 question about de-baffling america pipes
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Heres the deal. I have a speedmaster with thunderbike pipes. I hate the volume and would like a volume level around 1/2 way between stock pipes and thunderbikes. i was thinking of getting some america pipes and de-baffling them to some degree. The question is 2 fold......will removing 2 of the baffles get me a volume level as i described, and how far back will i have to go with my airbox and jetting? (no snorkel, UNI, drilled, 130,TBS, stock pilots)
i have read that the first 2 baffles get you a nice sound but that knocking out the 3rd is when they get very loud. I'm also wondering wow much performance i'd lose and how far back to stock i'd have to set my jetting and airbox.
By the way, if i did this i'd want to use america pipes because i don't want to cut the end off the stock speedy pipes....i want them as backups for when i sell it or have to have it tested, and i prefer slash cuts. Thats why i'd get a set of americas, just for the record. i'm just thinking about it, not sure i can live with the performance loss.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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I have a spare set of speedy pipes with 1 baffle missing, if you want to do a trade with some cash on my part.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
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I've removed the first baffle, drilled three 1/2" holes in the second. Nice sound, but after dinking with carbs for several months now, the sound has improved to a nice throaty rumble that I really like. My '03 America setup: no snorkels, UNI, drilled airbox/baffle partially out, TBS +1, 132/45. (fyi...side gap experiment coming up!). I've never heard thunderbike, so can't comment. My scoot gets me to the speed limit quickly and quite nicely with no complaints from me or cages around me! One of these days I going to get a real dyno to compare to butt dyno.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
I have a spare set of speedy pipes with 1 baffle missing, if you want to do a trade with some cash on my part.
No thanks. I want america pipes if i do this.
Quote:
I've removed the first baffle, drilled three 1/2" holes in the second. Nice sound, but after dinking with carbs for several months now, the sound has improved to a nice throaty rumble that I really like. My '03 America setup: no snorkels, UNI, drilled airbox/baffle partially out, TBS +1, 132/45. (fyi...side gap experiment coming up!). I've never heard thunderbike, so can't comment. My scoot gets me to the speed limit quickly and quite nicely with no complaints from me or cages around me! One of these days I going to get a real dyno to compare to butt dyno.
Wow ! So i guess i CAN leave my airbox mods and jetting in ! I woulda never guessed. It doesn't seem to make sense because america stock pipes with one baffle removed and the next having holes drilled shouldn't be un-resticted enough for that setup i'd have thought. But if you're doing it i guess i'm wrong. Anyone else done this and modded the box and jetted similar? By the way, i know it's not easy to put it accuratly in words, but how much louder would you say they are over stock? I want the rumble but not too much volume.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
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I know what you mean about the restriction issue. I've tried to keep a balance between fuel, air and exhaust mods. My gut feel tells me I'm too restricted on the exhaust side, and I've got a drill bit extension to put a hole or two in the last(?) baffle, BUT, I'm afraid they may be too loud. So, I'm leaving well enough alone for now. How much louder than stock? Well, stock from the dealer I couldn't hear much of anything. The very first thing I did was taking out the first baffle. Sound was not good, and then as I messed with jets, airbox, needles and baffles, it started sounding and running better, so I just kept going. Not too scientific...but it runs pretty good. I think I've got just about the right "rumble and volume" I've wanted, if I'll just leave it alone!
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I've been monkeying with my America for 12,000 miles, now. I removed 2 baffles, 130/45 for a few months. Went back to stock 42 pilots. After almost getting run over again (Tallahassee is a college town), I removed third baffle, installed TBS needles, and recently drilled airbox. I ride with earplugs, anyway, because of wind-in-helmet noise. 2 baffles out, as many have described, is deep and throaty, louder, but not obnoxious. 3rd baffle out added some bark, and of course, much louder. Especially at full throttle. Now, I have to take it easy in my neighborhood so the neighbors will still wave at me. Its still not ridiculous-Harley-straight-pipe loud.
The biggest performance gain for me was realized after removing the 3rd baffle. Right now, I've got 130 mains, 42 pilots, 3 1/2 turns out, 3 baffles out, no snorkle ('05s don't have the internal snorkles), and I drilled two 1" holes in bottom of airbox and connected them leaving 3/8" or so of material around perimeter of filter base. I've never had a large enough block of time to really fine-tune everything, but it runs pretty good. Time for my 12,000 mile valve check, I'll do it then. Wish I knew more about what I was doing. It's fun, though.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Hey Dale
I have short Triumph off road pipes and removed the last (visible end) baffles on each side using a 1 3/4" hole saw.
Sounds good but not too noisy - certainly no louder than nearly every Harley on the road! (or a certain Polish guy over here with Epcos who is currently holidaying in his homeland!!  )
In September, I have to put the old pipes back on for the government MOT test (roadworthyness) and while they're off, I'm considering drilling holes in the front baffles - just to see what happens
Either putting a large hole saw down or removing the end baffles completely gives a nice sound, is what I'm saying.
