Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust Trident or Bubs

I'm trying to decide between Trident and Bub pipes for my America. I was wondering if any of you guys that have them could give me an idea if the Tridents are louder or about the same as Bubs. I heard the clips on here, and they sound sweet. But just don't want to rattle windows in town

Cannot comment on Tridents but I do know I was very fond of BUBS on my 07 America-great tone to my ear and just loud enough.

Thanks King. I figured I'd like the Bubs. Tridents seem similar in volume. I like that you can add and remove some baffles to "control" loudness.
I had a dealer tell me straight pipe type pipes on 900cc bikes would screw with the back pressure. Do you notice anything with your bubs?

Stranger - we did a lot of dyno testing and with stock tune you will need some baffles in to make it work well ..

shouldn't need a baffle as much as some sort of small reducer to give you some back pressure , can call it a baffle if you want but it isn't really. I forget what the proper name for it is but it is a cone so the engine breathes properly.

If I rejet and change the airbox set up from stock to a FREAK or something like that. Back pressure shouldn't be an issue at all right?

wrong, you still need some so you don't lose your bottom end torque. You don't need much the pipe can basicly be open but you need a little.

So if I keep the baffle in that makes them "legal"...then I should be ok? Or would I have to do some sort of packing and configuring??

yes just keep it as we ship it (with the baffle fitted) and you are good to go

Baffle is the wrong word really but it's what everyone recognises - we actually use a reverse cone wrapped with absorption material so it gives some back pressure and reduces sound but still gives good flow and power...

Outstanding! Thank you guys.
I appreciate the help. I'm sure I'll need some more help when it comes time for rejetting and air box mods. But for now I'll get the pipes on my conquest for my perfect bike.

It is awesome to see this website and forum all set up for Americas and Speedmasters.

I had Bubs on my 07 TBA and loved them. As I have said before, there is a thread somewhere here where one of the more experienced members stated that the Bubs were supposedly tuned for our bikes. They did sound great whether I was cruising some back road or going down the highway.

I never rejetted with the Bubs and the bike seemed to run just fine. I did buy some new plugs and jets and was planning on tinkering a little last Spring, but unfortunately I had my accident. I have been bikeless since then, although I do have lots of bits & pieces for an 07 TBA in my garage.

It sounds like the Tridents are just as good. So get whatever tickles yer fancy, report your feedback here and have fun with them this summer!

No such thing as tuned for our bikes unless you don't change anything else and everyone lives at the same elevation. As I have said before a lean engine will run very well sometimes even better than a properly tuned engine but while it's running so well damage is being done valves burning away and such. Just because an engine seems to run OK doesn't mean it's tuned or jetted right.

Well Ian, then go argue with the more experienced biker who stated it. I forget who it was and don't have the time to find the link. But you didn't say anything back then.

If you are going to be touchy maybe you shouldn't give advice that you don't know the mechanics behind then.

Weather a person needs to re-jet or not depends on many variables. Elevation, what if any baffles are in the pipes, and any modifications to the intake side. There are others but those are the basics. This is why I rarely give a jet size needed but rather a range and hopefully explain well enough so the person can tune it in themselves. Same with the pilot , instead of saying they need a 45 I say if they end up 3 turns or more out with the stock pilot then they should move up a size. If they can get it dialed with the stock pilot then there is no need for them to put in a larger one. Same thing with the main but there is no screw the person has to change them until they find the right one. I will usually try and give a good starting point and often point to the jet calculator since they can plug in the info and get a good starting point. And even then that is what it is, a starting point, sometimes it's right on sometimes a little rich depending on where the person lives and other small differences in the bike they own.

Ian, as you know I have the Bubs. Before I got 'em, I talked
at length with their tech guys. These pipes were developed
for a 790 BA. They are not a one-size-fits-all pipe.

I think my dyno from NH speaks for itself regarding the gains
these pipes give with just a UNI filter, and re-jetting.
45/135, 1 shim on stock needles. I think it runs even better
after I adjusted the valves.

Uncle Charlie

Edit: AI and snorkle removed

I understand Charlie and you did have really good numbers. The pipes were made for our bikes yes but to say that that means you can slap them on and not do any other adjustments is incorrect. I was speaking to no adjustments needed, as you know the main and pilots need to be done to dial in the A/F mixture. I guess they were tuned for our bikes but that's symantics, to say tuned for our bikes means they are tuned to work well with our bikes once everything is jetted correctly.

With proper set-up, these pipes run pretty good. That's all.