Knocking out Baffles
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Cruiser
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Knocking out Baffles
I am impatiently waiting on my Big Radius pipes for my 06 Low Rider... and I am tired of my bike sounding like a sewing machine... So someone told me that you can just knock the baffles out of the stock pipes and it sounds better.... Anyone done this....
Road Master
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RE: Knocking out Baffles
You can do it but it is not a good plan because there is no back pressure and it doesn't sound that good and then you have a messed up set of pipe's if you screw up. If you were going to do that for just a short period i would tell you to just take off the mufflers and run on shortie's. but just my .02
Tourer
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RE: Knocking out Baffles
I have a freind who just bought a 04 Heritage that has been punched out & it sounds pretty good. but as previously said I would not do it to my bike. You have to have some back pressure or you can cause some serious damage. (I have been told)
Road Master
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From: Ca
RE: Knocking out Baffles
I'm getting my bike next week. I asked the dealer about getting a little louder sound. He told me he will help me to punch out the end of the pipes. He said he did it on a street Bob, rode it for 6 months with no problem. Sounds like I need to check into it a little more.
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RE: Knocking out Baffles
I should add that we used to punch holes through our baffles and it is not that big of a task. Depending on the pipes you want to punch out. On stock pipes we used to use an 1" solid rod with a sharpened point (like a pencil) and just put it in the end and keep punching through. This will still leave enough metal in it for back pressure and will sound loud but tinny due to the metal still left on the sides vibrating. If you want a bigger hole just get a hacksaw and neatly cut the cone section off. I wouldn't mess up my stock pipes as you'll need them to get your sticker when the EPA strangels the noise more (or to sell you bike).
On SE pipes, due to the 45 deg angle of the baffle plate, it was a little more difficult. Starting with a 1/2" rod that has been cut in an angle start bashing a hole on the baffle plate off centre closest to the muffler wall. As the rod punches through the plate it'll center itself. Now you can put a 1 1/2" rod through this hole.
If you do this make sure the mufflers are removed from the bike and stand on a block of wood to avoid damage. With both options you'll have to re-tune the bike for the easier breathing pipes.
We used to do this a while back when I rode in a club and didn't have money. I wouldn't recommend it as the sound was not that good and the bikes ran like s***.
On SE pipes, due to the 45 deg angle of the baffle plate, it was a little more difficult. Starting with a 1/2" rod that has been cut in an angle start bashing a hole on the baffle plate off centre closest to the muffler wall. As the rod punches through the plate it'll center itself. Now you can put a 1 1/2" rod through this hole.
If you do this make sure the mufflers are removed from the bike and stand on a block of wood to avoid damage. With both options you'll have to re-tune the bike for the easier breathing pipes.
We used to do this a while back when I rode in a club and didn't have money. I wouldn't recommend it as the sound was not that good and the bikes ran like s***.
Tourer
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RE: Knocking out Baffles
I used a 1.50 key hole saw drilled out the end pulled out the baffel it sounded kinda funny untill i took and finised out the end down to the weld doing it this way leaves the packing souds pretty close to se11 not that loud .getting the last part of the baffel out is not easy.they sound prwtty good if you finish the ends down . but i will say that by the time i was done those cycle shak slippons for 50 bucks souded alot easier.im waiting for bigshots. my scoot runs great stock air cleaner down load and freeing up the exh. seems to be a good combo