Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust Modified Stock Exhaust This Weekend

After doing a lot of reading, I finally decided to take the plunge and pop out some baffles in my 07 SM this weekend. It started raining before I could take it for a test drive, but so far it seems to have been a success. Hopefully I'll get to take it for a spin tonight ... in the mean time I wanted to share my experience for anyone else looking for info, and had some remaining questions (below).

First, let me just say I am amazed at the amount of thorough information available here for those who are willing to be patient and look. Coming into this knowing nothing of my exhaust options and never having worked on carbs before, I was able to find all the information I needed to make an informed decision and learned enough to comfortable do my own exhaust mod and carb work ... all without making a single post asking a question. Between the posts already here and a few conversations at the recent GA rally, I learned all I needed to know to get started.

Dinqua's site, and The_Dog33's posts were particularly helpful.

As for my experience ... I decided to go the hole saw route. I could not find a hole saw deep enough to reach the baffle over the center tube, so I had to pull that out first. Drilling a bunch of holes around the center tube then doing a lot of wiggling with pliers did the trick.

After that I used a 2.5" hole saw with some 3-in-1 oil (couldn't find cutting oil, but good call The_Dog33). My cordless drill only lasted long enough to do one, but eventually i made it through.

I had planned on using the hole saw to do the second baffle as well, but after seeing I'd have the same problem with the center tube, and realizing my drill extension didn't fit in my drill, I decided to take the "beat the ****** out of it" approach. I used a piece of rebar (couldn't sharpen it though, no grinder) and a big ****** hammer. Had to beat the ****** out of the one on the right side, but the left side only took a few swings (I guess I chose better placement that time).

So I took out the first two baffles and stopped there. I considered drilling holes in the third, but again, drill extension doesn't fit.

I then removed the snorkel from the air box, and re-jetted to 125 Mains (used Dinqua's calculator), and swapped out the d screws for the thumb screws from newspeedmaster.com. Reassembled and everything started up right away. Like I said, no chance for a test drive, so we'll see about tonight.

I did have a few more questions for those inclined to help. Since I made it this far without asking any I feel ok throwing a few out there :-)

1. I've read some bikes have 3 baffles, some have 4 (not counting the reducer cone). Now that I have 2 out, is there an easy way to tell?

2. Now that I have 2 out, will removing/drilling holes in the 3rd baffle only get me more volume? Or can I expect further change in the tone of the sound? i.e. will taking out another baffle result in a more throaty sound, or more raspy?


Actually I think that's it. Thanks again for all the great information.

The double hole saw works best if you remove the center tube first and use the inner saw inside the hole that is left not over the pipe. I'm glad I was of some help to you.

I see, well that makes more sense.

Any thoughts on the two remaining questions? Regarding volume/tone and the number of baffles?

I saw this thread and had my stock pipes collecting dust so I tryed this and was easyer than I thought. I took out 2 baffles from my old stock pipes. Back on the bike they went. Sounds better than the TOR's I think.

Glad it worked out for you ...

If you get crazy and feel like popping out that third or just drilling holes in it let me know how it sounds.

After riding mine for a while I absolutely love the sound, but feel it could be a little louder. I want to open them up more but am afraid it will also affect the tone.

I love mine gutted except for the reducer cone. Nice deep tone, if loud and deep is what you want you won't be sorry removing the last baffle. Be sure not to remove the reducer cone though or you will lose bottom end torque.

Did mine yesterday...

Drilled holes, but I don't know how those who got the first tube out by just wiggling it did it. There is not much wiggle room before you polish the rim neatly. I had to hammer around the tube with a long screw driver until it came loose. Did I read that the first baffle is spot welded in three points and comes out loose easily? Not mine. It never came out, I knocked sections of it, but some still remains, I'll thump it some more today. And it either bends back or just falls there, nothing that can be removed, easily at least. Even so the bike sounds better now, and not much louder, which is good. Great way to save on new pipes, since the stock pipes look fine really.

the first baffle is welded all the way around as i understand. so it needs to be drilled out with a whole saw, or others have used grinders once the center post is out.

the second, third, and fourth? baffles are only spot welded and are easier to pop out with a hammer and long bar if the placement is right.

Is there a link with PICS? Need to see this before I try it. I will probably NOT do this, and will keep the stock pipes hanging in my garage, but love the look of the stock pipes, so am considering this as an option. TIA!

it's easier than it sounds. sorry, no pics.

where are you located? maybe someone can help...

ditto on the pictures....I've got an 07 speedy with bubs pipes but like the look of the stockers far better....wouldn't mind exploring if I could see a few pictures to go along with your write up.

I never took any pics, there are some at Dinquas page and Sandman had some shots too. I never really looked to see what kind of pix they took though so not sure how helpful they will be. 07 will have the cat in them so be careful of that, it's soft and will smush easily. If and when I gut another set I'll take some shots of it. Only pictures I have are of the tool I made for my air hammer to do the job.

where is the cat in the 07? I never ran into it, but I assume it's because I only took out 2 baffles.

Seriously though, you can go a long way without pictures on this sort of mod just by reading around here. dog has posted a number of very thorough descriptions of what to do.

just go down and look up the exhaust pipe. you'll see a metal plate with a tube coming through it right near the end. that whole plate needs to come out ... simple as that

use a hole saw or just a drill bit going all the way around the outside until you can pop it out. THe next baffle looks the same but is farther up in the pipe ... and so on.

I think the cat is behind the 3rd baffle if I remember.

In '07 SM stock pipes~~4 baffles, the cat is in the front of the pipe just behind the "back pressure" cone, there are two metal bars--one in front, one in back to hold cat in place. these little bars are about 3cm thick and welded at both ends to the interior of the pipe.

Has anyone just removed one baffle? I don't want loud pipes anymore but I want a little throaty sound.

i rode behind a guy in the ga rally who only removed one. it sounded ok, but was still too soft for me.

take it out ... if you want louder take out the second.

Thanks, I have Specialty Spares today and though I love the sound, they're just too loud on long rides. I have a headache almost everytime the ride is more than an hour or so. I think I'll start with one and if it's not deep enough I'll go to 2.

fyi with 2 out they're pretty quiet at idle ... around 5k they sound real nice ... and when you get up to speed (50ish) you can't hear them anymore. not bad.

i'll likely either take out the third or drill holes in it. it's still a little too soft for me.

but yeah ... starting with 1 you can always move forward from there.

Tony...do you have a photo of your bike with the Bubs on it? I'm considering the Buds and don't want to make an expensive mistake. Thanks. Don

If anyone in the Edmonton area wants to borrow the tools I built to do the job, just drop me a line. Happy to help...loud pipes save lives.

OK, I removed 1 baffle and she's just the way I want. Quiet with a little grumble when I hit the throttle. No popping at all and the power still seems ok. What a difference in riding comfort. I'm done with loud pipes for a while.

That's how I had my old pipes I think. One baffle removed, don't think I drilled into the second one... Was a nice sound.

Although nothing special I did a modification on a set of standard pipes and put them on today.

I cut the pipes which removed the last 2 baffles. This left the end with a diameter of 76mm.

To tidy up the end I purchased 2 exhaust trims from Ebay and used exhaust paste to secure in some wire gauze although it looks a bit untidy in the pics I need to let it cure before I do anymore work on them.

It does sound better over the stock exhaust and not too loud (although the wife has other opinions).

http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm134...nt=P6130022.jpg

I haven't done any pipes with the cat in them so I don't know how much room you have but I can't see where removing the baffle will hurt anything as long as you don't physically hit it with any tools.