SuperPak Exhaust Pipes From SuperTrapp
Here is the SuperTrapp SuperPak, a set of performance SuperTrapp Exhaust slip-ons and tips, a high-flow air filter, and a pre-calibrated SuperTrapp FI control digital fuel-management unit. A key feature unique to the SE-series’ design is an internal baffle/heat shield to eliminate bluing.
First off, the bike was placed on the dyno and strapped down. Then Mike Rupp, one of the shop techs, checked the oil level and tire pressure for safety.
Mike had to drill a small hole into the stock baffle to get the sniffer in for the air/fuel reading.
Then we took the first run on the dyno with the stock air filter and pipes. The bike turned out 63 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque.
To get started, Mike and Curtis removed the seat, disconnected the battery, removed the saddlebags, and unbolted the old mufflers.
The pipes come with a set of slash-cut muffler tips that can be positioned three different ways by using one of three hole patterns along the muffler.
Next, the mufflers were installed to the head pipe; with this set you will use the stock header pipe. First, the two hanger bolts were installed on the rear of the muffler, and then the pipe clamp was tightened.
After the pipes were installed, they moved on to the FI control. The gas tank needed to be lifted up to route the wires under the tank. Curtis removed the dash and disconnected the fuel feed line, then raised and propped up the rear of the tank.
Mike unplugged the throttle-position sensor and the air-intake temperature sensor connector wires from the throttle body.
The FI control wires have two replacement plugs for the throttle body and two plugs for the power to loop though.
Next, all the wires were routed under the gas tank back to the seat area. The FI control was placed under the seat in the frame pocket and secured with Velcro strips. This way, if we need to get to the FI control later, all we need to do is pull up the seat.
The FI control also has two more wires: One is the rpm antenna, and the other is for the bike’s data-link connector. This is where the FI control gets its power. All Mike needed to do was remove the cap (plug) and install the connector.
Next, we needed to install the rpm antenna. To do this, Mike unplugged the ECM connector, then cut back the protective cover about 3 inches to find the blue wire with the orange tracer; this was the rpm wire. Then he taped up the ECM harness, leaving the blue wire out, and tightly wrapped the white antenna wire around the blue wire at least 20 times as per the instructions. Then he secured the wires with a zip-tie before covering them.
Using the RMI tape, Mike covered the antenna wire. This will help insulate and keep out any EMF (electric and magnetic fields) from the motor. Then he plugged the connector back into the ECM and secured all the wires with a few zip-ties.
The last thing to install was the high-flow air filter. Mike removed the cover and the stock air filter. Then he removed the mounting plate and installed it back onto the new filter.
Mike checked the O-rings on the backing plate for any cracks or missing rings to make sure that the bike’s air filter would have a good seal. One O-ring looked a bit worn, so Mike replaced them both.
With everything in place and the battery reconnected, Mike checked and calibrated the FI control. (First he verified that this was the correct FI control for this bike). When the power is on, the FI control displays a serial number that can be checked with the install sheet. After this was verified, Mike calibrated the throttle and tested the TPS (throttle-position sensor), ATS (air-temperature sensor), and rpm sensor. This needs to be done before the bike is running. (See the FI control user’s guide for further instructions).
Then we made one more run on the dyno. After the install we picked up about 1.57 more hp and about 3.93 lb-ft of torque. Not a huge gain, but at 2,500 to 3,500 rpm, this is where we want to feel the pull of torque. Most importantly, though, we got the sound my dad wanted: not real loud, but a clean, deep bass sound.
When it comes to sound, loud may not be what you’re into, but the sound of the H-D stock pipe may not be what you’re looking for, either. A few weeks ago, my dad and I were riding down the coast when we got pulled over in a SoCal beach city where all the cops are ticket-crazy when it comes to motorcycles. When I was pulled over, I knew I was going to get cited, but when the cop started to give my dad a ticket for loud pipes, that’s when the argument started. First off, the cop didn’t even have a sound meter to test the decibels; he just felt that the pipes were too loud. It took us several minutes to show him that the bike was actually stock, with stock pipes.
Anyway, my dad was looking for new pipes to change up the sound without getting too loud, since he just moved into a new condo where loud pipes would be a problem at 4 a.m., which is when he leaves for work. We looked into some replacement mufflers; however, most of the mufflers seemed to offer one thing or the other-power or sound-and most of the time “sound” equalled “loud.”
We found a set of slip-ons from SuperTrapp: the SE Series Slip-Ons, which claim to give a deep, rich, strong sound with less than 3dB (SAE J1287) over stock and an increase in horsepower and torque. SuperTrapp described this as the first step in upgrading your motorcycle. It used to be pipe, re-jet, and an air filter. Now it’s basically the same thing, but with an FI controller for tuning. The company’s selling point is that all the components are made to go together and come all in one box, ready to install. For about $1,000, the SuperTrapp SuperPak comes with exhaust mufflers, SuperTrapp’s pre-calibrated FI control (digital fuel-injection control unit), and a SuperTrapp Pro high-flow air filter.
We stopped at Horn Cycle Works in Pomona, CA, to get the pipes installed and do a few runs on the dyno to see how the pipes performed. Shop owners Curtis Horn and his wife Michelle let us use the shop for the install and testing.
_Sources
Horn Cycle Works
(909) 392-8788
www.hcwcustoms.com
SuperTrapp Industries Inc.
(216) 265-8400
www.supertrapp.com
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