Custom or louder pipes for my scooter...

Biker here as well.
I like it loud. Not extremely loud, but a deep growl from the exhaust is always a pleasure to me.
Aftermarket pipes often make a little more noise than stock,
but I know that at least Yoshimura has exchangeable inserts (from all open to quiet).
The quiet insert IS really quiet, but will take a couple hp's off the bike.

For more hp, I think maybe a Dynojet kit or something would be in order?
Dynojet + open airbox/aftermarket airfilter.

(sorry I don't know anything about your bike, as I ride a dualsport Suzuki DRZ...)

As for safety, ride respectfully and defensive. Always act as if you're invisible to others in traffic.

G
 
Bob, you're entitled to your opinion.

Everyone will never agree or this subject.

I have ridden over 120,000 miles.

Loud pipes have saved me on several occasions.

The latest was with a women on a cell phone who wanted to make an illegal turn into my lane.

I gunned my engine and she slammed on her brakes.

She rolled down her window and said "I didn't see you there." :rolleyes:

Believe what you want.
 
gugsi said:
...Always act as if you're invisible to others in traffic.
Click to expand...


That is the best advise you can give.

Also, expect the cars to do the wrong thing.
 
Hi RGray-

Rather than all the wasted motion of pulling in your clutch and revving your engine to warn of a potential impact, why not just "cover" your horn button with your left thumb while riding? It is MUCH more efficient and points the warning sound where you need it to go. Additionally, a horn is more universally "recognized" by motorists as a message to be aware and look around.

Loud pipes could "mean anything" and the fact that they're pointed in the wrong direction could lead a driver to believe it's simply someone riding in the opposite direction. Do booming stereos cause you look around when driving because it might be an important driving cue from a concerned and conscientious inner-city youth who desires to merge into your lane?

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Yes, there is anecdotal evidence. No, it doesn't translate into improved safety statistics. I have had nearly identical experiences with my stock pipes. She didn't see you because she wasn't paying attention, not because you were too quiet or too loud.

And you still haven't shown me how I'm a threat while working in the yard or sitting in my house...

Anyway, I got too worked up and took a break. You guys are going to give me a stroke. That's why I mostly stay away from the W&C forum. :)
------------------------------------------
Back to MelancholyMutt's original problem, he want more HP and wants his bike to make different "music". I can understand that.

Horsepower can be improved in several ways. I think rejetting the carbs and imroving air intake will have a larger HP gain than a new exhaust. But there are two much better ways:
1- buy a bike with better technology. Manufacturers are getting amazing performance with inline 4 engines, fuel injection, and other improvements. A Ninja 250 has a higher top speed than any midsize cruiser. And a Ninja 500 can absolutely spank my 800cc Volusia's bottom.
2- buy a better bike. "There's no replacement for displacement." The larger v-twin cruisers are smoother, more powerful, and faster. But if your Drifter (beautiful bikes by the way) is the 1600, you can't really go much larger.

As far as changing the bike's "music", it's hard to say because every exaust system will sound different on different bikes. Your best bet is to find someone else who rides a Drifter and has the sound you want. Then simply ask them what system they bought. I bet there's an online group of Drifter owners who would be an excellent source of info.

My Suzuki Volusia is much louder than I thought a modern motorcycle would be, but I guess it's within the EPA limits. I almost wish I'd bought a Honda instead. Those things really purr, like a well-tuned quality machine should.

Best Wishes,
And keep the shiny side up,
-Bob

"Ride like everyone out there is trying to kill you."
 
Do booming stereos cause you look around when driving because it might be an important driving cue from a concerned and conscientious inner-city youth who desires to merge into your lane?
Click to expand...

That's right! The louder the Sub Woofers the better! Just gotta let them know you're there. After all those subtle ground effects and shiny backwards rotating wheels, pret near make those cars invisible!
 
Blue Jays said:
Hi RGray-...Loud pipes could "mean anything" and the fact that they're pointed in the wrong direction could lead a driver to believe it's simply someone riding in the opposite direction...
~ Blue Jays ~
Click to expand...


Hi Blue Jays

I was at a stop (with the clutch in) and at 1000 rpms the pipes aren't that loud.

I find motorcycle horns not to be that lound and with a women on a cell phone with the windows up (and radio on); I don't think she would have noticed.

