Can You Hear Your Bike?

[ridingfar]

Time to Sound Off and tell us where do you stand on the sound of your bike!

[black hills]

The CBR is stock, the 300 has a FMF Q pipe on it, and the 990 has KTM branded FMF's. I prefered teh stock ,garden tractor, sound fromthe 990 but the cats had to go. the FMF's are not bad, but a bit too loud for my taste..

[CanadianBird]

My Bird has a Yoshi SS full system. I hear her when I ride her. I should but never wear ear plugs. I never listen to music. I like to listen to my bike.

[garry]

Leo Vince slip-ons with the db killer inserts installed. Louder than stock, but not obnoxious with the inserts in. Inserts out is quite the roar (great tone, just too loud).

[birdrunner]

My Bird has a Yoshi SS full system. I hear her when I ride her. I should but never wear ear plugs. I never listen to music. I like to listen to my bike.

People following me have given my XX with Jardin cans rave reviews.

[Kneescrubber]

Two Brothers slip-on the VFR. Mac exhuast on the /5. It's loud!

[Hambonee]

Stock Guzzi exhaust...but man..it still makes some nice notes...

That being said it does it in a polite fashion and won't upset the neighbors or set off car alarms. Classy girl she is...

[1000lbs]

The Striple got a Leo Vince full system lowboy.  With the street insert in (euro road legal) its not much louder then stock, but with a deeper/nastier triple growl  .  

The WR has a DRD slip on.  quite a bit louder then stock, but not too bad on the 250.

[scott19]

The SV: Stock pipes that sound good to me.

The GPz900R has vintage Yoshimura slip ons made out of unobtainium. I heard a friend riding my bike literally a mile away. It was out in the country, but I had no idea they were that loud. Still way quieter than the average cruiser with pipes.

[miles]

My S1000RR has a Yoshimura Superbike full system exhaust, and when I twist the throttle everybody knows it.

My Husky 450 Supermoto has a factory racing exhaust that sets off car alarms in parking garages as I ride by on the street.

[M.Brane]

 TBR carbon can on the VFR. It's a bit loud, but not anywhere near open pipe db levels.

[Squareman357]

Two Brothers exhaust on the ZX-14.  Nice deep muscle car rumble, sounds great when I wind it up, can short shift and keep the revs low and not piss off the neighbors when I leave for work.

[sammyseaman]

2011 Triumph Thruxton with the British Customs Performance Package. Stock she was embarassingly quiet and sloooooooow. It was like riding an electric motorcycle which would be fine if it was an electric motorcycle. Now she's found her voice and can breathe and she has a little punch too. The BC kit seems to be the quietest out there as well     IIRC I think it was Clay who said following me through the Tunnel of Trees last summer sounded like he was behind a WWII fighter plane  

[Turbo810]

I am keeping the Connie stock. I plan on using it for touring more than sport riding. So I want it to stay quiet.

[Paintman]

I had a set Of Two Brothers on the Superhawk sounded great. THe Concours 1 just opened the baffles a bit breathes better but still quiet putting around, the Dual Sports have FMF pipes they growl a bit but stock ex was rusted heavy crap so easy choice.and teh Ols XS1100"s have NIB Supertrapp 4-1 sets i scored it just sounds good

[coho]

The RT has a ZTechnik pipe which is louder than OEM. It is really only 'loud' for a BMW (that is to say, not loud at all), but has an almost Guzzi-like rumble at idle and a nice snap-crackle-pop on decel making an otherwise appliance-like bike manifest a bit more soul. It's a luxury hotrod.

IIRC I think it was Clay who said following me through the Tunnel of Trees last summer sounded like he was behind a WWII fighter plane  

I get that sound while cranking and banking, but the plane is a Messerschmitt rather than a Spitfire.  

[bomber]

Stock exhaust on the Tiger -- can't hear much, except on trailing throttle -- the tune Dan K installed last year yielded, among other things, a very nice little burble on over run . . . sounds like the bike is muttering to itself ;-}

The stock KLR exhaust on Jerry Lee? SOunds like a PDQ Lawnboy.

[stevent]

Stock on the GS, I had a set of D & D Police Interceptor cans on the '08 FLHT but wound up going back to stock after a short time. I have tinnitus and hearing loss from the Navy and certain resonances really hurt my ears, so quiter is definately better for me.

[nnjhawk02]

Have had Erions on the VTR nice '03 - even crashed w/ em on & very little damage.  I got em cause I used to lane split to work into NYC.  I still vividly remember the 1st commute & I revved the motor & the cars moved the F out of my way

They're no where as loud as 2 Bros.

[expatbrit]

Stock on the Duc. I'd like to lose the cat, but that's also the muffler and underbody. Don't want more noise, don't want to run the mid-pipe, muffler, PC-V, etc route. Plus I actually like the way the exhaust looks, and you can't hear the bike over wind-noise above 50-60mph anyway!

