Drill your muffler?

I am not sure where to post this but since the muffler is attached to the engine I'll try here. I would like a little more noise from my 83 KZ550M. I guess I shouldn't complain as the exhaust is like new and sounds like a new bike. That's the problem. My KZ750 and my KZ1100 both sound mean! Would like a little more mean sound from my KZ550. First thought I had was to drill a hole in the center of what looks like the baffle end about 12 inches down inside the muffler. But before I mess up and have to try to weld a hole closed that far down the muffler, I thought I'd ask here.

If all you have to add is to criticize or question me on wanting it louder, please keep it to yourself.

Thank you in advance.

Maybe drill the end caps instead, so you can plug the holes later if need be. The inner plates that you can see peering into the muffler exhaust openings have a series of holes w baffle tubes in them, so drilling the end caps would probably suffice. Before drilling, I would check plug sizes first & use an appropriately sized drill bit for just in case you want to plug the holes late on.

The 750E mufflers I installed had holes drilled in them, which I plugged w brass plugs. the metal is just thick enough to cut 1 or 2 threads.

It seems a shame to damage a nice factory exhaust, and drilling holes probably won't get you the sound you want.

If you need more noise, why not replace the exhaust with an aftermarket model?

Nerdy is correct.

Not trying to criticize you, but why not just buy a louder aftermarket exhaust system and sell the stock one. You would most likely get more money for your nice stock system than you would spend on an aftermarket system, and you would end up with an exhaust system that wasn't drilled in hopes of achieving the sound you're after. Really nice stock systems are rare, so I doubt you would have a problem finding a buyer at a price you were happy with. Ed

650ed wrote: Nerdy is correct.

Not trying to criticize you, but why not just buy a louder aftermarket exhaust system and sell the stock one. You would most likely get more money for your nice stock system than you would spend on an aftermarket system, and you would end up with an exhaust system that wasn't drilled in hopes of achieving the sound you're after. Really nice stock systems are rare, so I doubt you would have a problem finding a buyer at a price you were happy with. Ed

Exactly what I was looking for. I too would feel bad about messing up a perfectly good sounding set of mufflers. I wish they were slip on type not entire exhaust system. Then changing mufflers would be a no brainier. Since I'm not really committed to changing out the entire exhaust I'll ride it like this for a while. The headers are pitted but actually cleaned up nicely. Not to say they system is like new. It hast scratches and some very minor pitting, but they sound like a bike fresh off the dealer floor.

Again thanks guys. I'll look on eBay or elsewhere and see what's out there.

you can find a header with single muffler for less than $500 and it will wake up all the neighbors. Keep all the hardware that comes off with the stock exhaust, you will want it one day.

jdvorchak, I think I have an old exhaust from a 550GPZ (black) you can have to modify to your hearts content. I will check this weekend and post a picture when I find them.

Jim

Thank you rainman. My son and nephew were riding the 550 today and they both loved it. When I said I'd like the mufflers louder my son said "Why? It sounds and runs like a new bike" so I've about talked myself out of it. And his KZ1100 has 4 into 1 V&H with a megaphone!

Not to say I wouldn't swap the exhaust out for a different sound but I'll keep this exhaust because it's in too nice shape to modify or get rid of.