A few twists on the throtle doesn't sound like someone going in the wrong direction when it's next to you. :)

And REALLY guys; how long is the motorcycle next to you; LESS THAN A MINUTE? :rolleyes:
 
And REALLY guys; how long is the motorcycle next to you; LESS THAN A MINUTE?
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You're missing my point. Most of the people victimized by your noise aren't even in cars. They're in their beds, living rooms, and parks or yards.

So just how long does the noise last? In the summer the crap lasts all day. Often from 7 a.m. or earlier until long after dark. And not everyone lives the same hours as you. Your 2 p.m. is someone else's 10 p.m. or 4 a.m.

-Bob
 
I had well over 100k on bikes before I quit 2 years ago. I hate loud pipes.

Funny thing is the "loud pipes saves lives" crowd, the ones I see anyway are the least safety equiped bunch on the road. Tupperare bowls, I mean helmets that don't even meet dot let alone snell. No bright colors,hey why do you think hunters and everyone that works along a road wears bright orange or green? To BE SEEN. Thats not to macho though

And anyone who does not upgrade to a real horn as soon as they buy a bike is not anyone interested in safety no matter what pipes they switch to.

Try living on a road that bikers like to ride on,or one on the path to their favorite bar,or be in a campground with them, or live within a mile or so from an expressway. Loud pipes piss off the cagers.
 
Here in Missouri, at least, the law is fairly straightforward. "Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler that reduces the exhaust noise to the maximum extent possible."

Generally, anything louder than factory stock is illegal.

Problem is, our august legislators didn't specify any way to test "maximum extent possible". No decible tests during inspection, like they do in CA. So, for the most part, the law goes unenforced.

As to the "loud pipes save lives" idea....I dunno. As a police officer who has done his share of "code three", I know from personal experience that all those pretty lights and that nice loud siren don't mean squat when junior has his boom-rig turned up. And I'm lots louder than any bike....
 
Must not be any harley guys around here. I like the sound of some of their bikes... A pitbull on crack. Idling down low, its music. Doesnt help performance, no scavanging effect helping to empty out the chambers of exhaust gas.

I cant speak as a biker, but I can speak as a hot-rodder. I like loud engines... they are music making machines. Nothing in this world like a pushrod V8 cranked up to the red line working hard. Theres a time and a place for everything though... a race track or a real back country road is the place to "Open it up." Not the main drag, not a neighborhood... and no... Loud is nothing like straight drag pipes on a harley with some compression working for it.

Now, about your muffler... is it a slip fit type? If it is, track down another set of mufflers off of a wrecked bike and fool around with them a bit, see what it takes to get the baffle out. Once you've got the baffle out enlarge the holes. Put it back together, see if you like it. If you dont, pull it back apart... take the baffle s out on the rear for a more harsh sound, take them out closer to the engine for a more mellow sound.

Pretty self explanitory, less baffles = louder, more/bigger holes = louder. Doesnt mean its more free-flowing necissarily... just louder.
 
Loud pipes may save lives but 80db over 20 minutes causes hearing loss.:D

I like loud pips on V twins Its the 16000 rpm bike that drive me wild.

Flickering lights? F that. I had some goldwing guy drive up behind me, it distracting and I had to give it a good look to see if it was a cop.

The drifter is sweet keep the fins. I think there are websites out there with sound clips to make your choice.


Paul
 
I'm biased, so don't give me much credibility for your purposes.
Had my first petrol-fueled engine in the form of a Honda 90cc at age of fifteen in '65, hacksawed the exhaust pipe off just prior to the overweight muffler and horribly annoyed the neighbors before the valves burnt due to inadequate backpressure. Loved the noise, nontheless, but couldn't imagine inflicting others with the senseless decibels now. Hell, I wear shooting earmuffs while useing my lawn mower since I've only so much hearing capacity left after years of open-pit and hard-rock mining work. Just my personal thoughts. I might add that my bro-in-law's a life long hardtail rider and keeps his pan-head quiet upon insistence of his riding companion (my sis) as she finds it fatigueing with day long rides. I hesitate to comment further, not knowing your age but after many years of riding, including living exclusively off the back of a bike via tent and bag for over nine months in the Southern States, I finally hung it up after my third year as an Emergency Dept. RN. Too many instances of tediously picking gravel out of the hides of those riders smacked by cars or who'd had to lay it down due to road conditions. Sounds stupid but gravity'll eventually get anything balanced upon only two wheels. Not to mention the guy who'd hooked his nuts on the handgrip of his Norton 750 as he flew off a Deutsch hairpin in the dark. Picked him up as an Army medic and there was no question that he'd need an emergency orchiectomy. Should I mention those head cases whose helmets were insufficient to prevent them from becomeing gorkers in nsg homes in their young adulthoods with the inability to move other than their eyelids and tongues for the rest of their mercillessly long lives. Hot damn this sound terrible but you're talking to someone who quit scooters and took up bicycles, only to be smacked by the proverbial "'lil 'ole lady running a stop sign," leaving me with permanent problems. Crapola, riding a bike should be totally fun, as it indeed is, and I don't mean to discourage you from doing so; just watch out for those MF'ing auto drivers and wear your protective gear including the hi-vis stuff.
 
