There are two words in this product listing that determine everything about whether you should buy it, and they are easy to skim past sitting in the middle of a specification table: "Baffles: No Baffle."
The Voodoo Cycle House 36" Fishtail Slip-On Mufflers cost $229.99, down from $249.99, and fit a wide span of Harley-Davidson Touring models. The fitment data is unusually thorough. But a straight-through pipe with no baffle is a specific choice with legal, mechanical and practical consequences that the listing does not spell out.
The specification, as listed
| Product | 36" Fishtail Slip-On Mufflers, chrome |
|---|---|
| Price | $229.99 (was $249.99) |
| Fitment | Harley Touring 1995–2016 — Electra Glide, Road Glide, Street Glide, Ultra Classic, Road King, FLHT, FLTR, FLHX, FLTCU, FLHR |
| Does not fit | 2010 models with factory 2-into-1 systems |
| Material | 16 gauge cold rolled steel |
| Length | 36" |
| Body diameter | 1 7/8" outside diameter |
| Inlet | 1 3/4" inside diameter — fits 1995–2016 Touring header directly |
| Baffles | None |
| Finish | Plated chrome |
| Included | Mounting hardware |
| Warranty | 2 years against manufacturing defects |
| Instructions | Not included; professional installation recommended |
What "no baffle" actually means
1. It will be extremely loud
A baffle is the internal structure that forces exhaust gas to change direction, absorbing sound energy on the way through. Remove it and you have a straight tube. On a big twin, the difference is not subtle — it is the difference between a deep rumble and something that sets off car alarms.
That may be exactly what you want. It is also worth knowing that many jurisdictions set legal limits on motorcycle exhaust noise, and that in the United States, exhaust systems for street use are generally required to carry EPA labelling. Nothing on this listing addresses noise levels, EPA compliance, or off-road-only status — which most aftermarket exhaust sellers state explicitly. Check your local rules before buying; in some places baffle-less pipes will fail inspection or attract a ticket.
2. It changes how the engine runs
This is the part that costs people money. Removing back-pressure alters the air-fuel mixture, and on a fuel-injected Touring model that generally means the bike runs lean. A lean-running air-cooled V-twin gets hotter, and sustained lean operation is associated with exhaust valve and piston damage over time.
The standard fix is a fuel management module or an ECU remap after fitting free-flowing pipes, and that is a real additional cost — typically a few hundred dollars plus dyno time. The listing does not mention tuning at all. If you fit these and ride away without addressing fuelling, you are not just making noise; you are changing the conditions the engine operates under.
3. Baffles can often be added
Worth knowing: removable baffles are sold separately by various suppliers and can frequently be fitted to straight-through slip-ons, which lets you dial the volume back. Whether these particular mufflers accept them is not stated — worth asking Voodoo before ordering if you want the option.
What the listing does well
Fitment detail that is genuinely useful
This is the best thing on the page. Model years, model names, and the specific frame codes — FLHT, FLTR, FLHX, FLTCU, FLHR — plus an explicit exclusion for 2010 bikes with the factory 2-into-1 system. Aftermarket motorcycle parts are notorious for vague fitment, and returns on the wrong exhaust are expensive and annoying. Naming the exception is more helpful than listing ten models that do fit.
Real dimensions, in the right units
1 3/4" inlet inside diameter, 1 7/8" body outside diameter, 36" length. Inlet ID is the number that determines whether it slips onto your header without an adapter, and Voodoo states it directly along with confirmation that it mates to the stock 1995–2016 Touring header. That is precisely what a buyer needs.
Material gauge specified
16 gauge is around 1.5 mm — a reasonable wall thickness for a slip-on, sturdy enough to resist denting and to support its own length on a 36-inch pipe.
Mounting hardware included, and a two-year warranty
Hardware in the box saves a trip to the parts store. A two-year defect warranty on a $229.99 aftermarket part is more than many sellers offer.
Honesty about instructions
Stating plainly that no instructions are included and that professional fitting is recommended is better than pretending it is a ten-minute job.
Other things to weigh
Chrome-plated cold rolled steel will discolour
Cold rolled steel is not stainless. Chrome plating protects it, but exhaust components run hot and heat-cycle constantly, and chrome over steel near the header commonly develops blueing over time. Once the plating is chipped — by a stone, a boot, or a fall — the steel underneath will rust. Stainless costs more and does not have this failure mode; if you ride in salted-road conditions, factor that in.
Thirty-six inches is long
Classic fishtail proportions, and that length is a large part of the look. It also means more overhang, more leverage on the mounts, and more to catch when manoeuvring in tight spaces or on a trailer.
No weight and no sound file
Neither is given. For an exhaust bought largely for its sound, a recording is the single most useful thing a seller could publish.
Who should buy these
- Riders wanting classic fishtail styling. The look is the point, and 36 inches delivers it.
- Owners of 1995–2016 Touring bikes. Fitment is clearly documented — check the 2010 exception.
- Anyone already planning a tune. If a fuel module is in the budget, this is a coherent build step.
- Show and custom builds. Where noise regulations are not a daily concern.
Who should not
- Anyone in a strict noise-enforcement area. Check local law first — baffle-less pipes are the classic target.
- Riders who will not retune. Free-flowing pipes without fuelling changes is how engines get hurt.
- Long-distance touring riders. Straight pipes get tiring over hundreds of miles.
- Salted winter roads. Chrome over mild steel is the wrong material for that.
Verdict
As a piece of hardware, this is a well-documented product. Precise fitment across two decades of Touring models, real inlet and body dimensions, stated material gauge, included hardware and a two-year warranty put it ahead of most aftermarket exhaust listings, and $229.99 for a 36-inch chrome fishtail slip-on is competitive.
The thing to be clear about is what you are buying. "No baffle" is a straight pipe: loud, potentially non-compliant depending on where you ride, and a change to the engine's operating conditions that should be accompanied by a tune. Voodoo states the fact plainly in the specification table but does not explain the consequences. Budget for fuelling, check your local noise rules, and ask whether baffles can be retrofitted. Do that and these are a fair buy for the look.
Fitment and current pricing are listed on the Voodoo Cycle House store, and our Voodoo Cycle House store page tracks their other live offers.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Specifications and prices were taken from the retailer listing at the time of writing and may change. Exhaust modifications are regulated in many jurisdictions — check local noise and emissions law before fitting, and have exhaust work carried out by a qualified technician.
