|
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | Im not an engine junkie so for those of you who are, help me out here to understand something. Tell me why I should consider changing out my stock exhause/pipes for a different stage system? I have a Kingpin with curved stage 1 pipes and its so loud its obnoxious (which is why i like it), but i dont need two obnoxious motorcycles. Im thinking that you guys are
switching out exhausts and pipe systems for reasons other than noise levels, but Im not sure why. Ive read where some guy gets "3 more horsepower" with a stage 1 blah blah blah, but im thinking to myself what the heck is 3 more horsepower gonna do...
If you guys can give me some accurate info thats not biased solely on "sound", that would be great. Otherwise I will just keep throwing my money towards chrome... which admittedly is
a sickness. thanks guys Oh, if you dont want to public post, feel free to email me directly and share your thoughts and findings on this topic.
VaParadox@aol.com |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | don't you know the higher the decibel the faster things go. Haven't you ever seen a screaming kid running from his mother... |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I went Stage 1/Level 1 because the stock exhaust just sounded like it had asthma and had a hard time breathing. S1/L1 gives me the impression that the bike is a lot more comfortable. This is the first bike I have ever upgraded the exhaust on and it sounds perfect to me. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 143
Birmingham, AL 08 MC Tour Premium 2012 Bronze Mist | I added the Cycle Dragon pipes and the Arlen Ness Twin Sucker air filters and I can feel the increased get up and GO! The pipes are louder than anything I've heard that Vic sells, but no where close to the obnoxiously loud ones. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 70
Iowa | I have the S1/L1 on my vision, its not loud but you know its a v-twin.it has that perfect rumble.when I want louder, I get my vegas out (ness slashness pipes) sometimes, I just have to make noise! |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | man im right there with ya I live in a community where most of the homeowners are retired seniors. Once a week its my duty to
get them off their butts and get that pacemaker into first gear when i gun it out of the neighborhood on my Kingpin. I just dont want all that noise on a leisurely relaxing weekend cruise. So, so far it reads as if most of you guys just do it for the sound, the little bit of x-tra power is merely a bonus. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | The stock pipes sounded like a riding lawn mower to me. I went to S1/L1 and now it sounds like a motorcycle. I would like it a bit louder. Thinking about sending the orig. pipes out the be re-done. It's only $200 bucks. Not a big risk if I don't like the way they sound. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I'm not a loud pipe bikie to begin with, but agree with cw that the stocks are rather mild, but does have a nice rumble on the highway underload. I thought the s1l1 would be too loud but after hearing them close up and even following behind has made me decide to move to those when the stocks have given out. It isn't really about the noise factor either as most have commented they like the performance upgrade that comes with them. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Like everyone else, I found the stock sound just a little to quiet. It didn't fit the look of the bike.
The S1/L1 are not a heck of a lot louder, but they do have a nice rumble - especially as you get more miles on the engine.
Oh, and the Gatlin Tips look great. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | I'm a bit confused....are you wanting to change your exhaust or not? It somewhat appears that subconciously it seems like you are trying to find a way to talk yourself into it  What type of "accurate" info are you seeking? Dyno sheets? Not many of us have had the opportunity to run any dynos yet. Its going to be a few years before any type of "database" of dyno sheets can be used as a deciding factor on a exhaust purchase. But if someone says "I got 10 more HP with xxx exhaust and my dyno sheet proves it" are you willing to change your exhaust? So for the time being about the only thing your gonna get is a bunch of biased personal opinions which sometimes equals out to the blah blah blah you mention. So I guess its time for my .02 worth of blah....you might want to go with a set of Atom Bombs. Depending on shipping they are less than $250ish, so price-wise they blow the crap out of the other systems available. If you get them and you find they are to obnoxious for your tastes you can always easliy sell them here or VMC or Ebay and probably be even money or maybe down a few dollars. And whether you like them or dislike them you can always share your blah with the rest of us. How much more HP are you going to get with the Atom Bombs??? Be damned if I know....I went with them for the sound, any increase in HP is simply a byproduct of my decision. So if you want to make your exhaust decision on HP figures....well it appears that you can continue throwing your money at the chrome addiction for a while  |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA baby! | I am of a far different cloth than most. I would sacrifice three or so horsepower if I could have a completely silent exhaust system. I don't care if someone hears me or not. I don't believe the "Loud Pipes Save Lives" mantra at all. Not proven.
