Loud exhausts, what do you think?

[Freebird]

Just a thought, what are people’s views on loud cans and is there a difference between Harley and Harleyesque straight through pipes and sports bike with performance can?

I know this could get bitchy so please be nice.

Personally, I like the stealth factor of the Blackbird with standard cans, that and I don’t need any more power.

(not that sticking a noisy can on improves performance!!!)

[vifferman]

While I like the sound of many 'performance' exhausts (especially 90-degree V twins or fours, and triples), there's a point where excessive loudness makes it obnoxious rather than 'zorst music'. Almost all Harleys - especially those with 'drag pipes - sound crap. Their exhausts don't sound tuned, just loud.

I remember an episode of Mrkn Chopper, where instead of drag pipes they fitted some that were supposedly performance pipes (and a LOT quieter) and the Teutels were amazed at how nice it sounded. IIRC, they said it sounded "like a race bike - REALLY nice!"

[Blind spot]

I totally agree with vifferman

[Blackbird]

I prefer quiet cans, less fatiguing on a long haul and I certainly don't want to attract attention to myself either. That's not to say that I don't appreciate hearing the boom of a Ducati with an absence of baffles as long as I don't have to follow it for long! The "quality" of sound is obviously important to me as loud fours and Harleys do nothing for me which is not the case with aforementioned Ducatis!

[imdying]

While I like the sound of many 'performance' exhausts (especially 90-degree V twins or fours, and triples), there's a point where excessive loudness makes it obnoxious rather than 'zorst music'. Almost all Harleys - especially those with 'drag pipes - sound crap. Their exhausts don't sound tuned, just loud.

QFT. Loud is good, but there's too loud. My bike is fine for me, not so fine for those behind me. Gets a warrant, don't care about much else TBH... I try not to piss the neighbours off, and don't rape it round the streets late at night.

[Coldrider]

Depends whether you like the sound of after market or performance pipes, or whether you are imposing that sound for others to hear. Some noise is good, some can be real bad.

[Pwalo]

I like my own bike to be quiet(ish). Definitely as stealthy as possible.

[Grahameeboy]

I prefer quiet cans, less fatiguing on a long haul and I certainly don't want to attract attention to myself either. That's not to say that I don't appreciate hearing the boom of a Ducati with an absence of baffles as long as I don't have to follow it for long! The "quality" of sound is obviously important to me as loud fours and Harleys do nothing for me which is not the case with aforementioned Ducatis!

Arrows come with a removable baffle (uses a circlip) so for long trips you can put baffle in and for my bike it sounds about the same just a slightly different...well more like more of a burble......

[Grub]

Stealth is my No1 priority in cans. Why advertise to everyone for miles around, especially those with *555 phones, that you're having a bit of a thrash?

[surfer]

I found when I had really really loud pipes on a previous bike I had it made for being unpopular with the neighbours and generally everyone in the vicinity; on longer trips I got a headache from the din (shorty mufflers with no baffles). Personally I wouldn't go that loud ever again. I have heard louder though.

There is loud and too loud. Too loud for me equates to being a tosser. I always feel like asking the rider how big is your penis?

I like cars to know I am there as well as the potential meandering pedestrian that occaisionally decides on taking a suicide run to cross the road without looking.

My current bike doesn't have baffles but is not overloud and as it gets a warrant ok I am happy. The size of my penis is fine too.

[avgas]

I have allready spoken about what i like and what does what.
I currently have an aftermarket pipe that looks stealth and doesn't make me tone deaf.
If i were to replace it it would be with a supertrapp so i could change how loud i want it.

[HenryDorsetCase]

my personal preference has been to leave the pipes standard and spend the money on suspension mods. stuff that makes others think you might be faster vs stuff that actually allows you to be faster.

my 2c

[MotoGirl]

My bike is reasonably noisy and I love the sound of the Italian brute throbbing between my whoops *stops bike porn*.

Although reasonably noisy, I can tolerate my Akrapovics for a few hours and don't get a headache. When I tour the South Island next April, I'll stick the baffles back in. Like Surfer said, you need to be responsible in your own backyard to avoid pissing the neighbours off.

I also find that cars get out of my way when I'm on something loud. Either that, or this bike is just more visible than the previous ones.

[Coyote]

I've just put on the VFR a CBR400 muffler with baffles removed and replaced with a perferated cone (big intake to small outtake) and a few layers of fibreglass mat around the cone. It's still a bit too loud for my liking but it's much better than when I tried the muffler when it was hollow. When it was hollow it had no bottom end power and sounded very rattly. When I can afford proper muffler packing I'll open it up again and hopefully it'll be perfect by then, quiter and stock-better power. It's quiet enough to not get harrassed by cops and public untill I get that packing.

Goes to show a loud pipe hinders performance. Like all those boy racers

[Ewan Oozarmy]

I also find that cars get out of my way when I'm on something loud. Either that, or this bike is just more visible than the previous ones.

I think I've changed the cans on every bike I've owned, one, for the weight savings, and two, for the safety factor - people tend to hear you when you're filtering and any additional visibility to your average twat in a car can only be good.