Baffles in or out?

Anything you like about motorbikes
User avatar
Bigyin
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:39 pm
Has thanked: 1412 times
Been thanked: 2680 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Bigyin »

The Mutley has a completely standard system but even that is quite "fruity" noise wise but legal.

The "Auld Frazer" (tm Pony) has a cheapo race can on it that i had previously bunged a db killer in as it was a bit deep and growly while i was instructing. I have now removed the baffle as i had problems with the running of the bike and the power being strangled. the bike grdually lost power over a period of months and once i changed the plugs and filter and cleaned the carbs out it ran a lot better but removing the db killer added the final bit and it now revs freely to the redline.

It has passed an MOT with a bike friendly tester but if the local council set up their noise cameras locally then i'll get a second hand standard can and bung that on
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1509 times
Been thanked: 1415 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by ZRX61 »

Image
User avatar
wull
Posts: 3067
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2021 6:09 pm
Location: Alloa
Has thanked: 881 times
Been thanked: 1552 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by wull »

I’m the same as you, I occasionally commute on the bike early doors so much prefer a quieter bike, the beemer sounds good whilst on full chat, especially after the exhaust flap has opened right up, with that being said the neighbours are due a smack for being absolute fucking cunts so maybe a full system is on the cards.

I might get a slip on though, keep the standard headers and cat with exhaust flap which means it’ll still be civilised until opened up.

I loved the sound of my old R1

User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16754
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10279 times
Been thanked: 6891 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Yorick »

A_morti
Posts: 755
Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 8:35 am
Location: Malta
Has thanked: 310 times
Been thanked: 568 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by A_morti »

In. Even if your bike makes a half a horsepower more at the top end without the baffle, you don't need that on the public highway - don't be a dick.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12182
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9839 times
Been thanked: 10155 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Skub »

A_morti wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 8:46 pm In. Even if your bike makes a half a horsepower more at the top end without the baffle, you don't need that on the public highway - don't be a dick.
I can be a dick with the baffles in. :thumbup:
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
mangocrazy
Posts: 6934
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:58 pm
Has thanked: 2408 times
Been thanked: 3637 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by mangocrazy »

These days I'd say baffles in, but if you'd asked me 20 years ago the reply would have been very different. My Falco has an unbalanced 2 into 2 system; i.e no siamesing or joining of the output from the 2 cylinders, just one uninterrupted path from exhaust port to tailpipe per cylinder. Consequently without baffles it's just plain antisocial. Even with baffles in it's got me a couple of MoT advisories over the years.

But at low to medium revs and in town it can be noticeable but doesn't cause offence. In fact I've even got a few thumbs up from people. Pedestrians are aware of your presence (which can only be a Good Thing) but I'm careful not to engage Dick Mode until I'm well out of built up areas. So the onus is on the rider as far as I'm concerned. We do need to be aware of how bikes are perceived by the great unwashed, but it is possible to have a fruity exhaust and still stay on the side of the angels.
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13976
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2552 times
Been thanked: 6262 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

The Bonneville is pretty much straight through with pipes not linked. Like I've said loads of times, it's essentially two singles together. It's naff off loud, 'course it is! It's runs er...characterfully...any how, so I'm not too fussed. It's also fully legal in it's current state, but I do feel a bit self conscious starting it. I feel less self conscious riding, it's smelly, leaky and noisy like an old bike should be.

WRT modern bikes, quiet is fine for me. In fact, I'd ride an electric bike if I had a free choice :D Finances say otherwise.
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1509 times
Been thanked: 1415 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by ZRX61 »

When my ZRX was new I had the silencer off & fired it up to see how it sounded with just the headers...It was actually quieter than the wife's '78 KZ1000 with a Kerker K2 on it.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12182
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9839 times
Been thanked: 10155 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Skub »

ZRX61 wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:46 pm When my ZRX was new I had the silencer off & fired it up to see how it sounded with just the headers...It was actually quieter than the wife's '78 KZ1000 with a Kerker K2 on it.
Something similar.

When my Z1 rotted through the 4-4 stock silencers (they lasted 18 months from new at best) the youthful,clueless and skint me ran the bike with just the headers. When I fitted a 4-1 Devil pipe with no silencer,it was much louder. They call them megaphones for a reason. :lol:

Looking back,not one of my Da's neighbours complained about the noise. I bet they would now. I probably would too!
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
A_morti
Posts: 755
Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 8:35 am
Location: Malta
Has thanked: 310 times
Been thanked: 568 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by A_morti »

Skub wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 8:51 pm
I can be a dick with the baffles in. :thumbup:
Go for your life, at least you'll only be robbing the peace and quiet of people within a block or so of you.
User avatar
GuzziPaul
Posts: 418
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 12:45 pm
Location: Chelmsford
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 195 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by GuzziPaul »

The Tuono has a fuel exhaust, I run iy with the baffle in. Its pretty loud I've had it repacked once but I reckon its needs doing again. The big pulses from the 500cc pistons wrecks the wadding. I took the restriction out of the standard exhaust end can and did the airbox mod as soon as it was run in. It has a nice bark on thestandard exhaust now and more of an induction roar.
The Le Mans has standard exhaust still even after 45 years and is a lot quiet(ish). I replaced the bellmouths on the carbs with some S&W pod filters. The induction noise sounds like a large buffalo breathing in especially with a 38mm dellorto under each armpit.
I'm sure locals a the roads I ride appreciate the Le Mans more then the Tuono.
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1509 times
Been thanked: 1415 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by ZRX61 »

When I got to enjoy the 3:1 on my '75 Trident so did everyone else :)
I actually want to buy another one just for the noise. I wish I could remember who made the pipe.
A_morti
Posts: 755
Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 8:35 am
Location: Malta
Has thanked: 310 times
Been thanked: 568 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by A_morti »

GuzziPaul wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:27 pm The big pulses from the 500cc pistons wrecks the wadding.
Acousta-fil packing claims to reduce that problem by using much longer strands of glass, such that the stuff doesn't blow out the tail pipe as easily. Assuming you didn't use it last time, maybe give that a try.
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13970
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15982 times
Been thanked: 10259 times

Re: Baffles in or out?

Post by Taipan »

I live in a busy town, not a sleepy village. Starting my bike up with its 3 x sub 300cc cylinders isn't going to make a lot of noise unless I cane it! Who canes a cold motor anyway? So I assume the complaint is about people riding like dicks at full chat through urban areas?

Bizarre thing is, my (smallest engined ) Harley had straight through pipes on yet no one ever complained. The opposite in fact. Non biking folk marvelled at its sound, Rode past plod loads of time, yet never stopped for it?

I think riding like a twat is what people dislike and if you're doing it with a loud system on, you just made the front of the queue for the haterz! Ride sensibly in town with a race can on and no one is ever going to notice...