However I DO WEAR a bright lime green surveyor's safety vest TO BE SEEN! This is proven!
Every one I know who's either been run down and lived or killed on a bike was wearing the least visibly noticeable color to wear - BLACK. And most of them had LOUD PIPES.
I suppose this doesn't help, but here it is anyway! |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 102
Madison, AL | I'm a short guy and I wear a reflective vest when riding other bikes, but I have so much light on the front, side, and rear of the Vision I don't think they could even see me in my vest if I wore it. I did wear the vest when I first started riding the Vision but folks told me it didn't make any difference. I ride with the lower riding lights and HID on, and installed the rear brake light kit, so it blinks like I think it should. On my old Harley wearing a reflective vest made a huge diference in visibiliy. The weak headlight was barely enough to be seen at night if someone was looking for you. The amount of light comming from my bike is probably more obnoxious than the exhaust sound comming from it.
As for the pipes it was part of the overall engine performance plan that I had. If you are going to upgrade the intake, fuel control, cams, it would be sill to have the exhaust restrict everything. However, I have not gone for loud pipes since this is my long distance tourer and like to listen to tunes. To each their own. I did chrome up the engine a bit, but have no desire for chrome anyplace else. Not that I don't like a good looking chromed out bike, but I just don't care for it on my bike. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | all good interesting answers. What I was looking for was comments from people who solely did it for loudness/sound reasons and those who did it for performance reasons, and of course people who did it for both. which is pretty much what I am reading. Im not busting at the seams to spend more money, but the curiosity got to me on this site hearing and reading how many of you guys have them on your bikes, so i was curious as to why you did it and im sure that others are curious as well. so thanks for the input and info. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | VaParadox,
I have the S1L2 pipes on my Vision. I feel that part of what makes my Vision have a soul is the aural and tactile feedback of the V-Twin Power plant. The stock pipes did not do did not provide enough aural feedback for me.
After the recall remap I was finally running a program that provided some more power then the stock map. The best part was that the throttle became smooth and the power started now at 1500 RPM.
I did not want to ride a motorcycle that sounded and felt like a bad sewing machine, an indy car, a tug boat, a tricycle or anything else other then an American Made motorcycle with a V-Twin power plant.
The other thing I did not want to do was wake up all of my neighbors leaving for work everyday. The S1L2 pipes cover both of my objectives. Plus the pipes are not so loud that they interfere with the music from the sound system.
The choices I made satisfied the goals I set for the bike I wanted.
The Vision moves me to work and and home. Most of all the Vision moves me.
Ride Safe!
Edited by radioteacher 2009-03-12 5:56 PM
|
|
| |
|
Rockwall, TX United States | I went with the S1/L2 solely for the sound. I loved the feel of the Vision on the test ride, but wanted a more guttural sound from the pipes as I rolled on. For me, this is a great setup. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | I guess I now need a lesson on difference between L1/S1 and L2/S2. My dealer wants me to come by and listen to his Vision with
Ness Big Honkers <-- whatever that is i suspect it doesnt have anything to do with boobs though. He prefers them over the L series, but we have not talked to hear why. will go by this weekend to the store and get some info. I upgraded to the Ness sound system and its friggen unbelieveable, so if the Ness exhaust is anything comparable they should be loud (which isnt necessarily what I want).
I want a big bike sound and rumble, but not a shake the trees and pacemakers volume. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | I went to my local Vic dealer here in Tucson and he had two Visions, one with the Big Honkers and one with the Stage 1 L2 pipes. I thought the Big Honkers were a bit too loud. When I do the change out, I'm going with the L2's. |
|
| |
Serious question.