My dealer called me today at work. They wanted to know if I would be willing to let them use my bike to test the new thunderheader for the '04's and newer sportster to see if they are going to carry it. They would come pick my bike up and trailer it to the shop, put the pipe on, make a few dyno runs, and if I liked it I could buy it for a discount and not pay for any labor. If I don't like it, they put my old pipes back on and no bad feelings. What do you guys think I should do? How are the Thunderheaders???

What an opportunity. The Thunderhead rocks. I'd do it in a hearbeat if I was you.

I'd do it in a hearbeat if I was you.
Even in a heartbeat too

I have one and depending on the price I would do it also. Great way to sell a pipe. These guys are getting creative. Expect a big HP boost. They work

The Thunderheader is one of THE BEST pipes out there. They go for about $400 at indie's plus $50 each for the heat shields (in chrome). You won't believe the difference they make. I' go for it.
Here's a pic of what it looks like w/ the black ceramic coating. It's about $75 more, but you can get away with no heat shields.

Even without a discount free labor and dyno tune would make it a deal. Can't hurt to try as long as you like the look.

Turn out they won't do free labor, but the dyno tune is free and they're giving me 20% off. The bare pipe without heatshields is around $500. I told them I'd do it, so I just hope that money isn't too tight once the Holiday's are over....

First of all they want to use YOUR bike. Labor better damn well be free. They can't test it without putting it on. What if they bomb your bike on the dyno. 20% off is a good deal but I would push for free labor too. After all, if it works they will be selling them to other people at a profit. It only takes an hour or so to swap pipes anyway.

Just my .02.

Cheap ASS S.O.B Stealer!!!! Labor isn't S&!T!!! :yikes I tell'em to throw the Labor in!!!

It's only $58 for the labor...I'm not going to throw a fit over that, it's not worth it to me to tarnish the relationship. If they bomb my bike, then there a nice '05 sitting in the showroom waiting for me.

Without free labor it's no deal, you could get likely get 20% off dealer retail by ordering the thing over the internet and putting it on yourself. This is especially cheesy if you weren't stoked on getting it in the first place. Their salesmanship is excellent, thier ethics questionable. This probably means the line about putting your old pipes back if you don't like the TH is BS too.

The 85 to 03 T-Header w/out shields is $369 @ WWW.RICHMONDCUSTOMCYCLES.COM
How much more could the 04 pipe be? The stealer says 500 w/20 % off? that's $600 !! I think they're screwin you bigtime. I'd forget the "maintain a relationship" part and tell them to kiss your ass. Find a good in indy.

The whole deal sounds questionable. At best it's a unique marketing concept. Dyno runs? Not on my bike, free or not.

refer to maddog's post

I concur. I wouldn't do it.

Doesn't the dealer have a used bike on the floor that can be the dyno guinea pig? Just the fact that they are charging you labor, twice I would guess if you don't like the pipe, makes me suspicious of his motives. http://img126.exs.cx/img126/2822/yeahright4re.gif


Bart

Turn out they won't do free labor, but the dyno tune is free and they're giving me 20% off. The bare pipe without heatshields is around $500. I told them I'd do it, so I just hope that money isn't too tight once the Holiday's are over....Hmm. I don't know now. I bought the THeader for a little under $500, heat shields and all. It took about 30 minutes to put on. They ought to do the labor for nothing.

Yeah, thinking about it, I wouldn't do it. They are asking to use your bike to test this new pipe. Or maybe they charge you, then you charge them for testing it. .35 cents a mile (mileage rates per govt tax standards) plus any incidental whatever that might occur (damage, etc). I know I had to adjust my jetting when the thunderheader put on, and to do that properly you need to do some dyno runs. So them throwing in the dyno run really isn't much of nothing. They would need to to get the jetting right.