The WR250 came with a full Graves system on it. I can hear that.

[Mac]

My ST had a staintune exhause on, which makes it sound like a slightly louder sewing machine.

[brianhe]

Stock Ducati exhaust.  My wife says "it's kinda loud, but not Harley loud." I don't really want to worry about pissing off my the whole neighborhood, especially my good next door neighbor we share a driveway with.

[coucours grad]

C-10 ran stock its whole life....



    Looking for a set of used stockers for the St to take apart and put back together.



    I wanna lose the cats and look at the baffles.

[cb400]

The St1100 is stock and quiet.
The CB400F is stock and quiet.
The Tuono "thunders" with an Arrow Shotgun Twin-can exhaust.  What? Can't hear ya!


--jeff

[2RR2NV]

currently stock and i wear ear plugs. sounds good to me. BUUUUTTT will get a slip-on before goin to the track so i can get that last 1-2HP at the top cause i will soooooooooooo need that last lil bit.  

actually, i really loved the sound of my 04 with 2-Bros slip-on. miss it. just love that sound of a wailing I4. love V4s more, but alas, can't afford a real V4 SS.  

[ScottB]

The Tiger has an Arrow road pipe and tune, which is pleasantly burbly but not at all obnoxious.
The Speedy has Arrow race pipes and tune and burbles and sputters and spits and generally gnashes it's teeth.  At WOT, it's a beast.
The CB750 - well, that is currently a pile of parts on my garage floor, but it is getting a ceramic coated Kerker 4-1 with a "sort of" baffle - it should give the windows a good shake.  

[nater]

Yosh slip on on the gixxer.  Just howels up top.  But not loud at all down low.

[scotteroni]

I think loud jackets saves lives.

[Jason F.]

Stock and on the last two bikes I replaced the aftermarket cans with stock units. Side not both ran smoother and more efficiently with the stock cans on as well. Can't stand ridiculously loud exhausts on bikes. Some may sound good when you run it through the first few gears once in a while but at mile 425 on a 700 mile day those sounds become nothing but an annoyance and a headache.

Yeah, Yeah I know.... "Get off my lawn you punks!"  

[SummerLove]

At idle my clutch is louder than the exhaust.. like a lot louder. When moving the valve train is louder than exhaust.
 

[tbzep]

Remus CF pipes on the VFR.  Sounds like a classic air breathing F1 or Indy V-8 engine.  

[MCRyder]

The 1250 has a Leo Vince slip-on which has a nice rumble, the stocker couldn't be heard over the valve train,  My Sprint has the OEM exhaust, which sounds fairly good with the 3 cylinders.  I need to remove the LV's Db killer, just to hear what it'd sound like.

[brianhe]

I think loud jackets saves lives.

First time I read this I thought it said "loud jackasses save lives."  That works, too.

[Frankienuckles]

Gsxr has the stock exhaust and I like it that way. The KTM has the stock exhaust cans modified with aftermarket (pro-moto billet) end caps and the "power up" exhaust mid pipe. It is kinda loud, but it sounded like a scooter in stock trim and it seems to make a bit more power (with jetting and opened air box).

[Andrew]

I think loud jackets saves lives.

 

[aj7840]

Supertraps on the Ducati, with the minimum discs, so it just drowns out the air intake (full opened air box) - load but much quieter than the neighbors Harley, only have to check the tach to see if its running if the neighbor is doing is Parkinson's hand thing

Leo Vinci with sound plug on the BMW - sounds like a bike not a sewing machine, still have to look at the tach to make sure its running when riding with the neighbor and his Harley

[rgbeard]

84 Goldwing 1200 - Stock - it's quiet as long as the little exhaust crush gasket/washers are in good condition.

2001 Trophy 1200 - Stock  - sounds like a John Deere at idle, but still not audible once you're a little ways away from it.

2001 Speed Triple - Has Triumph Off Road Exhaust - and sounds nice, but not NEAR like open-pipes kind of loud.

Wife's Nighthawk CB250 - stock - uhhh - are you sure it's running???  How can you tell??  

[sammyseaman]

I think loud jackets saves lives.

 

I think I4's should be whisper quiet; ssshhhh..... everything else should be heard but not overly loud  

[jag44]

I like that my little V-Strom is quite.  It makes me feel stealthy.....  

[melville]

Aftermarket, but stock replacement SS exhaust.  So quiet Mrs. melville can't hear me leave in the early morning!

Haven't even needed earplugs yet (no long slab rides yet), and I use them in my obnoxious cage:

[maddjack]

I use stealth tech to its full advantage, if they don't know I am coming , no nasty microwaves basting me as I ride.

[2RR2NV]

yes, but if you were using stealth tech to the limit, microwaves wouldn't matter anyways....  

