How loud KawaNOW?

[fish]

Hey metricjunkie, did you get your lights on the back? I found ones I like. Now you should know who I am.

[dantama]

On my 99 I put Vance & Hines pipes on after doing a Thunder intake mod.

I rode around for about 50,000 miles that way. I thought that it was too loud, but I was just careful where I made noise.

When I got my 05 Nomad with stock exhaust I was surprised how much I didn't miss the noise.

A little more than stock would be great for me, but I'll never do pipes again. Just as well living in Denver with their non epa pipe law.

[ells]

Thanks for the results, looks like a normal distribution - Did not expect that from this group...

Have to admit that I did not know about the popularity of BD's stock baffle removal but appears to fit nicely into " a little louder than stock" with a qualification of "with ideal rumble." Might have to try it some day still nervous about cutting holes in my baby, besides, wife is real happy with as is, although I voted for a little louder.

Ells

Not yet, been working on Lowers, I did put a trail blazer bulb in the stock tail light. Going to work on the leds next. Cant forget a guy with great taste in motrocycles...

Hey metricjunkie, did you get your lights on the back? I found ones I like. Now you should know who I am.

After searches, it looks like some dont care for the BD mod and some do, any idea the differance in LOUD, baffle cut or just punching thru the first and maybe the second baffle.
What happens to performance, any unexpected gliches. This bike is soooooo sweeeeeet, I just dont want to make a mod that I cant reverse with out lots of $$$$ and will regret doing.

[Yellow Jacket]

The baffle removal (BD mod) is fairly easily reversed if it was to turn out that you didn't like the sound. I would reccommend using a 1 3/4 inch hole saw rather than the 2 inch saw some have used. If you want to reverse the removal it isn't a big job to slide the baffles back in and weld up the cut. If it turns out that you're ok with the sound then you can file or grind down the 1/4 inch lip left by the hole saw down to the inside of the 2 inch pipe revealed when the baffles are cut out.

If you punch thru the first and second restrictor in the small inner pipe the only way to reverse that would be to probably replace the entire muffler.

I would at least try it first if you want it a little louder. Its a lot cheaper to buy a 1 3/4" hole saw than a new set of after market pipes. My oppinion: It sounds like a V twin is meant to sound - not like an angry sewing machine.

[dogdoc]

I prefer the V&H bagger sounds, it s sounds like what a true V-twin ought to sound like not a puny thump-thump. My 2 cw

I prefer the V&H bagger sounds, it s sounds like what a true V-twin ought to sound like not a puny thump-thump. My 2 cw

+1

[tomk]

I like my V&H Baggers. When I first put them on and started the bike up, I was alarmed at the how loud they were. I'm used to them now. But, I was looking for a large increase in sound (too many idiots on the freeway didn't know I was there).

As Bob said, you can reverse the BD mod so you won't be out too many $$$ and you can always buy after market pipes at another time.

[blowndodge]

[quote:b715z4i8]I prefer the V&H bagger sounds, it s sounds like what a true V-twin ought to sound like not a puny thump-thump. My 2 cw

+1[/quote:b715z4i8]

<marquee>nyum nyum nyum nyum nyum</marquee>

Loud pipes save lives, NOT! 2002, 1100 V-Star, equiped with a big ole set of Bubs. I am rideing in the fast lane at rush hour, four lane city street with a speed limit of 40 MPH. Next to me in the granny lane is an older Ford truck, his window down I can read his speedo. I am thinking "he's gotta know I'm right here". Could not move up out of the blind spot rollin down to a stop lite, no room to move. Big as day this AH comes over on top of me, I rapped the Bubs, honked the weak factory horn and he kept comming until I screamed wake up you SOB! Dont kill the messenge, I love great sounding pipes, on a bike-car-or truck. But loud is not always cool.
Get your Google on and you will see loud pipes theory is bunk. Here is one.
http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/safety/safety40.htm

I never took the "Loud pipes save lives" seriously. I always thought it was more or less an excuse to go out and buy them. Loud pipes can be very annoying on long trips.

[jussmatt]

I want the V&H, but I'm planning on doing the baffle removal this weekend. Figured I would do that first and maybe save some $$ for other accessories... I agree w/ WM... Never bought into the "saves lives" part, but I sure as hell use that excuse w/ the wife inorder to purchase!!! I've got a buddy w/ a Custom Harley...nice bike (for a Hardley) and LOUD as SH*T! Problem he has is when in traffic and people hear him, they turn and look...well... What's the first rule in turning: "LOOK in the direction you wish to turn" That's right... they're so busy looking at him, they start to drift over into him!! I had a young guy already do that to me w/ stock pipes...so... either way, Look out for the idiots!!!

[socwkbiker]

I've had my worst scares when a crotch rocket or a cruiser with stock, super-quiet, jetson-mobile pipes silently cruises on and you did not hear them. Generally, I tend to agree though that you don't hear the pipes when the person is way behind you, but they are or can be noticeable when the rider is closer or beside the cage driver.

I have V&H Baggers and believe that while they don't save lives, they do help preserve many by making the other drivers more aware of their presence. Metricjunkie, you also have to consider the driver. Even with his window down he didn't pay any attention to anyone on the road. He was one of those inconsiderate, don't give a f**k about anyone else on the road, AH's. I have had drivers look twice and actually get back in their lane when I revved the engine or they heard me. This I've experienced first hand.

So, I agree they may not save lives, but I wouldn't have them any other way than loud.