount of heat, Just removing the cat will not reduce engine heat, but it will knock down the heat you feel that radiates up off the catalyst chamber area of the headpipe. Mild enrichment will also knock down the heat you feel by lowering EGTs which results in a few hundred degrees drop in the surface temperature of the headpipe, but again engine temp will be about the same.

 

I gutted the cat and added a FLVIED10 from Nightrider. We Just got back from 9 day ride and the difference is substantial. Bike ran great and the right side heat is normal now. Should have done that last year.

 

Just had the cat removed from my 12 flhtk. The difference is unbelievable and I too should have done it last year.

 

Is that all you did, or did you go with a new air cleaner, etc?

 

I did go with the SE air cleaner and super tuner at the same time. It feels like it runs cooler than my 06 RK did. I wish I could explain in words how much more enjoyable it is to ride in this TX heat. Had my indy do the work and it was a little pricey for me but the alternative was to leave my $24K bike sit in the garage during July & Aug. I'm a happy camper!