V&H Big Radius for 2004 Ridgeback

[Sellsbooze]

Need help! I purchased a new set of Vance and Hine Big Radius 2 into 2 pipes today. I know I have seen a ton of bikes with these exact pipes and I seem to be having a few fittment issues. I have bolted up the pipes without shields and used the bracket that came with them (Harley Softail) to just attach the pipes to one another so I can figure a way to manipulate a bracket set up. My issues are that when the pipes, and bracket that attaches pipes to each other are tightened, there is basically no clearance at the rear next to the frame of the front pipe (bottom) when the heat shield is installed. Secondly there is no clearance between the front brake control and front pipe (at the bend). The will go on but will be touching? Lastly is there a stereotypical way of rigging a bracket or am I just winging it???

 

[ringo]

you sure you got the right ones for your bike? My install was by the included instructions and without issue. Very straight forward.

 

[Sellsbooze]

They dont make them for LSD. They tell you to use Harley Softail and you have to configure a bracket. Yours should be RSD and they have a bracket for them.

 

[stlmikie]

In short the pipes are touching the frame in the back and they are touching up front buy the brakes? Is there a chance you could take a photo of both areas?

 

[Sellsbooze]

Here you go. I am wondering that if when I have a rear bracket afixed to the bike if it will hold the pipes off enough to get the clearances I needand still allow me to cinch down at the jugs and bracket. I can loosen the bolts on the bracket and get the pipes to have ample clearance, but when I tighten them it pulls them right back.

 

[stlmikie]

Looks like they were made for a bike with a narrower rear tire. I bought a set of pipes a while back that we're for a standard soft tail and the pipe sat right on the frame. I couldn't get a bracket in there if I wanted. Those may just be to small man.

 

[Sellsbooze]

UUUUUUUGGGGHHHHH:bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

I'LL BE DAMNED, HELL OR HIGH WATER, I WILL MAKE THE MF'ERS WORK IF I HAVE TO BEAT THEM ON!!!

Pics to come soon!!!

 

[Raywood]

Here you go. I am wondering that if when I have a rear bracket afixed to the bike if it will hold the pipes off enough to get the clearances I needand still allow me to cinch down at the jugs and bracket. I can loosen the bolts on the bracket and get the pipes to have ample clearance, but when I tighten them it pulls them right back.

It's more important that the pipes are bolted tight to the motor and then you space out the bracket. Those pipes are too close to the brake and frame.

 

[stlmikie]

How wide is the tire on the bike?

 

[Th3InfamousI]

How wide is the tire on the bike?

250....

I would be worried about that exhaust running so close to the cam sensor, since your actually on it basically. Honestly I am not sure how your going to get this thing to fit correctly. Might want to think about it before you start beating these things on, so you can still return them.

I've got the same bike, I've been searching online and I cant find any LSD exhausts which will bolt up to the Ridgeback. (Mean Mothers Excluded).

It has left me with ordering a custom exhaust, I wanted something shorter anyways. Probably go with an FSD.

 

[1mndg]

Hey boozer....had the same problem with mine. Here's what I did. I bought 2 1/2 inch thick chrome spacers to move the pipes away from the frame in the rear. Took a socket and a hammer and just dimpled the front pipe a bit to get some clearance at the master cylinder. Then just carefully took a grinder to the heat shield to make clearance ther too. Wala no more problems. Hope this helps you out.

 

[nobbyjohn]

I have martin bros. on my 04 ridgeback ,fit great and nice looking too.

 

[TimNY]

\
My problem was just the oppisite- I have too much space between the frame and the pies. The V&H BRs were off a Cyotee right side drive. the rear bracket has about a 1 3/4 offset now my pipes are about 2 inches off the frame/swingarm.

They also make an exhaust extender - a bushing type collar that will give you more clearance in the front.

I wonder if we swapped pipes would that work ?

I also went threw the BDB members to see what other 03 / 04 Choppers were useing the V&H BRs and sent them a PM
for info.
Tim

 

[Sellsbooze]

I have martin bros. on my 04 ridgeback ,fit great and nice looking too.

Vance and Hine went back yesterday alomg with $80 for a restocking fee! Which Martin Bros did you go with. I am looking at Daisy Cutters for softail LSD transmission mount. These should bolt up pretty easily. Please let me know if I am wrong?

 

[Raywood]

Vance and Hine went back yesterday alomg with $80 for a restocking fee! Which Martin Bros did you go with. I am looking at Daisy Cutters for softail LSD transmission mount. These should bolt up pretty easily. Please let me know if I am wrong?

Your not going to find many pipe manufacturers that make pipes for our bikes. Just cause there are not that many of them around to make it profitable for them. So we all end up fabricating our own brackets or use the short pipes that don't need brackets.

 

[stlmikie]

Ray is right. But this being said bracket fab. is a farely easy deal. I didn't mean to discourage you Sells. I'm sorry if I did.

 

[Sellsbooze]

No worries! I was just thinking since Martin Brothers does offer everything I want, baffles, heat shields, LSD, and they are transmission mounted I thought it would be much easier to try and match them up. Problems with the V&H was rear clearance, front brake control clearance, and NOWHERE, close to fabricate a bracket as they 8" infront of the rear bracket tab on frame, and 4-5" from transmission. They would have also eliminated rear passenger peg (no real big deal) but I do like to ride the kids around the neighborhood. I was usuing the process of thought that the engine and transmission relation to each other should most likely stay the same across many bikes so even if I had to use spacers and longer bolts at least I would be in line to bolt up to the transmission. Please tell me if I am way off base on this!

 

[stlmikie]

If you go Martin Bros it would definaty solve your issues.

 

[Moespeeds]

Just put some washers on the bracket to space them away from the frame. On the forward control, take a grinder to that fucker and cut some of the forward away to make clearance, then polish it all back out. If your forwards are chrome your only choice is to dimple the pipe, which is also no big deal. Ball peen hammer and a shot of tequila and you're on the road.

 

[pknowles]

Just put some washers on the bracket to space them away from the frame. On the forward control, take a grinder to that fucker and cut some of the forward away to make clearance, then polish it all back out. If your forwards are chrome your only choice is to dimple the pipe, which is also no big deal. Ball peen hammer and a shot of tequila and you're on the road.

My kind of mechanic-n and if the ball peen don't work, they do sell sledge hammers in the "plus sizes".