Last ditch effort with exhaust
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
I always use earplugs due to wind noise. I have Vance and Hines Short Shots with the standard baffle on my Street Bob. They are very loud but not as bad as the wind noise. I have a full face helmet with headphones installed. I have to wear earplugs in order to hear the music and phone calls over the wind noise. I have to always wear earplugs with my half helmet. I have tried several different earplugs:
Etymotic Research ETY Earplugs
These are commonly used by musicians. In fact thats how I was turned on to them. I use them when playing my drums in the basement, at rock concerts and arena sporting events. They work great for these purposes but because they do not seal the ear canal (they just lower the Db) they do not work good for wind noise.
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs
These are good plugs if you are looking for disposable earplugs. The are meant for bedtime so they are made softer to increase the comfort level when sleeping. I find them to be good when wearing plugs for an extended period of time.
Mack's AquaBlock Earplugs
These are my favorites and I wear these most of the time. They are comfortable, reusable, seal the ear canal, and are easy to clean. They also seem to hold up the best in my pants pocket.
All three work fine in my full face helmet but I only use the Mack's AquaBlock Earplugs with my half/no helmet.
Etymotic Research ETY Earplugs
These are commonly used by musicians. In fact thats how I was turned on to them. I use them when playing my drums in the basement, at rock concerts and arena sporting events. They work great for these purposes but because they do not seal the ear canal (they just lower the Db) they do not work good for wind noise.
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs
These are good plugs if you are looking for disposable earplugs. The are meant for bedtime so they are made softer to increase the comfort level when sleeping. I find them to be good when wearing plugs for an extended period of time.
Mack's AquaBlock Earplugs
These are my favorites and I wear these most of the time. They are comfortable, reusable, seal the ear canal, and are easy to clean. They also seem to hold up the best in my pants pocket.
All three work fine in my full face helmet but I only use the Mack's AquaBlock Earplugs with my half/no helmet.
I did re-pack the baffles, with expected results (not much). I'm going to stick with this exhaust for a while, I do really like the appearance. But I'm keeping a watchful eye out for when Fuel Moto releases their new Dyna exhaust in the hopes that it will look better than the Supertrapp but with same adjustability for performance and volume. Funnily enough I was gassing up on my road trip yesterday and two guys were heading out with their touring machines. As they started the bikes I couldn't help but notice how loud and raw their exhausts were and thought that I should quit my whining
Stainless steel wool and fiberglass cloth
"I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet"
You might have already done this, but if you've used regular steel wool and fiberglass matting (the cheaper stuff that comes in sheets where the fibers go every-which-way), I'd suggest swapping it out for stainless steel wool (or even that thin curly stainless ribbon some pot scourers are mades from), and fiberclass cloth (ie actually woven with long straight strands criss-crossed like regular cloth).
Both are a bit more expensive, but well worth it, I think.
In my experience (on a Ducati years ago) the regular steel wool will rust and get blown out the back really quick (like within weeks), and the fiberglass chop (as it's known) sheeting will disintegrate and get blown away pretty quick too (its fibers are quite short and only bonded lightly, really only strong when encapsulated in epoxy etc).
Since then, I've always used stainless wool and the fibergalss cloth, which lasts much longer in that application.
Another thing I learned (on both HDs and other bikes): after wrapping your steel/fiberglass over the baffles, wind a spiral of copper wire around it, maybe 20 times, to compress it onto the baffle - this makes it much easier to insert into the pipe, and you can fit lots more packing in...
Sorry if this is all old news, but I though it might help someone!
You might have already done this, but if you've used regular steel wool and fiberglass matting (the cheaper stuff that comes in sheets where the fibers go every-which-way), I'd suggest swapping it out for stainless steel wool (or even that thin curly stainless ribbon some pot scourers are mades from), and fiberclass cloth (ie actually woven with long straight strands criss-crossed like regular cloth).
Both are a bit more expensive, but well worth it, I think.
In my experience (on a Ducati years ago) the regular steel wool will rust and get blown out the back really quick (like within weeks), and the fiberglass chop (as it's known) sheeting will disintegrate and get blown away pretty quick too (its fibers are quite short and only bonded lightly, really only strong when encapsulated in epoxy etc).
Since then, I've always used stainless wool and the fibergalss cloth, which lasts much longer in that application.
Another thing I learned (on both HDs and other bikes): after wrapping your steel/fiberglass over the baffles, wind a spiral of copper wire around it, maybe 20 times, to compress it onto the baffle - this makes it much easier to insert into the pipe, and you can fit lots more packing in...
Sorry if this is all old news, but I though it might help someone!
Last edited by Davdoodles; Apr 23, 2015 at 06:40 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
"I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet"
You might have already done this, but if you've used regular steel wool and fiberglass matting (the cheaper stuff that comes in sheets where the fibers go every-which-way), I'd suggest swapping it out for stainless steel wool (or even that thin curly stainless ribbon some pot scourers are mades from), and fiberclass cloth (ie actually woven with long straight strands criss-crossed like regular cloth).
Both are a bit more expensive, but well worth it, I think.
In my experience (on a Ducati years ago) the regular steel wool will rust and get blown out the back really quick (like within weeks), and the fiberglass chop (as it's known) sheeting will disintegrate and get blown away pretty quick too (its fibers are quite short and only bonded lightly, really only strong when encapsulated in epoxy etc).
Since then, I've always used stainless wool and the fibergalss cloth, which lasts much longer in that application.
Another thing I learned (on both HDs and other bikes): after wrapping your steel/fiberglass over the baffles, wind a spiral of copper wire around it, maybe 20 times, to compress it onto the baffle - this makes it much easier to insert into the pipe, and you can fit lots more packing in...
Sorry if this is all old news, but I though it might help someone!
You might have already done this, but if you've used regular steel wool and fiberglass matting (the cheaper stuff that comes in sheets where the fibers go every-which-way), I'd suggest swapping it out for stainless steel wool (or even that thin curly stainless ribbon some pot scourers are mades from), and fiberclass cloth (ie actually woven with long straight strands criss-crossed like regular cloth).
Both are a bit more expensive, but well worth it, I think.
In my experience (on a Ducati years ago) the regular steel wool will rust and get blown out the back really quick (like within weeks), and the fiberglass chop (as it's known) sheeting will disintegrate and get blown away pretty quick too (its fibers are quite short and only bonded lightly, really only strong when encapsulated in epoxy etc).
Since then, I've always used stainless wool and the fibergalss cloth, which lasts much longer in that application.
Another thing I learned (on both HDs and other bikes): after wrapping your steel/fiberglass over the baffles, wind a spiral of copper wire around it, maybe 20 times, to compress it onto the baffle - this makes it much easier to insert into the pipe, and you can fit lots more packing in...
Sorry if this is all old news, but I though it might help someone!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 209
Likes: 9
From: DE
man you're in the opposite boat as me. I'm currently considering buying new pipes because I feel mine are too quiet. I actually looked at python throwbacks wished I had gone that route but bought rush short series instead.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
I love it, but actually haven't used it at night yet lol. I have decided though to ride with the high beams on during daytime. The regular beam is a ton better than stock but even more visible with both on.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 203
Likes: 2
From: Jacksboro,TN
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
I hear you. I wish I could give a better report, not sure if you've seen my pics taken in my garage but the difference is pretty phenomenal and cheaper than most of the other options. Only thing that remains to be seen (pardon the pun) is longevity.
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