Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust How necessary to modify exhaust on new bike?

All,

I'm "newbie" about to buy a Triumph (either America or Speedmaster). In other forum, someone commented "don't even think about leaving without a new exhaust... you won't hear the engine over 55mph".

Just wondering, what is your feedback on needing a new exhaust rather than the factory installed? All mods I do will be at shop/dealer, so I imagine expensive. Why would I need a replacement exhaust system on a new bike? There's always "better" mods of course, but really almost a necessity?

Other than specialized exhaust giving a different "experience" like better growl, maybe some increased HP, is there really any very compelling reason to NEED one? Big negatives keeping the standard factory?

Hey, honestly, I'm not rich and not a fanatic (yet).

THANKS>..

You need to remove the air injection system (A.I.) first thing. After that its personal preferance. I removed the last baffle plate and drilled one 1/2 inch hole in the next one and it sounds just right to me.

That quoet is from me. I rode for 6 months with the stock exhaust. I've changed several things on the bike and they all helped the way I feel riding on a motorcycle. When I changed the exhaust so I could hear the bike, It was like,.......... AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Then I wondered why they didn't come from the factory like that to begin with. I don't think it's any louder than a stock Harley. Well maby a couple of Db's, but not obnoxious.
It doesn't sound like a TRIUMPH, with the stock pipes.
Get the bike, ride it for a while, You'll kick yourself in the but for not getting the pipes throw in with the bike loan and payed for right from the get-go. A couple of pennys a month compaired to having to come up with a few hundred all at once later on. Just my Humble Oppinion

Hey Chuckles, welcome to the treehouse.
If you want to sneak around, ghost along the road, keep the stock exhaust, it's fantastic at being quiet.
Personally I thought it made the bike sound like a sewing machine.
I feel your pain on the $$$ thing, I'm in the same boat myself (and it leaks).
Cheap and effective help is at your friendly JCWhitney catalog/website.
I got chrome 16" shorty mufflers, $40 each.
Now it sounds like a bike.
More power too. And it lightens the bike by about the weight of a case of beer.
Eventually I'll get around to rejetting, but it runs good.

So I guess the answer to your question is: Modifing the exhaust is as necessary as you want it to be.
Speed Safe.

You pretty much have to. I took out my first baffle (after my 800 km check up). What a difference. Simple thing to do with a drill and cold chisel. Also remove the ai itll keep the pipes from blueing and you wont get questions like- Is it fuel injected? does it have two spark plugs?

O7 mulberry speedmaster

Welcome Charles. I'm a firm believer in the saying "you don't know what you don't know" and just for the time being you are in the same position as many of us were when we too didn't know. Does that read right

Anyway, Now we do know, or at least we think we do a little bit more than before, and speaking from my own experience I too would have asked the same questions as yourself.

So what I suggest might be a good idea is to just spend some time reading this Exhaust section and the Performance section cos what you will find is people asking lots of similar questions which will help you understand many of the things you don't know at the moment .

In fact, hopefully since you posted your questions you will have read a bit more and just maybe will be a little bit more aware of what others have thought and then done, which hopefully would have anwered your queries.

The other factor is, it sounds like you haven't much experience yet with our bikes but after a few months in the saddle, you will more than likely be another Bonny addict, meaning like us, you will probably want to improve on what is a really good basic package.

That's what I reckon anyway.

One last thing, you say that all work to your bike will be done by your dealer. That's fine and many do but there are lots here and I'm one of them, who also thought much the same as you when they bought their bikes. Well like I said, if you read enough info on this brilliant site, slowly you will realise that many of the blokes like yourself have started slowly and taken up just some simple mechanics themselves and besides saving themselves some dough, they've found it really satisfying. Of course you need to get through the warranty period with your dealer first but after that, may I say if you can read and keep and open mind, you may be very surprised at what you CAN do. Just remember this, no question is a silly question, and if you really want to learn about your new bike then you are already on the right track by being here in the first place.

Then you will know what you don't know

cheers mate

Staffo

Yeah you may consider it nessesary if you don't like quiet bikes. I havn't knocked out my baffles yet and I can't hear the motor, I'll fix this soon. Now I did ride one once with the stock shorty TOR mufflers on it and I'll say that I couldn't hear that thing at 50mph. It makes noise at idle but not at speed. You just roll along like falling through the air. Give it a little gas and it sounds like you dumped a bucket of rocks off the back, it leaves sound behind you like puffs of smoke. Stock Harleys are like this too, my buddy says at speed he only hears the wind. I have an old Harley that makes noise in every way, its like riding in a hurricane and holding a chainsaw at the same time, the Triumph is somwhat of a releif after this, but I will make it louder though.
Also opening up the pipes and air intake gives the bike more power. Theres a lot to read on that around here.
Some say loud pipes save lives, one guy on here retorted that quet pipes are a luxery.

Guys,

Thanks A LOT for the input. This all sounds like reasonable changes. True, mods are reasonable and I can do with some help from friends with better tools, it looks like. Read through some of your great baffle mods, etc... REALLY HELPFUL. Thank you all for the effort in sharing.

What worried me was "list" new pipes in upper hundreds to $1000. I'll check what they can do that is more reasonable.