I can get you a dyno tune for $30-50 aroudn where I live :)

I agree with the past several comments. I mean if they can't even cover the labor then they are not doing anything for you. That's just plain crazy. :yikes

If they trash your bike, I hope you've got a signed contract that they will replace the bike with a brand new one.

Personally speaking, I have no desire to have my bike dynoed. Too much unecessary strain on the engine for no good reason. I doubt it will do any real damage but it's just not something I care to do.

Tell them free labor or find a new experiment. I think they are trying to sell a pipe and any other incidentals they can. If you are tool handicapped then you do it otherwise di it yourself. I love my thunderheader.

Personally speaking, I have no desire to have my bike dynoed. Too much unecessary strain on the engine for no good reason. I doubt it will do any real damage but it's just not something I care to do.
In this instance, I would consider it necessary to fine tune the jetting. It really helped my bike when I got in on a dyno machine and we were able to read the air to fuel ratios. My jetting was way off.

Fair enough. I didn't think it was that critical.

Fair enough. I didn't think it was that critical.I don't know if it's critical, but just highly recommended. My bike ran okay before I did my dyno, but it ran sooooo much better afterwards and it was because of the jetting. You could probably pop in some jets and run the idle mixture screw in and out, swapping jets as you go and dial it in, but you'd need a real good ear for the engine and some thick gloves and easy access to the idle mix screw, etc, etc.

Woah, guys. My computers been down, so let me catch up. The pipe for the '04 is $500 as per the MSRP on Thunderheader's own website. They're taking 20% off of that, so the pipe will be $400 for me. In addition, they aren't doing just one dyno run with it. It will be dynotuned and jetted as needed. That was explicitly explained to me. I don't see the labor as a big deal. I understand the whole principle of the thing, I was a little upset when they told me, but it isn't that big of a deal to me. Also, I just called them this morning. I told them I didn't want the bike trailored today as the snow keeps falling, and they agreed (wouldn't want to jackknife the trailor...that's no good for anyone). While I was on the phone I asked if I didn't like the pipe if they would be willing to give me the same type of deal on a different pipe, and this shouldn't be a problem. So now I may be able to get a pipe I am stoked about. As far as telling the dealer to kiss my ass, this is just not an option. Contrary to popular dealer belief, these guys have treated me very well, and I am very happy with them. I'm not throwing it out the window for $60. I have been unhappy with every other dealer I've been to, and these guys really shine. I know a sour deal when I see one. Granted, there are some guys I like and some I don't. I don't care so much for the Service manager, but he wasn't the one who called me with this. It's not like they ever pressure me to buy anything. When I was setting this whole thing up, he asked if I wanted to do cams. I asked how much, he said something $350. Told him labor would have to free top make it happen, and he said no...would be 5 hours worth, so I told him to forget about it and that was it. I think these guys are pretty good. And if I end up getting the pipe I really want anyways, then the $60 is nothing.

Well guys, I have to say. I've been doing a little bit of research and I'm very suprised. I didn't realize how much technology was in the thunderheader. I was all about the BUB Rihnhart pipes, even though I had a soft spot for 2:1, but now I see what the tghunderheader is really about. The only other pipe I was interested in was the new 2:1 from Supertrapp, but I'm not too sure on the looks, and I know supertrapp hasn't been on top for performance for a while (I guess thier head pipes and collectors were not up to snuff). Anyways, so long I like the sound and the look, I'll probably be going with the thunderheader.

Well guys, I have to say. I've been doing a little bit of research and I'm very suprised. I didn't realize how much technology was in the thunderheader. I was all about the BUB Rihnhart pipes, even though I had a soft spot for 2:1, but now I see what the tghunderheader is really about. The only other pipe I was interested in was the new 2:1 from Supertrapp, but I'm not too sure on the looks, and I know supertrapp hasn't been on top for performance for a while (I guess thier head pipes and collectors were not up to snuff). Anyways, so long I like the sound and the look, I'll probably be going with the thunderheader.
EXCELLENT CHOISE!!