To baffle or de-baffle is my question

Does anyone think it is worth de-baffling the 1600 nomad? And, what about Vance and Hines pipes...Yay...Nay? I want some more sound...nothing to kill my ears or stir up trouble in the neighborhood...just a good rumble and maybe some more pep http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[Kawhead]

That was my concern so I D-baffled. Plus the symphonic rumble emanating from those d-baffled pipes are so pleasing to the ear on a Spring afternoon. Old people juss love it!

[Cajunrider]

De-baffled mine after having it a couple of months. Added a set of Valkyrie tips and love the rumble. No aftermarket pipes for me, not now anyway.

[audiogooroo]

Everyone will have a different opinion on how they want their bike to sound and how loud it should be. I think de-baffling is the perfect first step for those who are not sure. Mine are de-baffled and also have Valkyrie tips and it's perfect for me. Nice low, throaty rumble, but will not set off car alarms or give me a headache on long highway runs. Plus, I really have to protect my hearing in my line of work.
Some go for the after market exhaust first, and that's fine if you have the coin. My take is, do the de-baffle (it's almost free) and see how you like it. If you want more decibels, than pony up for the V & H, or Cobra, or Roadhouse. There is no right or wrong set of pipes, (although some are higher quality than others) so just find what works for you! :)

[Yellow Jacket]

I de-baffled mine. It's just loud enough for me. V & H's and the others sound good too but they are too pricey for me.

[mrfuni]

Or you can do a semi-debaffle like I did...
Check out the Nomad garage boards...

I debaffled then went back. Why? Just prefer the setup. As stated each has their reason. Sound is better but the twang got to me after awhile. Especially in a closed shell helment.

[Top Cat]

I run stock debaffled pipes with fishtail tips. Thay sound just right to me. Not loud just deep rumble.

[dandolfn]

Here's a how-to and a sound comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xr85grdXWc

[faxxxy]

I have read where people say they lost power because of lack of back pressure..

I have also read where people say they got an extra few HPs by de-baffleing..

This is all so confusing!

??? ??? ??? ??? ???

[jamiep24]

Just did my new Nomad yesterday and man, does it sound good? I liked the stock sound but the new growl is even better, and a little louder, in my opinion.

[mncruiser]

I have heard many debaffle projects for other bikes on the web and some in person and always thought to myself, "I wouldn't have done that". I sat on the fence for a few months deciding on it and after one stress filled day sawing out perfectly good mufflers, it was done. I fired it up and OMG, the sun came out, birds began to sing and the sound was not just a muffler mod but it was so good, it was like I installed aftermarket pipes. Not so loud as my Honda Sabre with V&H pipes but that throaty rumble that makes everybody smile when they hear it. I told myself if I hated it, I could always go to the aftermarkets.

[scott2007nomad]

I de-baffled mine. It's just loud enough for me. V & H's and the others sound good too but they are too pricey for me.
+1

[caper]

Just did the debaffle today. It took me awhile to make up my mind and I am glad I did. Sounds just the way I wanted it to! And they can always go back in, but I don't think so :)

[bosko]

I have read where people say they lost power because of lack of back pressure..

I have also read where people say they got an extra few HPs by de-baffleing..

This is all so confusing!

??? ??? ??? ??? ???

De-baffling never changed the performance on my bike, good or bad. Sounds better than stock and not any louder IMO but I would still like to get V&H.

[jamiep24]

Rode with an '09 Ultra Classic and mine sounded much better than the Harley. I could hardly hear the Harley in front of me because my baffled pipes were growling. Sound of Music?

[chief]

May I ask how the Valkyrie tips attache? It looks great.

[Cajunrider]

May I ask how the Valkyrie tips attache? It looks great.

They slide over the stock pipes. After lining them up just right, I drilled one 1/8" hole into my stock pipe through one of the three attachment holes in the tips. Used a SS sheetmetal screw to anchor it on. That's it. About 30 minutes total to install both tips.

[audiogooroo]

May I ask how the Valkyrie tips attache? It looks great.

They slide over the stock pipes. After lining them up just right, I drilled one 1/8" hole into my stock pipe through one of the three attachment holes in the tips. Used a SS sheetmetal screw to anchor it on. That's it. About 30 minutes total to install both tips.
+1

[chief]

Thanks. Now I go on the hunt for a set.

[crabbypaddy]

I have watched this thread with much interest. I went to work yesterday and started talking to the guys about taking the baffles out. I ask them to read these post. Next thing I know we have the directions printed out, tools in hand, and a nervous 08 Nomad owner.

The drilling begins (by a younger co-worker) and I can't hardly watch. All of a sudden he starts with the "oh sh@@ now I have @#$%$# this up we are gonna have to cut the pipe off". By now there are 5 firefighters and a cop who stopped by the station to watch saying "I told you this was a bad idea" The driller then smiles and pulls out the baffle. After the other side was done I started the bike and wow it sounds great. No regrets here. I'll get the driller back lol

[chief]

I got my Valkyrie exhaust tips from a gentelman in Kansas. He sold them to me for $30.00 and free shipping. I installed them as soon as I got them yesterday. They look so good. The sound of the debaffled pipes and the look of these awesome tips makes me wonder why anyone would buy aftermarket pipes. This for me is the ideal sound and look for this bike. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[billmac]

Blowndodge's bafflectomy has helped to make many of us Nomad riders happy.

