Wanted to wait until after our west coast road trip next year to start changing the scooter but our weekend trip down through the mountains of eastern Kentucky have me daydreaming of how things could be. We have heard all the horror stories of the California gestopo stopping 'modified' bikes and enforcing very strict noise ordinances. Armed with sound meters, they are prepared to penalize anyone guilty of adapting what HD created.
My dreams would be to not get wild but to open the air flow allowing the bike to sound more healthy while infusing a few more horses to help push us down the road. We do enjoy the sound system (satellite radio) and do not wish to drown out the tunes with the pipes. [However, we realize HD does have a replacement power amp we can buy to help boost the enjoyable sound level of the music to help compensate for the louder pipes.] It would be nice though to know when you are sitting at a traffic light that the engine is running.
What can we do to improve on our 2009 CVO without attracting too much attention next year when we do the west coast...?

All of the replacement parts on my 2004 Dyna are CVO. It is my understanding that these replacement parts meet the standards for the year of their manufacture. For example, I have Screaming Beagle mufflers on Betty. Legal for me, but maybe not for your 2009.

In like manner, a Heavy Breather, Screaming Beagle pipes and the proper computer download compliant with 2009 standards should be good for your bike. My parts catalog always say "50 State Legal" although I do have some concerns.

My 2010 Sportster 48 got that same treatment. She accelerates a lot quicker and with more authority. The mufflers are clearly marked as Harley replacements. I should be good to go. But I have to admit, taking her 'spiritedly' down an acceleration ramp is loud. Then again, Wisconsin doesn't seem to have the same restrictive laws you do.

I've seen a big-twin with straight pipes light up right next to a Sheriff Deputy on his bike. The cop didn't even look up.

Wisconsin definitely sounds like a much more 'loud-tolerant' community than California is rumored to be. When I lived there some 30 years ago I was never harassed for loud pipes. If the stories are right, it would not be inconceivable to get your ride impounded and suffer a hefty fine. That might make a dream vacation a bummer.

In truth, Wisconsin is getting downright sloppy. Good for bikers, but you have to be careful what you wish for.

For example, I got a replacement plate for my truck two years ago. It had a different number, and I thought it was a mistake. To make sure, I contacted the police (friendly guys in my little burg) and was told that my old numbering series had a tendency to wear faster--the numbers would fade. Those new plates are still under my truck's front seat, and the two year old expired plates are still on my truck.

As for bikes, my Sportster 48's license bracket was folded out of the way for parking last year. I don't like the bracket, and getting sliced by it moving the bike is a ridiculous idea. I just leave it folded up. I've had squad cars sit behind me at lights and no one has ever pulled me over.

As a biker I could care less. I think Americans should be strict constructionists and the goverrnment should stay out of our lives as much as possible. And manpower is always short with real crime. However, as you guys know I had a Dane County Sheriff Detective mention my plate and 'relative speed' last year as I pulled off of the slab. He called me by my first name and left without doing 'wants and warrants' and with my plate still folded up.

At some point, it seems lax. I mean, every cop in the county knows who I am from business cards. They could all find me within minutes. My wife and I joke that I have "The Mark of Mahoney" on me. (That's the Dane County Sheriff here). However, the guys in my club report a lot of the same events.

BTW, in reality you cannot hear a Harley's pipes over semi-truck noise, anyway. The diesel clatter and the loud wind displacement drown us out.

2009CVO Ultra
Hi and welcome to the forum! I live out here in CA. And yes it is true. You can have loud pipes and the local police will give you a ticket for them. If you are a CA resident you will have to put the old ones back on or face other problems.

The problem stems from a bunch of jackoffs constantly rapping their engines to the point that you cannot even hear yourself talk. People don't want this and I don't want this either. I do have a bike that has open pipes, I don't rap it at traffic lights nor do I rev it in certain areas that I know will bother people. I have some guy in my neighborhood that goes to work every morning and you can hear his bike rev from blocks away. Not very good when he wakes me up at 5 am. You get the picture? The riding season is 12 months out of a 12 month year. It is easier to count the days that you can't ride out here.

Now if you have loud pipes and want to be considerate as long as you are not rapping the engine and not reving it you can be oKay here in Ca. If you are in a residential area just keep it in a higher gear and you will be quite enough to be left alone. Out on the highway it not an issue as tourist states it is all loud.

Point is don't be an arse and the cops will be oKay to you. I would leave the cvo as you got it and enjoy the ride and not have to worry about anything. If you have to play with it stay mild. IMHO.

Hope this helps, enjoy your new bike and ride safe. When you come out this way email me and maybe we can meetup.

Both of my bikes have Screaming Beagle exhausts, but also better air filtration and the necessary downloads (the big bike was dyno tuned). While not as loud as they could be, both produce better performance. And that's the crux of my position.

A bike that produces the proper amount of back-pressure in conjunction with the individual engine mods makes more power and accelerates better. A bike with just ego-pipes only makes noise.

While I'm not a big fan of goofy looking pipes from secondary suppliers, I must admit that I am warming to V&H products. Their marketing seems to suggest that they also want their customers to choose products that enhance performance.

When I see straight pipes on a stock bike I don't think "macho." I think "rookie."

V&H do make some nice looking pipes for big bikes and seem to have the deeper, throatier sound we have been lacking. During my formative years I was always a subscriber of the notion the louder the better. Our last two (2) bikes have both been Ultras and have grown fond of long rides throughout the US with tasty background tunes. Thank you for your post.

We have some of those same jackoffs here in the midwest. It is good to hear from someone out there that can provide a heads up a of how it is. I lived in Sacramento in the 80s and have many good memories of road trips on my LowRider.

We have a son living in Denver so our plans are for doing two (2) trips west over the next couple years. In 2012 we will do Denver - Seattle - San Francisco - Denver. In 2014 we will do Denver - San Diego - San Francisco - Denver. Hopefully we can hookup out there and do some riding...

Great, I can certainly navigate you through the maze of hog trails. It is a beautiful place to ride and Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most beautiful. Goes through all the beach cities. From San Francisco to San Diego about 500 or 600 miles will take you a couple days, skirts the pacific ocean. Rates 2 thumbs up!

Well, there are jackoffs in any hobby or career. For example, there were so many clowns over at Knife Forums it drove out most of the serious guys. The owner had to get involved to re-gain control.

I believe in the mentor, and the rite of passage. You can pass all of the laws you like, but newbs have to be held accountable for their behavior. What do you expect in motorcycling? You put a powerful Harley under him, slap your colors on his back and make him part of a bigger world, and guess what, lots of guys lose perspective.