Motorcycle Repair: Baffled!, drag pipes, straight pipes

Question
QUESTION: I have an 06' fuel injected Springer Softail with Python drag pipes. It was dynoed with baffles in, and I want to take them out. The dealership where I normally go was hardcore about telling me that I had to keep the baffles in because it would seriously affect performance. I have to be honest, I pulled them out and rode a few miles and I loved it.I did not feel any difference. Not even Drag pipe lag...where the RPMs go nowhere...

My question is this...do I need to have the bike dynoed again with baffles removed, or can I take the bastards out and ride. If I do this...will it affect the motor in a way that will cost me mega dollars in repairs?

See...I am looking for that bad ass Harley sound...that infamous "tick." I wanted to put straight pipes with no baffles on the bike, like I had with my 2001 sporty, but my dealership preached against that too because of the fuel injection. Am I being taken for a bull$hit ride?

ANSWER: Without having and back pressure on your exhaust (like with baffles in) you actually hurt your perfromance in midrange. You can run without baffles if you desire, but you need to make sure your are not running lean. Opening up the exhaust like you did might cause a lean condition, so Iwould have it checked
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What is the difference between strait pipes and drag pipes on a fuel injected Harley...meaning does the fuel injection system prohibit straight pipes being put on?

Also...

Is it possible to put straight pipes on a fuel injected bike without baffles to get that "old school" Harley "tick" sound that I am looking for?  

Answer
I think probably your talking about the same thing. Drag pipes normally have no baffles, but you can install them in the pipes. Straight pipes are just a style of dran pipes. Drag pipes are make for one thing, high RPMs and they work well at high RPMs. They hurt performance at midrange. If you are looking for a certain sound from your bike, listen to other Harleys and ask what they are running on their bike.
You can put any exhaust on your fuel injected bike you want and like. Just remember, with open pipes you have more flow and with more exhaust flow you will probbly have a lean condition
Good luck and happy riding
Mike