Author Topic: To Fishtail or not to Fishtail??? (Read 1490 times)

DaBulletMan · « **on:** May 15, 2011, 11:24:42 AM »

Added a Fishtail Attachment to the silencer...
Should it stay on or is it too much???
Any Opinions??? Thanks...

Maturin · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2011, 11:46:50 AM »

Too much fish.
I like the shorter, luscious one better

GreenMachine · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2011, 11:48:19 AM »

fish is good..fish is brain food..try it and see if you like it...u can always take it off..

Desi Bike · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2011, 11:51:54 AM »

So there ya go Bulletman.... we are a great crowd here in the forum, but indecisive

MDLNB · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2011, 11:54:51 AM »

I had a fish tail on mine a while back. Check out the member photos and you will see one in there of mine with the fish tail. Has a neat sound. I even had dual fishtails on my Harley at one time. I may put the fishtail back on my RE. It does give it a different sound and you may like it. Definitely looks cool.

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2011, 12:41:09 PM »

I like it. Keep it, just be careful backing up to curbs

Scott

prof_stack · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2011, 02:04:38 PM »

Quote from: DaBulletMan on May 15, 2011, 11:24:42 AM

Added a Fishtail Attachment to the silencer...
Should it stay on or is it too much???
Any Opinions??? Thanks...

For a long time I had twin fishtails on my Harley Electra-Glide. More than a few times I walked into one of them. Ouch!

They looked cool and sounded fine. Later I put the OEM mufflers on and preferred the classic HD look with quieter exhaust.

Maturin · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2011, 02:12:17 PM »

Quote from: prof_stack on May 15, 2011, 02:04:38 PM

For a long time I had twin fishtails on my Harley Electra-Glide. More than a few times I walked into one of them. Ouch!

Lookathat! Snappy fish!
If God had meant the Bullet to swim, he´d given her a fishtail

MDLNB · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2011, 03:10:11 PM »

Quote from: prof_stack on May 15, 2011, 02:04:38 PM

For a long time I had twin fishtails on my Harley Electra-Glide. More than a few times I walked into one of them. Ouch!

They looked cool and sounded fine. Later I put the OEM mufflers on and preferred the classic HD look with quieter exhaust.

I thought mine were loud also, so I bought some baffles from J&P and installed them. Not real quiet ones though. I lived overseas, so I kept my bikes loud so that folks would know I was passing them. Driving overseas is nothing like driving here, so you have to be very, very defensive. Lots of horn power and loud exhaust.

I still have my Harley fishtail pipes so I might just dig them out and put one of them on my Bullet. Probably have to manufacture a strap though, to hang it.

drbvac · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2011, 04:14:06 PM »

I put them on a Heritage Softail HD I had as well to make it even more "retro" BUT if they were never a part used on the Enfields, they are more of a personal choice than making it look "stock old". So if you like it you can use it but know that you are "customising' rather than replicating.

Tri750 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2011, 05:16:12 PM »

I love the fish, if it were a bit shorter, meaning a few inches
closer to the muffler body, under the saddlebag, I would like it more.
keep the fish.

SimonT · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2011, 05:25:37 PM »

ok.. im going to go against popular opinion, and say it doesnt do much for me...

GreenMachine · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:07:31 PM »

u did that on purpose..

Bullet.wagon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:27:57 PM »

I like the fish,I have a Harley one on my Military(pics in the photo gallery). I like the sound and will never go back.

GreenMachine · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:51:30 PM »

bullet wagon: what is the name of the Chihuahua or is that what you look like? the only reason I'm asking is that i have a chiweenie, chihuahua mix with dachshund...i didn't think i like her as all my dogs have been larger but i got to tell ya the dogs are great..smart asses and intelligent little shits...

SimonT · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:57:38 PM »

Quote from: GreenMachine on May 15, 2011, 06:07:31 PM

u did that on purpose..

haha... maybe

I wont be putting one on..

r80rt · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2011, 08:51:43 PM »

If it makes you grin leave it on.

jonico61 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2013, 10:59:38 AM »

Stale old topic but I just saw it. I am liking that fishtail A LOT.
Gotta hear it, though. I don't like the European CE norm-compliant exhaust pipes, mine is so boring sounding.

Desi Bike · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:14:06 AM »

You could always get a cheap version of the Tailgunner exhaust and ruin not only the appearance of the RE but also the sound too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-Wjb_Dmc3vo

Craig McClure · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:19:24 AM »

I always liked the VELOCETTE muffler, which did have a handsome perforated fishtail. This one not so much. It makes the muffler which already looks to long, look longer & over done.
But if it makes you happy...............

Gypsyjon · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2013, 07:53:47 PM »

No, no, no...that's an old time Harley thing, not old time Limey.

