baffle or no baffle

just wondering what most folks prefer with 4 into 1 header. Benefits vs drawbacks.

Being an old fart I prefer baffles. I figure there are enough, REALLY LOUD bikes out there without creating another one.
Ride safe.

I can't imagine riding with an open pipe. I've done it and my bike is way too loud! If it was a Harley you can get away with it but not us. I even keep mine packed kinda tight to keep sound down.

One of the drawbacks other than a ticket or pissing off your neigbors is that after a ride and shutting off motor, cool or cold air can travel up "empty" pipe to hot valves and warp them! Be careful...

Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/05 13:03

Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/05 13:04

I prefer the baffle in myself. My MAC 4into1 is loud enough with the baffle installed.

An open pipe sounds "evil" coming down the road and under hard high rpm acceleration but it is extremely loud. I run a v&h race baffle, awsome souund without being too loud. BTW has anyone ever used a kerker with the larger 2 inch baffle?

Post edited by: madkawltd900, at: 2008/01/05 13:09

how many noise tickets have any of you suffered through??

me?... way too many. I have plead not guilty on every one of 'em but have only won 2 (cop didn't show on both)

now days I love the vance and hines megaphone with the street baffle I have installed on my KZ 1260. the smaller baffle helps on carb tunning and traffic rideablity (low~mid range). I think I have focused on smoothness for my street bikes, which I like.

and for drag racing, I have no baffle big diameter 4-1 sidewinder megaphone V&H ex pipe ALL GO wide open 140 decibel screamer!!

if loud pipes save lives point them forward where the noise might actually help you.

!!Smart street riding makes up for excessive noise!!

don't get me wrong i like louder bikes-inline 4 harmony an such. I stunt ride on the street too, although not as much as I used to.

I don't see the point of calling attention to myself anymore. besides getting pulled over usually means a violation of your 4 amendment rights or worse if they turn up any thing questionable in your pockets or on your breath...

madkawltd900 wrote:

An open pipe sounds "evil" coming down the road and under hard high rpm acceleration but it is extremely loud. I run a v&h race baffle, awsome souund without being too loud. BTW has anyone ever used a kerker with the larger 2 inch baffle?<br><br>Post edited by: madkawltd900, at: 2008/01/05 13:09

Yeah, the 'race baffle' is a little too loud, I picked up the smaller street baffle and replaced it. It was cool when I was a kid, but these days the bark is just too much. I love the subdued growl...sort of like a race bike on a chain waiting to cut loose. But the open header, and the race baffle are too much for me on the street.
-KR

I used to run an open pipe but now, I run with a baffle. I used to set my carbs up with an open baffle when I raced and then install the baffle for the street, which would richen up the mixture just enough to be close for the set-up. Best of both worlds. Now I just race and street with a baffle...getting lazy!

Excessive noise is never good on the street, it brings attention to you from the police, plus aggravates the majority of the public. Having the wonderful job working 25ft off a major street full of Harleys all Summer I can tell you this first hand. As much as I love all motorcycles, I'm ashamed to say I wish I had a shotgun most days. OK, kidding "a little", but it sucks listening to other peoples noise whether it be a Harley, a KZ1000, a 1970 Chevy truck or a 1995 Honda accord with the goofy loud pipes. Kerker baffles used to burn off all the packing and become loud, but they seemed to fix this later on. I took the Kerker off last summer and went back to stock pipes and will never return.

So if you want the quietest sounding pipes for your ride, are the stock ones best? Or, are there aftermarket ones that would be better?

Unmodified stock pipes offer the benefit of always being street-legal from a noise standpoint and having your bike run reasonably well..unfortunately, original pipes often wear-out before the bike does and are replaced.

i run a v+h street megaphone 4:1 with NO baffle, i don't think i cold ever baffle the sound of my nasty mean kaw.

i love the idling sound, i'v ran of off the header with a turndown and it dosnt sound right, but its perfect with the megaphone on.