How do I make my V&H pipes sound better?

[Jared]

I bought a 1600 nomad recently and it came with V&H pipes. He added quite baffles, but I've been told that VH doesn't make a quite baffle, so I'm assuming he just thought that any baffle was a "quite baffle".

Anyway, I moved up from a 900 classic with cobra slashdowns and the V&Hs aren't nearly as loud or IMO nice sounding. I'm wondering what can be done to improve their sound/volume, etc. I pulled the baffles, unwrapped them and reinstalled them. They sound louder but not very deep anymore.

I've done some searching but most of the things that I have read are explaining how to make them quieter. I started it up when I had the baffles out of it and WOW they are loud when completely debaffled. I'm not looking to make them that loud.

Thanks for you help!

[dogdoc]

Question: Are they too quiet or too loud. there are numerous mod's you can do referred to in other threads on here. Too numerous to mention. Just take it out if too quiet. But then you lose your back pressure and perf goes down. You must alter it yourself since V&H doesnt make anything else.

[01nomad]

I put a 5/8" hole thru the V&H baffles on a HD and it sounded pretty good. Not too loud, unless you twist the wick hard, and deep sounding.

[VulcanE]

Go to the "Nomad Garage-1500-1600" section, and start looking back. there has been a lot said recently there. You can get a really awesome sound out of the V&H.

[ringadingh]

There has been a lot of discussion on this topic in the past. Try to search it and see what is available. My personal favorite is wrapping the baffle with sheet metal, it gives it a nice deep rumble but not to loud on the highway.

[towering]

Try removing the insulation and replacing it with stove rope. I reversed the baffles and got a pretty good sound for me.

I would contact V&H and see if they can send you the stock baffles. I will tell you this, my last bike was a Road Star Warrior with a Cobra slip-on. The pipe emptied about one foot behind my ear, and I had a lot of folks that didn't like pipes and wouldn'r ride behind me in formation. It took me a while to get used to a bike that has an exhaust on each side, and the exhaust is piped under a saddlebag and about 3"'s out the back. I'm just telling you give it some time. Your still making noise, there's just a lot more insulation between you and the exhaust. Once in a while I'll switch bikes with my wife and she'll ride the Nomad and I'll ride her Warrior. I'll get behind her and realize that my bike sounds nice, It's just not as in your face because I'm so far ahead of the exhaust exit and the bags are in the way. Something to think about.

[Blue Rebel]

I have seen on the Cruiser Customizing website that V&H does sell a quieter baffle. If this is what you have, as mentioned above, you could buy the V&H stock baffles.

Or search some of the many threads on V&H to see all the mods others have done.

Personnally, I like the sound with or without the baffles, preferrably without.

Good luck.

[meat]

I agree with yridehd, the V&H sound good its just that the noise is behind the bike.

[Jared]

That could be it. I let a buddy of mine take my bike and it did sound nicer than I was thinking it did. Still not quite what I'm hoping for, but tomorrow I'm going to go buy some flashing and try that mod.

[ringadingh]

Gadgets Vulcan sight has a how to on making quieter baffles for V&H pipes.

[coloradontexas]

that flashing mod is terrible. Did not like the sound and after four months the flashing was ate through in several spots and making terrible vibration noise.

[Jared]

that flashing mod is terrible. Did not like the sound and after four months the flashing was ate through in several spots and making terrible vibration noise.

Did you wrap it in just flashing or did you also wrap the fiberglass back around it?

[rewindgy]

Throw a different set of mufflers on it!

[nomad561]

I just removed the wrap and reinstalled the baffles.

[Netnorske]

Here's a couple photo's of my buddy working on my "Ultimate Baffles"..... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif! He spent hours on them yesterday. Hopefully he will be done today and I can try them over the weekend! These are definitely a lot of work for any machinist to make....so I hope the sound is worth the effort. After watching him yesterday, I can see why Cliff does not want to make any more... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif!


http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/netnorske/Pictures018.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/netnorske/Pictures021.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/netnorske/Pictures022.jpg

[dogdoc]

Indeed, if they work Oly, just have him keep making 'em, checks are in the mail. :-)

[coloradontexas]

I just used the flashing. When i got the bike it did not have any wrapp on it.

[Netnorske]

Well....my buddy Mike didn't get to work on these Friday like I hoped, but he's got the exhaust entrance side of the "Ultimate Baffles" beveled. That leaves the exit bevel, then drilling and tapping for the pin and the bottom bolts. Maybe next week some time he should be done.

We plan to use 1/4 brass pins and a 5/16 set screw on top of those for the pin assemblies. I got some good nickel anti-sieze and will slather it all up with that before I put'em in the pipes. As with most things in life....it ain't what you know....it's WHO you know.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. I'm getting kinda stoked now..!!

Mike is going pheasant hunting with me to South Dakota this fall. I think this is his way of assuring that I don't make him hunt road ditches and actually take him to some good private ground. If this is his plan....I think it might work for him!


http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/netnorske/Pictures026.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/netnorske/Pictures028.jpg