I don't know what brand to suggest but I agree with the loud but tasteful idea. Something deep and throaty is awesome. It's just those loud open pipes that makes me angry! :mad:

Other than that I love the sound of a Harley pulling up next to me at a light.

The greatest thing I've ever heard was a couple of bikers being given a taste of their own horrid sound.
My grrlfriend has a CJ7 82 with a V8 and when she bought it the previous owner only had straight glass packs on there. That thing was painfully loud just driving down the street at 40mph! :eek: Those things came off right quick, new mufflers on her now, runs oh so much quieter.

Anyway, the first week she had it we got stuck behind about 4 bikers with what seemed like all open pipes. We where stuck behind em for about 20 minutes so we were both mad by the time we hit a straight patch through a tunnel. As we passed she pulled along side and gunned it. Damn that was loud! I felt like I was deaf for an hour after that. But it was worth it! All the bikers cringed and looked over like, "WTF was that?"
Ohyeah, beautiful. I laugh just thinken about their faces. :D
 
My advice is to be careful about what pipes you put on your scoot. If possible, listen to the same pipes you like and see how loud they are before buying them. I had put Hard-Kromes on my V-Star and they turned out to be way too loud for my tastes...even wearing foam ear plugs. Highway riding was very tiring with all that noise. I was very glad to sell that bike and get a quieter one.

Loud pipes really do endanger our rights to ride. Every nice weekend day there is a constant parade of morons sporting open pipes going up and down the road next to my subdivision. Unfortunately every "biker" seems to need to get this out of his system before wising-up about the issue...therefore nothing seems to change. JMHO.

Jeff
 
Hotrod said:
Must not be any harley guys around here. I like the sound of some of their bikes... A pitbull on crack. Idling down low, its music. Doesnt help performance, no scavanging effect helping to empty out the chambers of exhaust gas.

I cant speak as a biker, but I can speak as a hot-rodder. I like loud engines... they are music making machines. Nothing in this world like a pushrod V8 cranked up to the red line working hard. Theres a time and a place for everything though... a race track or a real back country road is the place to "Open it up." Not the main drag, not a neighborhood... and no... Loud is nothing like straight drag pipes on a harley with some compression working for it.
Click to expand...
I agree, I like a good deep rumble. Nothin much like it.
 
Finding the right exhaust note is an art. Everything makes a difference from intake to timing to temperature and restriction. My cousin has a bike that sounds nice above 50 degrees. Below 50 it sounds like it wants to stall out. As far as HP gains go, you won't see much. Some of the more expensive exhausts will get you 4HP, although some people who have never had their bike tested, claim 8. Most exhausts are for looks and noise and the HP gain is 0-1HP.

I never used to mind motorcycles until this year. I think the number of people with loud pipes has hit critical mass. I don't care if you or your friend want loud pipes, but it seems like you and 3,000 of your friends have them. I have pulled over to the let bikes in front of me get away so I can have a conversation in my car without screaming.

There's a backlash too. There are local municipalities putting db restrictions on motorcycles driving through town. Fines are ranging from $50 to $300. If the legal backlash isn't enough, there's a little vigilatism. I was driving with a co-worker and we were pulling out onto the street and he cut off this guy on a bike who was none too thrilled. I wasn't happy with that move either, so I said, "Hey, you just cut that biker off back there." "Yea," he replied "I really don't like doing that, but have you ever had to listen to the crap coming out of their exhaust for any length of time? It drives me nuts."

While it doesn't make it right, if you're going to be rude to other people, you can't complain when they're rude to you. You can have a nice sounding exhaust and not be a jerk.
 
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