Finally got my Harley

[Josh]

2007 Nightster. Pic below. It's my first bike.

Love it so far, the guy I got it from gave me a brain bucket, but decided to get a full face Bell Arrow helmet. Would like to make some modifications to the bike over time...the typical Nightster stuff: Vance & Hines black short shots, ape hangers, and some whitewalls on the tires. Assuming I'm going to have to take it to a shop for most of the mods.

 

[BoberFett]

Pipes are easy to change out yourself. Ape hangers can be problematic because depending on how tall you want them they'll almost definitely require new cables for everything: brake, throttle, clutch, turn signal. You could do it yourself if you're mechanically inclined.

Congrats on the new scooter, keep the shiny (blacked out?) side up.

 

[Zargon]

nice

 

[Josh]

Pipes are easy to change out yourself. Ape hangers can be problematic because depending on how tall you want them they'll almost definitely require new cables for everything: brake, throttle, clutch, turn signal. You could do it yourself if you're mechanically inclined.

Congrats on the new scooter, keep the shiny (blacked out?) side up.

Thanks. I was reading about the pipes and I've come across a few places that said to change the pipes on the Nightster to the V&H short shots requires a new fuelpak and an air cleaner...?

 

[ViviTheMage]

How much?

 

[Josh]

How much?

Paid $6k for it, has a little over 3000 miles on it.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

So you're looking to become an asshole? V&H short pipes are gonna be obnoxiously loud, ape hangers make you look like a douche, and whitewalls have been played out since the roaring twenties.

At least you are making a good decision on the helmet for now.. I imagine the more comfortable you get you'll probably ditch the helmet for a cig and a live free ride hard Harley bandana and a tank top.

 

[Josh]

So you're looking to become an asshole? V&H short pipes are gonna be obnoxiously loud, ape hangers make you look like a douche, and whitewalls have been played out since the roaring twenties.

At least you are making a good decision on the helmet for now.. I imagine the more comfortable you get you'll probably ditch the helmet for a cig and a live free ride hard Harley bandana and a tank top.

Will always wear a helmet.

As far as the short shots - it's not for noise, I like the look of them. I would gladly put quiet baffles on them to make them not as noisy, I don't want a loud as hell bike at all. As far as ape hangers I don't want some huge ape hangers, just slightly raised ones compared to the stock and honestly, I like the look of the whitewalls.

 

[SearchMaster]

So you're looking to become an asshole? V&H short pipes are gonna be obnoxiously loud, ape hangers make you look like a douche, and whitewalls have been played out since the roaring twenties.

That's not what South Park called them :O

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Bike looks good as is. I'd find some quieter pipes myself. Im all for a decently loud exhaust but straight pipes is overkill. You'll be waking all your neighbors up starting your bike early in the morning to go to work and setting off car alarms and just being an ass in general with those V&H. Not sure about whitewalls on a blacked out bike either. Straight drag bars would look awesome on that bike.

 

[Josh]

Bike looks good as is. I'd find some quieter pipes myself. Im all for a decently loud exhaust but straight pipes is overkill. You'll be waking all your neighbors up starting your bike early in the morning to go to work and setting off car alarms and just being an ass in general with those V&H. Not sure about whitewalls on a blacked out bike either. Straight drag bars would look awesome on that bike.

Think I posted this vid in another thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpNaUEyd6-M&feature=related

I do like the look of his Nightster...I understand the V&H pipes are loud, and I would put quiet baffles on them to tone em down a bit...but I def do want to get rid of the chrome pipes and make em black. Any other suggestions?

 

[hanoverphist]

a few inches on the bars would suit that bike, i like louder than normal but not too loud pipes. the black pipes do look the best on that bike tho. im not a fan of white walls tho, theres only a few custom retros ive liked them on. also, having loud pipes doesnt mean youre automatically a douche. youre a douche if you sit there and rev at red lights, hammer it every time youre accelerating and make sure to let everyone know you have loud pipes. i had loud pipes on my bike for years and most people never even noticed the difference.

nice bike tho, enjoy it!