I wish mine was alittle louder but the aftermarket pipes seem to sound tenny to me. Except, the Road house and they are an eye popping $700 with shipping.

I am going to be watching for me a set of those Valkyrie tips now.

[egetaseb]

I have been on the fence on this question for a long time. The stock sound is okay but I would prefer it just a tad louder and deeper.

What keeps me on the fence is this issue of back pressure. One or two people say they did not lose any performance after the "bafflectomy." I just need to hear from "MORE than two" happy riders to push me over this back pressure topic. (Perhaps a poll)

[Cajunrider]

I was on the same fence you are on. I am happy with the sound and performance. I didn't notice any loss of performance at all. Just a deeper sound that is not in the least bit obnoxious.

[trosco]

Geoffrey888; First let me point out that I am the person who has the brand New V&H Classic Duals for 99-08 Nomads for sale. You are in Orlando and I am in Jacksonville. They are yours for $350 and I will install (you will help) if you come up to get them.That's the sales pitch, now here's the scoop on the pipes.
I loved the way they sounded and still do (with the baffles in) and would put them back on my bike in a minute. My wife hated the way they sounded, said the motorcycle sound just like one of them "Junky Harleys" (which was sort of the point really)
We rode Harleys in 70's and learned to despise them, her especially cause she would have stay with the bike on the side of the road when I would go for help. Tried Moto Guzzi and BMW after that but we got on Goldwing in 80's and she loved them. She would listen to books on tape and sleep on back of bike. She hasn't forgiven me for replacing wing with Nomad which is also part of her problem with pipes. I may end up getting a new Voyager to get her back in the saddle.
Anyway, the V&H sound great and they are loud which you either like or hate. I have the dyno sheets to prove that the pipes by them selves change nothing performance wise. But you save 17lbs over the stock system and you bike will run cooler. To me those were significant benefits. If you add a FI controller and low restriction intake and filter (ex. hyper-charger with K&N) to the pipes you pick up 5ft lbs Torque, 4 HP and move both peak power points up 100 RPM and I have the dyno sheets to prove that also.
My stock pipes have the silencer (baffle) cut out. Sitting still at an idle or just off idle moving slow it sounds low and rumble and kinda cool. In motion over about 25MPH you just don't hear them, they are quiet.
If you or anyone else is interested in the V&H pipes (they were on bike less than a month and are brand new) they are $350 and I am Ross, call me at 252-315-4286

Hmm, well a spoiler is added. Debaffled are not bad but do have a twang to them that will get to you after awhile. Again, you can wind the gears out a tad bit further and they are smoother but it does lose a little of the kick ass torque in each. Do what you want, but stock to me is the best set up. It may not be loud, but neither are BMWs or Concours. Do a lot of long riding and I love just hearing the things around me instead of the dentist chair effect, the debaffled gave me.

[brenpak]

I am also going to debaffle and if I dont like it or if performance changes, cant you just weld the baffles back in? and no harm done or am I missing something here ? Oh Happy Easter!!

[Cajunrider]

If you don't damage the ends pulling stuck silencers out they can be TIG welded back in place without blueing the chrome on the pipes.

[brenpak]

That settles it! Im going to be careful cutting them out bearing in mind they might need to be welded back in and no harm done, Hopefully they will come out with no problems..

[redjay]

Debaffled the mufflers, good enough for me. Not too loud but I can now tell its a V twin.
Debaffled the goat belly, dont like it. Stock one going back on ASAP.

[lonewolf]

Brenpak, dont know what year your bike is, or how many miles it has on it. but it has been talked about before, that some had a lil more difficulty removing the baffles when they had a certain amount of miles on their bike. the baffles get a lil "carboned" up and it takes a lil more persuasion to get them out after you hav finished drilling. i only had a couple thousand miles on mine, when i removed, and had no problems at all ! But it is kinda scarey taken a drill to your pipes. I have no regrets whatsoever.

[madcow]

i drilled mine at nearly 60,000 ks and had no problem with the process at all, i love the sound but would like to go a bit louder still.

[redjay]

Gut the goatbelly. The bike will be slightly louder but you might not like the sound, I didnt.

[brenpak]

Well I did it!I took a hole saw to my 99' Its got 13,000 Miles on it and the baffles came out like a dream. No butchering was involved They sound Great! Thanks to this web site, and the info on it. It took me 20 minutes. I will put the baffles in a box and if I ever want to put them on again, I can weld them back on....

ok, spent 40 minutes this afternoon and put my debaffled muffs back on. Had to order some new grommet inserts for the back to muffler screw holes from doing it so much. Also 2 gaskets for the inserts into the gut-belly. Did a 35 miles ride and on dino oil they sound even deeper. Lol

[rog]

I debaffled my 08 with 4K miles on it. I'm much happier with the sound and could even stand it a little louder. It has a nice little rumble to it but seems like most of the sound is behind you which doesn't interfere with hearing anything important in front or beside you. I bought the bike used and only had it a few days before debaffling but I didn't notice any difference in performance.