Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels

**Cajunrider** · 01-12-2010, 04:13 PM

As I promised you guys a couple of months ago, I borrowed the electronic decibel meter from the plant to record the noise levels of a debaffled Nomad 1600. I've attached 4 pictures with the first at cold idle, the second at warmed up idle, the third at higher idle, and the fourth at the highest idle that I care to run it. The high idles were with the throttle locked and steady. I stood the meter up approximately 1 foot behind the exhaust tips. I really wanted to shoot a video but I didn't have the time having to leave for work at 16:30. I'm not certain what the legal decibel level is in the more stringent states. Maybe some of you know and can post them in this thread. I probably could have barely exceeded 100 or 101 decibels by reving it up faster but I didn't want to abuse my baby. I'll keep the meter a couple of days and may shoot a video with sound which would be a better illustration.

trosco · 01-12-2010, 04:50 PM

CJ, may not matter but most of the "noise ordinance" lingo specifies "not to exceed ## db @ ### feet. And the measurement is done with a parabolic (directional) mic. Picture someone standing looking at the a** end of a Hyabusa, pointing a cone shaped microphone at it as it accellerates away from them at full throttle. Then they read the number of db as it passes the 100 ft mark. It's very unfair as bike with "relatively" quiet pipes can give a higher reading (if it rev's and accelerates quickly) than a bike with louder pipes if the loud bike is also a slug.

cactusjack · 01-12-2010, 07:23 PM

Actually, there is a new uniform method of measuring sound that is becoming widely used.

I read about it in a motorcycle magazine recently. I subscribe to 6 or 7 of them, so I can't remember exactly which one it was. If I can find it, I'll post it.

**Cajunrider** · 01-12-2010, 07:34 PM

I can hang on to the meter for a week or two Scott. Let me know if you find something and I may be able to simulate the correct method. Nevertheless, I don't think anyone would have problems with getting cited for excessive noise with the debaffle. Now, the ultimate baffles may be a different story. I wish someone around here had them so I could compare. Vance & Hines with the baffles removed would probably be pretty much the same.

AlabamaNomadRider · 01-13-2010, 12:45 AM

Mitch, after I debaffled it just sounded a little deeper. I don't think it causes enough noise to warrant a citation.

rickyboy · 01-13-2010, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

Mitch, after I debaffled it just sounded a little deeper. I don't think it causes enough noise to warrant a citation.

I agree, at least not in my neighborhood. There's way more HD's running around with straight pipes. Although with the open air kit, it is a little louder than with just the debaffled pipes.

**Jared** · 01-13-2010, 12:18 PM

I wonder how loud the V&H with the Ultimate Baffle are?

rickyboy · 01-13-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

I wonder how loud the V&H with the Ultimate Baffle are?

I think Kris {netnorski} might be able to answer that. I think he has exactly that. I found his to be pretty loud. Too loud for me anyway. Not that, that matters though.

**Cajunrider** · 01-13-2010, 02:33 PM

If I remember, I will borrow the meter again for the National Rally. There should be plenty of loud pipes around for the occasion. Even TC's straight pipes may be there.

**Jared** · 01-13-2010, 03:33 PM

I bet there will be a few UB at your regional rally this summer too.

tonik · 01-13-2010, 04:12 PM

To answer the question raised about how far to measure for the laws.....MOST are 82 DB at 50 feet.

**Cajunrider** · 01-13-2010, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the info tonik and welcome to the Nomad Nation. Go on over to the New Member board and introduce yourself to us.

**Jared** · 01-13-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonik

To answer the question raised about how far to measure for the laws.....MOST are 82 DB at 50 feet.

If that is the case than I would imagine that these are well within regulations.

**Top Cat** · 01-13-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

If I remember, I will borrow the meter again for the National Rally. There should be plenty of loud pipes around for the occasion. Even TC's straight pipes may be there.

TC's bike will be there but as you know, it will have debaffled stock pipes. Other than that

01-12-2010, 04:13 PM	#1
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels As I promised you guys a couple of months ago, I borrowed the electronic decibel meter from the plant to record the noise levels of a debaffled Nomad 1600. I've attached 4 pictures with the first at cold idle, the second at warmed up idle, the third at higher idle, and the fourth at the highest idle that I care to run it. The high idles were with the throttle locked and steady. I stood the meter up approximately 1 foot behind the exhaust tips. I really wanted to shoot a video but I didn't have the time having to leave for work at 16:30. I'm not certain what the legal decibel level is in the more stringent states. Maybe some of you know and can post them in this thread. I probably could have barely exceeded 100 or 101 decibels by reving it up faster but I didn't want to abuse my baby. I'll keep the meter a couple of days and may shoot a video with sound which would be a better illustration. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-12-2010, 04:50 PM	#2
trosco Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,464	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels CJ, may not matter but most of the "noise ordinance" lingo specifies "not to exceed ## db @ ### feet. And the measurement is done with a parabolic (directional) mic. Picture someone standing looking at the a** end of a Hyabusa, pointing a cone shaped microphone at it as it accellerates away from them at full throttle. Then they read the number of db as it passes the 100 ft mark. It's very unfair as bike with "relatively" quiet pipes can give a higher reading (if it rev's and accelerates quickly) than a bike with louder pipes if the loud bike is also a slug. __________________ trosco: just call me Ross 2007 Black & Titanium Nomad (Nomad made 65K but got replaced 2014) 2010 Titanium Goldwing 2014 KLR 650 New Edition
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01-12-2010, 07:23 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels Actually, there is a new uniform method of measuring sound that is becoming widely used. I read about it in a motorcycle magazine recently. I subscribe to 6 or 7 of them, so I can't remember exactly which one it was. If I can find it, I'll post it. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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01-12-2010, 07:34 PM	#4
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels I can hang on to the meter for a week or two Scott. Let me know if you find something and I may be able to simulate the correct method. Nevertheless, I don't think anyone would have problems with getting cited for excessive noise with the debaffle. Now, the ultimate baffles may be a different story. I wish someone around here had them so I could compare. Vance & Hines with the baffles removed would probably be pretty much the same. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

01-13-2010, 12:45 AM	#5
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels Mitch, after I debaffled it just sounded a little deeper. I don't think it causes enough noise to warrant a citation. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-13-2010, 12:18 PM	#7
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels I wonder how loud the V&H with the Ultimate Baffle are? __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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01-13-2010, 02:33 PM	#9
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels If I remember, I will borrow the meter again for the National Rally. There should be plenty of loud pipes around for the occasion. Even TC's straight pipes may be there. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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01-13-2010, 03:33 PM	#10
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels I bet there will be a few UB at your regional rally this summer too. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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01-13-2010, 04:12 PM	#11
tonik Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 714	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels To answer the question raised about how far to measure for the laws.....MOST are 82 DB at 50 feet.
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01-13-2010, 04:30 PM	#12
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Debaffled 1600 Decibel Levels Thanks for the info tonik and welcome to the Nomad Nation. Go on over to the New Member board and introduce yourself to us. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

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