So, seems almost unanimous...
1) REMOVE AI - that really prevents 'bluing', great - I have seen that and doesn't look great.
2) MOD BAFFLES - I'm sure I can at least "open em up" some, or replace.
3) JC WHITNEY - 16" shorties $40 is extremely reasonable... I'm checking on them.

>> What is real replacement involved there? Just replacing section of tail pipe with the new pipe/mufflers? Is there a mod writeup somewhere on that? I'm searching...

ROAD TEST TOMORROW MORNING!! Visited dealer today, got very friendly treatment on Speedmaster and America, comparison, accessories. Agreed to have me come in for road test in the morning. CAN NOT WAIT! Fell in love with the 2008 2-tone blue America. I'M SALVATING!!!! Beautiful bikes.

THANKS FOLKS

Guys - I just can't find information on "removing air injection system" as modification mentioned by so many. Is it under any other terminology? Can anyone pass a link or proper search term? Just not fining it...

THANKS, Cheers

Here's a source for the kit, with instructions. It ain't hard to do at all. AI removal kit

As to the pipes, it is a personal preference, as mentioned.
Problem is, you gotta match your inflow with your outgo. You start changing pipes or gutting your stock ones and you are into rejetting, opening up your airbox, adjusting your pilot screws and on and on.

I'd ride the bike stock, read up on everything available here and elsewhere, and make your mods one at a time.

You can do a little or you can do a lot.... but ride the bike for awhile as is first. Then you can appreciate whatever each mod brings.

FOUND THIS "AI" MOD IN "HOW TO" SECTION
(Dinqua posted as forward from unknown party)

http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...age=0#Post90184

This the same as the "kit"? Seems about same cost... guess "kit" should be easier, but thanks for the work and post.

You can remove a part with the proper spanner...
You can remove a part with a pair of channel locks..
You can remove a part with a pair of vice-grips...
You can remove a part with a chainsaw...

Keep reading...

There are also cheaper AI removal kits on Ebay from time to time.

It isn't mandatory to change anything on your bike, it is all personal preference. I can tell you though the bike runs better with at least some intake and exhaust mods.

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the bike runs better with at least some intake and exhaust mods.

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Ain't that the truth, as my dealer told me, these bikes are set up to meet the STRICT European motor vehicle standards which equals "quiet,lean & most MPG possible"---seems so un-American, but then with 89 octane at about $5, some may want to stay "stock", not me, just say'n

Charles, good luck with your road test mate. I'll be interested to hear how it goes. One final thing, I agree with Deon's advice entirely when he says to just enjoy your bike as it is for a while and then change or improve one thing at a time.

This will not only give you time to learn about the different parts of your bike, but when you do any changes you will be able to compare properly the differences these changes have made and so, really be able to appreciate and enjoy them.

On the front page of BonnevilleAmerica.com there is a "Downloads" link on the left. I believe they have an article you can download that guides you through the AI removal process.

I'm in the same boat as you - just recently bought an 05 America, and the stock pipes are just way too quiet. I'll be getting a set of Triumph Off-Road Shorts (TORS), as well as having the AI removed and carbs re-jetted.

Keep in mind that as you're in California the dealer may not be able to replace the stock pipes - mine wouldn't - due to new emissions standards that came into play as of 1 Jan 08. However, they were able to recommend a good independent "bikesmith" who's doing the whole thing for me for $200.

Someday, I hope to have the space/tools/know-how to make some of these mods myself...

-Dave

The factory exhaust system is so quiet that you can hear the parts moving around inside the engine.
At one time loud pipes added a small margin of safety, but now that car makers are insulating their passenger space to the point that you can't hear a fire engine siren right on your rear bumper, and the typical car radio has an output in the 500 - 3500 watt range, that isn't necessarily so anymore.
Anything that reduces the amount of engine power used for other things than making the bike go (such as pushing out the exhaust through restrictive pipes) will increase your fuel economy. That is a good reason to change the exhaust system.
The new bikes with the "900" (865cc) engine equipped with carburetors tend to not gain very much power from exhaust changes due to changes to the valve timing to reduce emissions. So, if a person were to change the pipes on this version for the purpose of increasing power, they are bound to be disappointed unless they also change the cams. The fuel injected 865 probably doesn't have this problem, but there isn't much information available on this yet.
You may like the sound of the factory pipes, many people do, so give it a try and then decide.

Ed, in your last post your said:

Quote:

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if a person were to change the pipes on this version for the purpose of increasing power, they are bound to be disappointed unless they also change the cams

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Funny, but I have never heard that one before. I'm not saying there is no element of truth in it but to say someone who owns an 865cc will be disappointed cos: putting on K&N pods and a good exhaust with the associated jetting won't add much in gains just doesn't add up IMHO.

I mean, even comparing Martin's 865 SM with debaffled pipes, modified uni filter and 132 mains to mine on the dyno table, you can see there's at least a 6 hp and 2 ft/lbs gain.

Unfortunately we don't have a stock 865cc dyno to compare with cos then we would more than likely have even a bigger number differences.

I mean, it just cancels out all logical thinking to say a motor's potential can't be exploited by opening her up