Last ditch effort with exhaust
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
Last ditch effort with exhaust
I really like the appearance of my exhaust, but it's loud and starts to grate on me. I bought quiet baffles, the helped a tiny bit, still looking for some good quality ear plugs where I could still listen to music.
As a last ditch effort to get even a few Db lower I drilled out some holes and installed some DK Thunder torques, but the didn't reall help much and the way I installed them could come loose. Then I ordered an FMF Premier muffler packing kit for sport bikes but some have been adapted. After working a while to get the baffles out I realized that there would be no way to get all 4 layers where I needed and still fit this thing in the pipes so I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet. No inserts for now. Seems maybe a bit better, we'll see when everything settles. Took the opportunity to replace the wrap on the lower exhaust that got ripped during a recent momentary lapse of intelligence, now I need to wait for yet another role for the upper pipe.
Hoping this works, otherwise looks like supertrapp or Sawicki once has has his more quiet baffles figured out. and I don't like the looks Of the super trap nearly as much.
As a last ditch effort to get even a few Db lower I drilled out some holes and installed some DK Thunder torques, but the didn't reall help much and the way I installed them could come loose. Then I ordered an FMF Premier muffler packing kit for sport bikes but some have been adapted. After working a while to get the baffles out I realized that there would be no way to get all 4 layers where I needed and still fit this thing in the pipes so I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet. No inserts for now. Seems maybe a bit better, we'll see when everything settles. Took the opportunity to replace the wrap on the lower exhaust that got ripped during a recent momentary lapse of intelligence, now I need to wait for yet another role for the upper pipe.
Hoping this works, otherwise looks like supertrapp or Sawicki once has has his more quiet baffles figured out. and I don't like the looks Of the super trap nearly as much.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
I really like the appearance of my exhaust, but it's loud and starts to grate on me. I bought quiet baffles, the helped a tiny bit, still looking for some good quality ear plugs where I could still listen to music.
As a last ditch effort to get even a few Db lower I drilled out some holes and installed some DK Thunder torques, but the didn't reall help much and the way I installed them could come loose. Then I ordered an FMF Premier muffler packing kit for sport bikes but some have been adapted. After working a while to get the baffles out I realized that there would be no way to get all 4 layers where I needed and still fit this thing in the pipes so I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet. No inserts for now. Seems maybe a bit better, we'll see when everything settles. Took the opportunity to replace the wrap on the lower exhaust that got ripped during a recent momentary lapse of intelligence, now I need to wait for yet another role for the upper pipe.
Hoping this works, otherwise looks like supertrapp or Sawicki once has has his more quiet baffles figured out. and I don't like the looks Of the super trap nearly as much.
As a last ditch effort to get even a few Db lower I drilled out some holes and installed some DK Thunder torques, but the didn't reall help much and the way I installed them could come loose. Then I ordered an FMF Premier muffler packing kit for sport bikes but some have been adapted. After working a while to get the baffles out I realized that there would be no way to get all 4 layers where I needed and still fit this thing in the pipes so I wrapped them in some steel wool mesh and then fiberglass sheet. No inserts for now. Seems maybe a bit better, we'll see when everything settles. Took the opportunity to replace the wrap on the lower exhaust that got ripped during a recent momentary lapse of intelligence, now I need to wait for yet another role for the upper pipe.
Hoping this works, otherwise looks like supertrapp or Sawicki once has has his more quiet baffles figured out. and I don't like the looks Of the super trap nearly as much.
The supertrapp will be a great replacement but do not have the most appealing look. What bothers you so much about your current setup. The tone or the actual volume? I wear earplugs all the time but because the wind noise gets to me and I'm already deaf according to my wife. I call it selective hearing. Really think about what you have for a minute. Restrictive will sacrifice performance while keeping the sound tame. Free flowing performs better with more sound. You want to sound like a Harley it will be louder or sound like a goldwing and putt along. Loud pipes saves lives they say.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 15
From: Bay area, CA
Don't limit yourself on pipes! I think bassani makes a few 2-1 pipes that are on the "quiet" side. Also if you get a longer pipe that ends up under the right bag the noise might not bother you as much. I think those pipes are real loud to you because they empty out right behind your ear (and because they are loud haha). I think that d&d fatcat has an optional quiet baffle too, and its long enough to get behind you further
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
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From: Palm Desert,CA
Yeah, I'm really hoping to keep what I have but if not next one will definitely put the pipe further past my ear. Not looking for stock volume but don't want one so loud even at cruising speeds. With FF helmet it still kind of grates but hopefully the new packing will help once it settles.
I do sometimes like to listen to music (I have speakers in the helmet) but that's pretty much impossible right now.
I would like to get some ear plugs if anyone has some recommendations. Last week I bought some cheap foam ones but they muffled everything so much that it started to annoy me as well
need something in between.
If I do change out my exhaust at some point I'll have to figure it out, I'm pretty tapped from all the winter mods!
I do sometimes like to listen to music (I have speakers in the helmet) but that's pretty much impossible right now.
I would like to get some ear plugs if anyone has some recommendations. Last week I bought some cheap foam ones but they muffled everything so much that it started to annoy me as well
need something in between.If I do change out my exhaust at some point I'll have to figure it out, I'm pretty tapped from all the winter mods!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 97
From: Northern VA
Robby I wear a FF helmet with the Sena BT system. Without earplugs I can't hear squat and my exhaust is quiet. I was surprised when I put earplugs in (they're just your typical roll up expanding earplugs) and turn the music up I hear everything perfectly. I can carry a conversation with people on the phone (only when I'm in the middle of nowhere do I do this) easily. Not everything is a bike problem.
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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
Robby I wear a FF helmet with the Sena BT system. Without earplugs I can't hear squat and my exhaust is quiet. I was surprised when I put earplugs in (they're just your typical roll up expanding earplugs) and turn the music up I hear everything perfectly. I can carry a conversation with people on the phone (only when I'm in the middle of nowhere do I do this) easily. Not everything is a bike problem.
I realized too that when I repacked the baffles, I probably have to let everything settle in again.
Last edited by robbyville; Mar 27, 2015 at 07:49 AM.
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Joe Kucinski
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 600
Likes: 10
From: Rochester, NY
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by enodrano; Apr 23, 2015 at 01:08 PM.