Lost about Pipes.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
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From: Rowlett, Texas
Lost about Pipes.
I need to be educated. Are all these different slip ons for cosmedic or performance reasons? I took my baffles out and the bike performs and sounds great. Why would you spend 250 bucks just to get the same result? Help me out here. I'm a padawan learner.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
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From:
RE: Lost about Pipes.
I drilled the baffles out on my bike and hated it. It sounded kinda high pitched and popped a lot. Not the deep throaty sound I wanted. Just sounded cheap. I put vance and hines slip ons and it sounded so much better. I know that its all opinion but the vances are just as loud as drilling but dont have that high pitched pop. IMHO.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
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From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
RE: Lost about Pipes.
ORIGINAL: ******
gotta consider this too, Pipes with baffles removed actually DECREASE low end Torque, sometimes even poorly designed "Freeflow Mufflers" take away some low end torque.
gotta consider this too, Pipes with baffles removed actually DECREASE low end Torque, sometimes even poorly designed "Freeflow Mufflers" take away some low end torque.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
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From: Ozark Country
RE: Lost about Pipes.
ORIGINAL: Dallastx
I need to be educated. Are all these different slip ons for cosmedic or performance reasons? I took my baffles out and the bike performs and sounds great. Why would you spend 250 bucks just to get the same result? Help me out here. I'm a padawan learner.
I need to be educated. Are all these different slip ons for cosmedic or performance reasons? I took my baffles out and the bike performs and sounds great. Why would you spend 250 bucks just to get the same result? Help me out here. I'm a padawan learner.
The baffles used in various mufflers determine the tone you will get. Many companies such as Rush offer various diameter baffles, ranging in size from 1.25" up to 2+" that will give you a different tone when running the mufflers on the same bike. The larger diameter baffles will give less restriction, so the tone will be louder.
The 2-cylinder engines aren't pushing that much exhaust, especially when you consider the diameter of the two exhaust pipes. Too much backpressure that hurts performance isn't an issue like might be on some high performance cars or trucks.
Many high performance cars are running 350 + cubic inch engines with 300+ horsepower (with 8 cylinders) through two 2.0" - 2.5" exhaust pipes. I doubt if a 2 cylinder 74 cubic inch engine with 70 some horsepower is going to overload the larger diameter pipes most of us are running on our Harleys.
All in all, the only reason I can see for spending so much money on aftermarket mufflers is because of their signature tone (because of the baffles used) or the look and brand name of the specific muffler.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 983
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From:
RE: Lost about Pipes.
Changing pipes alone really will no do much for performance...it's all about the sound and/or appearance. V&H seem to be the most popular, and their sound is addictive. Like you, I am running currently withouth baffles on my 07.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Ozark Country
RE: Lost about Pipes.
Yep, a muffler is a muffler, no matter what "Brand Name" is on it.
There is nothing magical about a slip-on muffler, and it's horsepower potential and sound is limited by the baffle being used.
I didn't 'drill out' the baffles on my 2005 1200C, but we actually removed them. The tone is anything but tinny or high pitched. It is very deep and throaty, and low end torque wasn't hurt at all. The crossover pipe was left in place, and that alone provides sufficient backpressure in the system.
Here is a little video/audio of the exhaust at idle, using a cheap sony digital camera. The little mic didn't do a very good job of capturing the full exhaust tone.
I think some become a little brainwashed when it comes to the actual performance benefits of various models of slip-on mufflers.
http://dogsdoom.com/PI/2005-1200C.mpg
There is nothing magical about a slip-on muffler, and it's horsepower potential and sound is limited by the baffle being used.
I didn't 'drill out' the baffles on my 2005 1200C, but we actually removed them. The tone is anything but tinny or high pitched. It is very deep and throaty, and low end torque wasn't hurt at all. The crossover pipe was left in place, and that alone provides sufficient backpressure in the system.
Here is a little video/audio of the exhaust at idle, using a cheap sony digital camera. The little mic didn't do a very good job of capturing the full exhaust tone.
I think some become a little brainwashed when it comes to the actual performance benefits of various models of slip-on mufflers.
http://dogsdoom.com/PI/2005-1200C.mpg
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
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From:
RE: Lost about Pipes.
OldFenderGuy,
What your telling me its all in the baffle.
Well, looking at the length of the baffles in a sportster (I saw a 06 1200c) and the length of the "Quiet Baffle" in the V&H Straight Shots (Optional) there is a difference. The Sportster baffles seem to be longer.
With that said, V&H told me their baffles reduce the sound 2 to 3 DB. Which I would figure is louder than stock on a sportster. Do you agree with the above statement?
Again, I await your teachings.
What your telling me its all in the baffle.
Well, looking at the length of the baffles in a sportster (I saw a 06 1200c) and the length of the "Quiet Baffle" in the V&H Straight Shots (Optional) there is a difference. The Sportster baffles seem to be longer.
With that said, V&H told me their baffles reduce the sound 2 to 3 DB. Which I would figure is louder than stock on a sportster. Do you agree with the above statement?
Again, I await your teachings.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 3
From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: Lost about Pipes.
Very interesting read! I may eventually get slightly quieter slip ons. Like fenderguy said, the tone is deep and when my bike idles, it shakes the ground! As for a loss of power, it seems the same to me.