440 ltd bobber

so im new and wanted to do some basic things to my 440 ltd mainly the first is to cut the trumpets off. how is the sound without the trumpets?

steamboat927 wrote: so im new and wanted to do some basic things to my 440 ltd mainly the first is to cut the trumpets off. how is the sound without the trumpets?

Foolish Mortal! :woohoo: :lol: :lol: :lol:


how is the sound without the trumpets? Imo, loud, cheap and obnoxious. :pinch:
And probably hate yourself in the morning.

Likely to lose a significant degree of low end torque and pull-away strength.

Carb tuning a non-stock KZ440 can be problematic.

Sorry about the discouragement and negativity.
Perhaps others may offer a more positive opinion

Good Fortune!

It's going to be LOUD. cutting a good stock system might not be a good idea. If the mufflers aren't that great, you might could get some different mufflers, such as some HD shortys or something. whatever is done, carb tuning may be required. ???

What's the condition of the motorcycle & does it run?

It did run, needs a battery this season , had a tune up 3 years ago. It's a family bike that my uncle bought new in 1981 and gave to me as my first bike 5 years ago. I know ride a 99 sportster 1200, but still have this bike. I don't want to sell it since it's a family bike. I think if I bob it out I'll be more enticed To ride it. It sprays gas out of you leave the choke out for more then a few minutes after starting, the trumpets are starting to rust right at the base. And it just seems sluggish not sure if it's the age or cc or what. But I just want to make something of this bike I have a full parts bike for it.

If it's been sitting a while, the fuel in the carburetors may have "varnished". the tank may need to be cleaned.
The bike needs a good, fully charged battery to run right as it provides the energy to fire the ignition coils.
make sure the spark plugs & spark plug wires are good w good connections. I would service the timing advancer.
also, the bike has cv carbs, so it's important that the airbox & air filter are good and properly installed. on some 440s supposedly the airbox cap can be installed incorrectly --- a loose cap will lead to a vacuum leak & poor running.

I think it will be a ton easier on you if you get it running good and then do modifications. My 440 will throw my ass off if I give it to much juice and am not holding on well. So if it feels sluggish there's probably some simple fixes to be done. That way you don't have a bunch of extra variables when you mod it.
Side note: if you get tired of dicking with those notoriously finicky carbs, there are easier options. I hate messing with them myself. Just my 2 cents

I cut the rusty mufflers off and had some exhaust pipe bent so I could still extend the pipes back. Before I put slip-in baffles in the pipes it was LOUD. It's still louder with the 4" baffles when I open it up, but it's not annoying for normal conditions.
I am using the stock carbs, although with the pods and higher flow exhaust I did have to experiment with the jetting for a while but it runs great now. I'd agree though, make sure the engine is in top shape before changing things up.

If you cut it completely off, it's loud as hell.

If it's like the 400, there may be a chance you can cut it partially and make it somewhere in between. The 400 mufflers were made of several chambers connected by offset pipes. We carefully measured the distance, using a stick inserted into the muffler, from the end of the muffler to the inside chamber wall and cut near the chamber wall. There are a few chambers and we ended up cutting off the end and the last full chamber. The result was louder, but not obnoxious. It doesn't look great, but my buddy was broke, and this cost nothing. The muffler was banged up and rusty so it wasn't a big deal. I wouldn't cut a pristine stock exhaust. They are becoming scarce. (This was a factory 2-into-1 by the way.)

Looking back now, I think the 440 megaphone mufflers could be pretty different from the 400 zeppelin muffler.

I'll see if I can dig up a photo.

You can see the offset transfer pipe becomes the new exit of the muffler.

That's better.
Steve

Thanks for all the advice! So an update: I went over and hooked it up to my battery charger and within 4-5 hits on the starter button it started right up. It's running good, didn't have a chance to take it out since my rear tire was slashed which the bike is in the shop meow getting all that fixed once I get it back I'll get on it and see how it feels. My concern is I don't feel it has the power everyone says it should have my old friend had the same bike years ago and sent me a photo of him riding down his street with the front wheel in the air, meow I never would have thought the power my bike has could ever get the front tire even an inch off the ground power wise. But once I get it back I'll ride it around and beat on it a little and see if it does have some power. Then take it from there

That's a nice bike! That's a custom frame right?

It should top out about 100 mph or so. Wheelies can be done on mopeds, so it's not totally about power. Heavy guys have an easier time wheelie-ing if they lean back. Going uphill will also make it easier to wheelie. But the biggest factor is revving and dumping the clutch.