Edit: It didn't screw up the running of the bike either (jetting etc).
Last edited by Adey; 07/21/2006 7:31 PM.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I knocked out all four on my america...I loved the 3 out but was forced to knock the 4th out becuase I found a crack in my 4th baffle after removing the 3rd. But 3 gone sounds great! perfect I must say...its deep...sounds like it should....easy way to do it is this. a 2ft pice of rebar, sharpen the edge of one side. wrap duck tape on the other end so u dont hurt ur hand, and use a heavy mallet. the baffles are tack welded in...so look down with a flash light and place the sharp end of the rebar in the corner bang away and just move around the circle...dont bother with the holesaws...
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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It is hard to describe. two baffles removed from the long TBA slashcuts will give you double the sound. That is equal to about 1/2 the thump of T-bike or Epco. Meaning the aftermarkets are way louder.
Pipes are a matter of preference. I would ride one with Epco or t-bike pipes to the bar or to the store but would never take a trip on one. Way too much noise for me.
A rock band on a stage in a bar vs. your stereo in your house.
I drilled mine, did a K&N filter, threw away the snorkels and did 130 mains and a 45 pilots. Runs great and never a pop on decel. When I twist it you can hear it coming and at idle has a nice little tone to it. Sounds as much like the old triumphs as the firing order will allow. Volume is the same at least.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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OP
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This is sounding pretty good. Now i have to think about whether i want to do it or not because i'm sure i'll lose a good deal of power over the TB pipes.
by the way, has anyone done this and then gone to TB pipes, and if so how much power do you lose with de-baffled stockers compared to TB pipes, and how many baffles did you knock out?
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
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Do all America's have 4 baffles? I thought there were only 3, so I may just have to go ahead and punch out another baffle!
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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yeah mine had 4 baffles plus the 1 inch condensor at the front of the silencerleave that bad boy in sir..and ur prolly better off with only 3 baffles out
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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OP
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"1" condenser"? Would that be a reducer? If so, I wonder if that may be the key to getting aftermarket performance out of stock pipes. the reason i say that is i made a pair of reducers that went down to about an inch or so for my thunderbike pipes and they just killed the performance. I took them out right away.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Daz- The first thing in the header end is a tapered reducer that goes down to 1" in diameter. I assumed that was in there for back pressure. After all this discussion, I decided to totally gut my spare set of pipes and make some other type of baffle system. Was thinking of a pipe with holes in it that was small enough in diameter to go past the screw bosses for the hangers. Those 2 little nubs sticking into the inside of the pipe are all thats in there besides the stock baffle setup.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Quote:
Daz- The first thing in the header end is a tapered reducer that goes down to 1" in diameter. I assumed that was in there for back pressure. After all this discussion, I decided to totally gut my spare set of pipes and make some other type of baffle system. Was thinking of a pipe with holes in it that was small enough in diameter to go past the screw bosses for the hangers. Those 2 little nubs sticking into the inside of the pipe are all thats in there besides the stock baffle setup.
In the header? or in the beginning of the muffler? Is it an america or speedy and what year? I'm curious because my headers never had anything like that. But like i said i made reducers and they just killed the performance big time. But if you saw these in the header, this would keep even aftermarket pipes much less beneficial in power gains. This has me scratching my head. I can only think they are in certain models/years only, but even then why have i never heard of this before? Did you buy the bike used? If so maybe the former owner installed them?
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Nope...the reducer is in the begining of the mufflers, take off the muffler and look in the side that ( connects) to the headers, you should see a 1" reducer. It goes gradually from 1 3/4" into a 1" hole. If you clear everything...theres no real backpressure...what stage are u at right now and what are u thinking about doing?
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Nope...the reducer is in the begining of the mufflers, take off the muffler and look in the side that ( connects) to the headers, you should see a 1" reducer. It goes gradually from 1 3/4" into a 1" hole. If you clear everything...theres no real backpressure...what stage are u at right now and what are u thinking about doing?
I made the reducers for my thunderbike pipes. I have 130's, TBSw/1 shim, UNi, drilled, snorkel removed. The reducers killed it. I never noticed reducers in the stock pipes, but if thats the case i gotta wonder it thats a big part of the restirction because like i said the reducers i put in the TB pipes killed the performance in a huge way. I lost everything from low to high probably 30%. Bike felt like it went from 60 HP to 45 or 50.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I still cannot believe you find the Thunderbike pipes to be "high volume"
I have had mine on since around 500 miles and they do not seem at all loud....even at highway speeds they seem very unobtrusive to me.
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Maybe there are different versions, who knows. Do you set off car alarms even as much as 50 feet way? Mine does all the time. It's louder than a old 70's triumph i saw with no mufflers, just headers. I watched the guy pull while standing about 10 feet from him. Mine is easily louder.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Mine are nowhere near that loud.
I just rode over a thousand miles this weekend with no earplugs and my ears do not ring at all.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Quote:
Mine are nowhere near that loud.
