Thunder Baffles
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Thunder Baffles
Well installed the thunder baffels (6" from the end) as per instructions)
easy job turned hard when I tried to install the stock baffles as well to reduce the loudness... well you have to cut them in half. took about 3 or 4 dremel wheels to cut them in half. then found that the BIG Radius pipes drop down in size after 12" from the end. so cutting in half was enough.
This was after I inserted the half baffle in the pipe and then tried the thunder baffle (4") long and the screw didnt line up! I couldnt get the stock baffel back out [:@] there was nothing to grab and tried a ton of stuff to hook the baffle. Finally saw my floor jack handle was a small pipe with a small notch on the end. I hooked that notch and pulled it out finally.
decided that cutting the baffles again wasnt worth the effort. had to shave it down to aroud 4 or 5 inches from the original 12" length. that would leave hardly any baffle to help quiet the exhaust...
well after reinstalling the heat shields... fired it up and it is LOUD... but tone wise it is a very low rumble. its definitely sounding better then the crappy raspy V&H stock sound. have yet to ride it but tomorrow will see if it made any difference in the midrange over stock baffles... plus how it sounds at highway speeds....
easy job turned hard when I tried to install the stock baffles as well to reduce the loudness... well you have to cut them in half. took about 3 or 4 dremel wheels to cut them in half. then found that the BIG Radius pipes drop down in size after 12" from the end. so cutting in half was enough.
This was after I inserted the half baffle in the pipe and then tried the thunder baffle (4") long and the screw didnt line up! I couldnt get the stock baffel back out [:@] there was nothing to grab and tried a ton of stuff to hook the baffle. Finally saw my floor jack handle was a small pipe with a small notch on the end. I hooked that notch and pulled it out finally.
decided that cutting the baffles again wasnt worth the effort. had to shave it down to aroud 4 or 5 inches from the original 12" length. that would leave hardly any baffle to help quiet the exhaust...
well after reinstalling the heat shields... fired it up and it is LOUD... but tone wise it is a very low rumble. its definitely sounding better then the crappy raspy V&H stock sound. have yet to ride it but tomorrow will see if it made any difference in the midrange over stock baffles... plus how it sounds at highway speeds....
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Thunder Baffles
nope I gave up after cutting them down to 6" and finding I had to cut another 1" off of them! Plus if I wanted to screw them in place I would need to remove the pipes to drill a 1/4" hole behind the pipe as the baffles only go in one way due to the curvature of them. Hence the pain the @#$@ taking out the Rear Cycylinder baffle... The bottom one almost fell out after removing the mounting screw.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,156
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From:
RE: Thunder Baffles
Got it. I am just waiting for a report from someone who did the BCT's with the stock half-baffles in. I'm curious about the difference in sound and performance. But I may end up doing it myself in my spare time.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
RE: Thunder Baffles
Clueless, I am waiting on the edge of my seat to see what you think. I have my TMs and have one heat sheild off. Just want to see if you feel the need to adjust your PCIII after installing them. Let us know ASAP. Please.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Thunder Baffles
ORIGINAL: WARG
Clueless, I am waiting on the edge of my seat to see what you think. I have my TMs and have one heat sheild off. Just want to see if you feel the need to adjust your PCIII after installing them. Let us know ASAP. Please.
Clueless, I am waiting on the edge of my seat to see what you think. I have my TMs and have one heat sheild off. Just want to see if you feel the need to adjust your PCIII after installing them. Let us know ASAP. Please.
a little too early to test ride yet (hate to wake the neighbors on a quiet Sunday AM)...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
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From: The Lone Star State
RE: Thunder Baffles
I was told that as long as your tuned before you install then you wont need to tuned after.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Thunder Baffles
I am noticing that its running a bit leaner. I had got rid of most of the popping and now have the gurgle sound ... so know that its probably 1 or 2 points of fuel leaner. not enough to worry about but your PCIII map is probably not as optimal .. assuming that you had it tuned with the baffels in.
I would think if you had it tuned w/o baffles it would be pretty close. also riding home last night when it was very cool it ran smoother (ie I would assume it runs richer with cool air).
also its too loud for me now. I couldnt get it home late last night without waking up the neighborhood. I have to drive up a small hill to get to my house. I was geared high trying not to bog but keep the RPMs down. but the TM are loud once you put on any gas.
I will work on putting in the shortened baffels sometime this week.
WARG how about you ? did you get yours mounted? I do LOVE The sound change. Its got a MEAN grunt sound now. not that raspy stock V&H sound. it rumbles now.
I would think if you had it tuned w/o baffles it would be pretty close. also riding home last night when it was very cool it ran smoother (ie I would assume it runs richer with cool air).
also its too loud for me now. I couldnt get it home late last night without waking up the neighborhood. I have to drive up a small hill to get to my house. I was geared high trying not to bog but keep the RPMs down. but the TM are loud once you put on any gas.
I will work on putting in the shortened baffels sometime this week.
WARG how about you ? did you get yours mounted? I do LOVE The sound change. Its got a MEAN grunt sound now. not that raspy stock V&H sound. it rumbles now.