 

[Tristicus]

Looks sweet.

 

[Josh]

a few inches on the bars would suit that bike, i like louder than normal but not too loud pipes. the black pipes do look the best on that bike tho. im not a fan of white walls tho, theres only a few custom retros ive liked them on. also, having loud pipes doesnt mean youre automatically a douche. youre a douche if you sit there and rev at red lights, hammer it every time youre accelerating and make sure to let everyone know you have loud pipes. i had loud pipes on my bike for years and most people never even noticed the difference.

nice bike tho, enjoy it!

Thanks, yea, I'm thinking of just getting some high temp paint and coating the stock pipes for now in black, but I do really like the look of the shorter pipes - either way, the chrome pipes need to go and black pipes need to happen.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

That high temp paint won't stick. Get the stock pipes ceramic coated if you're going that route. Is there a quiet baffle insert option for the V&H?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The very first mod to make is get rid of that nasty factory saddle. Not only will it improve the look but, your ass will thank you.

 

[Josh]

The very first mod to make is get rid of that nasty factory saddle. Not only will it improve the look but, your ass will thank you.

Any suggestions? I saw one that I liked (forget the name) but it basically allowed for another person to sit on the bike albeit probably very uncomfortably.

That high temp paint won't stick. Get the stock pipes ceramic coated if you're going that route. Is there a quiet baffle insert option for the V&H?

From what I have read, yes there is a quiet baffle insert option.

 

[Zargon]

black exhaust and ditching the stock bars are both good ideas!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Any suggestions? I saw one that I liked (forget the name) but it basically allowed for another person to sit on the bike albeit probably very uncomfortably.

Kuryakyn and Corbin both have good saddles unless you want to spring for custom. I've never been able to figure out why manufs. who build very expensive rides, ALWAYS cheap out on the seat.

 

[Josh]

Kuryakyn and Corbin both have good saddles unless you want to spring for custom. I've never been able to figure out why manufs. who build very expensive rides, ALWAYS cheap out on the seat.

http://www.corbin.com/harley/xl/hdxl7gl.shtml

That's the one I was talking about. Clean and makes the bike possible for a short trip passenger.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

http://www.corbin.com/harley/xl/hdxl7gl.shtml

That's the one I was talking about. Clean and makes the bike possible for a short trip passenger.

Not my cup of tea but, much better than the stock. Go for it! A decent saddle is the easiest, bang for your buck, customize there is.

 

[BoberFett]

Thanks. I was reading about the pipes and I've come across a few places that said to change the pipes on the Nightster to the V&H short shots requires a new fuelpak and an air cleaner...?

That's because of the difference in airflow between stock and aftermarket pipes. Don't know what kind of work is required to change a "fuelpak" but air cleaner is simple enough. Is that thing carbureted or fuel injected?

 

[BoberFett]

So you're looking to become an asshole? V&H short pipes are gonna be obnoxiously loud, ape hangers make you look like a douche, and whitewalls have been played out since the roaring twenties.

At least you are making a good decision on the helmet for now.. I imagine the more comfortable you get you'll probably ditch the helmet for a cig and a live free ride hard Harley bandana and a tank top.

Don't worry, he'll never out-asshole you.

 

[BoberFett]

Kuryakyn and Corbin both have good saddles unless you want to spring for custom. I've never been able to figure out why manufs. who build very expensive rides, ALWAYS cheap out on the seat.

Mustang makes a really nice saddle as well, I've had mine for seven years and it's still really comfortable.

 

[Zenmervolt]

That's because of the difference in airflow between stock and aftermarket pipes. Don't know what kind of work is required to change a "fuelpak" but air cleaner is simple enough. Is that thing carbureted or fuel injected?

'07 will be EFI. It's a great system.

ZV