I just rode over a thousand miles this weekend with no earplugs and my ears do not ring at all.
Well, i don't know whats going on then. I can't assume because your's are older that mine were redesigned because clanrickarde says his aren't loud and they're new. So i'm a bit confused, especially considering i packed mine almost to the end of the baffle tube about 6-8" from the header junction and they're a bit quieter than stock ! Whatever the reason, this would explain why i'm always seeing people say the TB's are about in the middle yet mine seem loud as hell to me. By the way, 1k miles?! geez, you must have one of them iron butts !
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Quote:
By the way, 1k miles?! geez, you must have one of them iron butts !
It's sunny and mild out today....and I drove my car to work. What's that tell ya about this old skinny butt. I'm doing a lot of walking and standing today. 
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Heck Pat, I'm 46... did 218 miles yesterday and I can barely walk today!
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Is there a diagram of the inside of the pipes anywhere? I'm confused as to what I have left in my pipes.
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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I dont know of any diagrams but the stock pipes on my 04 TBA had a mesh with fiberglass in it covering the inside walls of the pipes and 4 baffles which are the walls with a pipe going through it. and at the very front of the pipe there is a reducer or something like it that brings the 1 3/4 inch pipe down to a 1 inch hole. It gradually does this within a few inches. Dont remove that. My pipes with 4 baffles removed, if u look through the front of the pipe towards the back you shouldnt see anything else than the one inch reducer just at the front.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Is there a diagram of the inside of the pipes anywhere? I'm confused as to what I have left in my pipes.
I remember seeing one somewhere....
I'll have a look
Found it!!!
Diagram
It helped me....hope it helps others.
Last edited by GinaS; 08/08/2006 5:05 PM.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Thanx Gina. Thats the one I was thinking of. I think there is actually 1 more of those baffels than the diagram shows. ItInstalian has been in the pipes so he could verify.
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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I do concurr...haha I always wanted to say that
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Adjunct
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I had 4 baffles inside my 05 america stock pipes, the tubes were offset like the diagram
some times the light's all shining on me
other times I can barely see
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Found it!!!
Diagram
It helped me....hope it helps others.
Good job Gina. I was lookin for that same thing but got lost in the massive forrest of info.
Erwin
05 America
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Yeah...I remember seeing a link somewhere....tried to do a search on here, but after 15 minutes gave up. I knew it was a site by an Aussie member, so did an advanced search on Yahoo.... et voila!
It helped me when I wanted to take the back baffle out of mine, and I'm sure the man behind it wanted to help us all....
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel...
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel...
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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I just banged out #3 baffle. My #4 baffle has 3, 3/4" holes drilled in it. I figured I would leave that for backpressure. Sounds gggGGGGrrrreeeeaaaatt. I need to run it a bit so I can feel it out. I'll keep updating.
Finally, I know whats in my pipes. I had no idea the "walls" I was refering to were actually baffles. Big dummie.
Last edited by Reido113; 08/09/2006 2:45 PM.
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Removing the 3rd baffle was definatly the ticket! Bike sounds awesome. Performance just shot up too. Big time. Now if I could just find this darn backfire. It carried over with me. (It's not new because of my 3rd baffle coming out.) http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...p;page=0#134924
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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you mess with your pilots or needles yet?
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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I've got the "Off Road Triumph Silencers", secondary air plugged, carbs drilled and I STILL have the popping on decleration-but not all the time. The dealer has looked it over and they can't find it.
My theory is this is similar to the cars of the '70's when emission controls first came in-a real half-****** effort. All sorts of wierd stuff used to happen. I had a '74 Mazda rotary pickup and sometimes you could turn it off and walk away-about 50 feet in a parking and it would backfire like crazy. SOmething like that could get you killed these days.
On the bike I try not to close the throttle completely on decel-just open enough to prevent the popping until I pull in the clutch. It does take away some of the glamor of a beautiful bike-like being out with a beautiful woman who, uh , has gastric issues at the most awkward time.
Redbike7
2006 America
No amount of skill can overcome gross stupidity. Ask me how I know...never mind, I forgot...
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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Man... all of this is putting me in such a conundrum! Drill the baffles (which I don't feel mechanically inclined enough to do)... buy T-Bike pipes which some folks think are too loud (which I don't want). Dammit, I'm gonna have to quite reading this dad gum exhaust forum... I am sooo confused.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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I went back and opened that diagram again and listened to the pipes the guy had fixed up down under. Now those pipes sound AWESOME!!! Better than any I've heard in the product reviews forum. I'd love to know if they would accept pipes shipped to them from the US for modification... I think I'll send them a note asking.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: question about de-baffling america pipes
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Learned Hand
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The board in my studio is apart right now being repaired, but in about a week I will post audio of my pipes minus 3 baffels and 3 holes in the only remaining baffle. They sound like a real motorcycle now. And I liked them with 2 baffles, but this is the icing on the cake.
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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