[maddjack]

Oh they can still see you, you just are not as big a target.We don 't have cloaking yet

[melville]

Took the obnoxiously loud cage to work today, and saw a potential benefit to loud pipes.  I was not the first to arrive there, but I was the one who woke up the homeless guy sleeping on the (sidewalk accessible) balcony. Shut the motor off and heard a muffled "Fuck" from above and saw the dude gather his shit and move along.

[GRN]

GSX1250 is stock, and I kind of dig how quiet it is. The KLX has a full Muzzy exhaust, wide open and loud as hell - not my favorite, but I dig the performance gain.

[ZuluHour]

Lol at this poll showing the demographics of the board.

So here's my noise ordinance defying list:
2003 Suzuki SV1000S - Yoshi RS3 slipons.  Nice twin rumble at idle and pretty loud on the gas.

2007 Yamaha R1 - Yoshi TRS slipons, M4 ypipe cat-delete, K&N filter.  Without the silencers this thing was your typical obnoxious I4 crotch rocket, and I loved it!  When I'd get on it, the bike would make a discernable inhaling at high-rpm with an ear-splitting howl from the exhaust to match.  With the silencers installed it was only just barely louder than stock.

2002 RC51 - Sato low-mount titanium slipons.  Take my SV from above and multiply the loudness by 1.5.  I've heard similarly setup RC51s go by on the front straight at VIR and there is no mistaking a high-revving Japanese twin on the gas.  How can you not love it?

[Leewmlds]

My Connie has muzzy full duel exhaust. Nice and quiet when below 3k. Really screams when she is opened up.
My XJ has. Kerker muffler I got from a scrap yard.

I like to here the bike. She talks to me. My cars, and truck all have aftermarket exhaust.

[Ramseybella]

2010 Triumph 1050 Tiger Leo Vince SKB removed the DB killer BMC air filter, sounds burly with a bark but not hot and shrill.

[FJRider]

I prefer quite bikes.

[highside]

I have a straight M4 exhaust on my SV650, and it is just way too damn loud.

The sound is great with a nice throaty twin-rumble, but I have to really watch the throttle when I am riding around my neighborhood and its just not worth it.

I am all for pulling of the factory exhaust due to weight savings alone, but I really value a quiter set-up that still lets the bike sound like a motorcycle without setting off car alarms (which mine does pretty reliably).

[Stripes]

My GT has the stock exhaust on it. I wish I could hear it but I can't. Everybody that I ride w/ says it sounds amazing. I've tried riding w/o my earplugs in & the audio system off but it's still to quiet to hear it from the seat. I guess all of the sounds goes behind me because it's so fast & light travels faster than sound!  

[aviationfred]

My FJ has a combo SuperTrapp system. The head pipes and collector are the standard steel with a Superlite stainless steel, up pipe and muffler. Running no discs with an open competition end cap. You can definitely hear the bike, short shifts and mild throttle control i can keep it from being noticed much. Running on the freeway, it screams. Just purchased a used WMP system that is completely stainless steel with a carbon fiber muffler.

[mxstone]

I blew through a Two Brothers Cat eliminator pipe and Can that made the Boxer sound soooooo beautiful and just screamed when I opened it up. Back to stock for awhile and it sounds like a slightly angry sewing machine. Amazing how the exhaust on this bike completely changes the personality.

[Andrew]

When I turn off the I-pod, Ya I can hear it

Do I care if anyone else can ???   Ya neither do I  

[R Doug]

The RT is the most quite bike I’ve owned and only the second bike I’ve never modified the exhaust.

I like being stealthy.  The po po that hide in the hills can’t hear me coming now.

On a funny note, one of the Harley riders in my office told me that if my bike were louder that Subaru wouldn’t have hit me last weekend because they would have heard me.  

[melville]

The RT is the most quite bike I’ve owned and only the second bike I’ve never modified the exhaust.

I like being stealthy.  The po po that hide in the hills can’t hear me coming now.

On a funny note, one of the Harley riders in my office told me that if my bike were louder that Subaru wouldn’t have hit me last weekend because they would have heard me.  

Dang, he beat me to it!

[miles]

I prefer quite bikes.

I prefer cute bikes.

[jsanford]

I'm mixed.  The Guzzi and BMW have their stock exhausts, they have nice notes and occassionally trip the hyper-sensitive car alarm.  The Ducati has Termis on it, but I understand from the dealer I'm the only customer who asked to keep the baffles in.  Our '77 Kaw is louder than all of the three others, with the stock exhaust.  That's a two-stroke for you.  

When I took the ERC on the Ducati,  some of the ranges were "factory exhaust only" and I enrolled in the non-stock class.  After an hour with those Harleys I had a monstrous headache, even with earplugs.  The Duc was by far the quietest bike that day.

[Magnarider]

The FZ1 has a Holeshot header with a Danmoto carbon fiber slip on with the Db killer installed. I can still hear it on the freeway with my custom earplugs with headphones on and the music not too loud.