GlennF · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2013, 09:41:23 PM »

Historical trivia:

According to some stories, fishtails were originally added to motorcycle mufflers to reduce annoying high pitched tinkly sounds produced by many early engines.

Arizoni · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2013, 12:25:47 PM »

I wonder if a fishtail in my toilet bowl would reduce the high pitched tinkly sound I heard a little while ago when nature called?

My local Chinese Market sells fish heads but I didn't see any fish tails. Maybe a fish head would work too?

Desi Bike · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2013, 04:45:36 PM »

Maybe for the first few minutes, but at first first it would slap the water out if the bowl. Jim, have you considered Depends©?

no bs · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2013, 02:21:02 PM »

i was going to install one and call it a shark fin

Chiefharlock · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:37:59 PM »

Here is my C5 with one :-) Definitely a unique sound :-)

~Jason

GlennF · « **Reply #26 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:20:28 PM »

Quote from: Chiefharlock on January 31, 2013, 04:37:59 PM

Here is my C5 with one :-) Definitely a unique sound :-)

Recording ?

Jack Leis · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2013, 08:31:45 PM »

Where does one get one of those things ?

JVS · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2013, 08:47:40 PM »

Not to offend anyone at all, but in my humple opinion, these 'fishtails' do not belong on a Bullet, well at least the B5 and the classic models $:-\$

hillntx · « **Reply #29 on:** January 31, 2013, 09:58:53 PM »

Jason, that actually looks better than many I've seen. Where did you get that one?

As with everything else you have the purists that think everything should be left as factory designed. You have those who want to make a bike look older than it is to fit their sense of nostalgia or cafe style. You have those that think customize involves the use of a hack saw or a cutting torch. The reality is once you bought it, you can do whatever you want with it regardless of what others think. I prefer functional mods tastefully done, but that's just me. Everyone is different and that is frequently reflected in our bikes.

Jack Leis · « **Reply #30 on:** January 31, 2013, 10:28:26 PM »

hillntx, +1

mplayle · « **Reply #31 on:** February 01, 2013, 07:24:55 AM »

DonK · « **Reply #32 on:** February 01, 2013, 09:13:46 AM »

Totally agree with Hillntx, I've been slowly transforming my Bullet into an Indian. found a 59 tank last year, the fishtail is the icing on the cake.
It does sound nice too.
Here's mine.

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #33 on:** February 01, 2013, 12:11:42 PM »

Chief Harlock's fishtail muffler is my favorite of all those out there. It may not be hostorically correct but it looks really sweet.

Scott

Chiefharlock · « **Reply #34 on:** February 01, 2013, 02:03:05 PM »

Hillntx, I actually found it on ebay, but I am pretty sure you coudl find it at www.debrix.com it's a place for harley parts, butthey have a lot of cool old school style parts and accessories.

As for a recording of the bike with the tail on and it at idle....

https://www.facebook.com/tacticalpepsi#!/photo.php?v=10150351435826526&set=vb.694231525&type=2&theater

That should lead you to a video of it at idle that i took in my garage

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #35 on:** February 01, 2013, 02:50:24 PM »

Most Harley aftermarket sites have it. You can get it in two diameters and a few lengths. Some of the diameters are a little non-standard and there are no mounting bolts on it, so get it from a place that also sells the appropriate sized P-clamp to secure it. You may need a bit of a shim to bolt it to the pipe too.

My other fave is the Flash Gordon 40s Harley style. Again, not technically proper on a British bike but it still looks cool.

Scott

Chiefharlock · « **Reply #36 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:06:16 PM »

I have one of teh Rocket style fishtail pipes for a 40's H-D on my Softail Deluxe. Definite old school sound :-)

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #37 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:16:07 PM »

Yes, nice sound to them too without sounding like a screaming open pipe.

Scott

Chiefharlock · « **Reply #38 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:23:52 PM »

EEEEEExxxxxxxxaactly

ADB · « **Reply #39 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:02:41 PM »

sorry for the thread hijack, but Chiefharlock, where did you get your seat? i've been looking for something just like that.

bob bezin · « **Reply #40 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:23:18 PM »

the fishtail looks the best on chiefharlocks bike with that shorter thinner muffler

mattsz · « **Reply #41 on:** February 01, 2013, 06:27:55 PM »

Quote from: Chiefharlock on February 01, 2013, 02:03:05 PM

As for a recording of the bike with the tail on and it at idle....

https://www.facebook.com/tacticalpepsi#!/photo.php?v=10150351435826526&set=vb.694231525&type=2&theater

Interesting - idle wanders, kinda like mine does...

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Author Topic: To Fishtail or not to Fishtail??? (Read 1490 times)