Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust Need your opinions on pipes

My buddy (Kevin) and I both bought new 05 speedmasters in February. I immediately put EPCO's on my bike and I love them. Kevin is finally tired of the sewing machine sound of his bike and is now ready to put on some aftermarket pipes. He doesn't like the sound of my EPCO's (thinks they're too raspy and makes my bike sound like a Harley). Oh well to each his own.

He is looking for a tighter sound with more bass. He keeps saying he wants a sound like the sound of the old 60's and 70's Triumphs or Nortons (used to own a '73 Commando).

Anybody got any ideas of which pipes he should be looking at? About the only thing he does not want to do is drill his stock pipes because he wants to keep them intact.

Thanks,
Vance

Vance,
IMO, the hunt for the 'old sound' is like hunting for the Holy Grail. Ya just ain't gonna do it.

The closest you'll get in aftermarket pipes is the Thunderbikes and EPCOs. I believe the biggest issue is the firing order and OHCs and not the pipes. I believe that "tighter" sound of the old triumphs is because of the 360 firing order. I've got several sets of doctored / altered Triumph pipes and the answer isn't there either. I'll agree with your friend and not drill out his intact set. I keep a set for 'just-in-case' purposes. Oh, and if you friend can stand the noise level and can get them dialed in - A straight set of drag pipes will get closer to "that" sound - However, for some reason, totally gutted silencers do not. Again, IMO - totally gutted silencers only sound like fart megaphones...

Thunderbikes would be the alternative to Epcos if he does not like the Epcos. The T-bikes add a nice mellow sounding low bass note to the bikes. Not too loud and yet not weak ......the bikes sound like a Triumph ought to sound after installation.

After about 6K miles on mine I am very used to the exhaust note and find it to be as near to perfect as it can be.

I do occasionally have a time or two that I wish I had a pair of Scepters just to make sure when I park at my favorite night spot the Harley riders get an opportunity to turn and hear the beast. But , hey they look anway.

Gotta couple sets of stock pipes cheap!
He can grab a set and then play with them all he wants!

i 2nd the thunderbike pipes

Frank

3 baffels out of a stock pipe is something like that from what i understand.

I like the sound of my BUBs. Haven't heard any others yet
that I like better. Looking forward to the NorEast Rally so
I can hear a vast assortment.

Uncle Charlie

The sceptres have a deeper rumble than anything else I have heard. They don't have the rasp of the epcos or D&Ds (I haven't heard the Thunderbike pipes). They do up the volume a bit (okay, alot!). They are high quality and have a great sound. If the volume is a bit much for you you can order two different inserts to tone things down a bit.

There are replicas of the old Dunstall pipes available on ebay for ~ $120. I have not heard them but may get some just to try them out. Make sure you get them for a 1.75" header pipe. Dunstalls gave all my old Triumphs/BSAs a Quiet - deep throated sound.

Tell your friend to accept the new sound. The old Trumpets not only had the 360 degree crank, they had 2-valve heads. The raspy sound is a 4-valve signature. It's the price you pay for progress. I've never heard one, but I bet the TSS Bonnevilles sound alot like ours.

hey take a look at these.. web page

i have them on my bike....


they look and sound very good on the bike and give that old school look and the sound is very close to that old triumph sound..
also i did not like the clamp system they use so i just ground it off and use the same clamp that triumph use to hold the exhaust...

BIKER

And the added benifit to Ed's pipes is that I can hear him start his bike when he's coming over to visit me. He lives about 10 miles away too.

Sceptres. If too loud, add the insert and adjust to your taste.

I can't imagine anything sounding better than my Septres... You can even quiet them down if you like... Tuneable pipes... Septres are my vote.

try J.C.WHITNEY
but i like my sceptres

I like my specialty spares long cannon,deep and throaty.Pull the baffle and let roar. Then,I put them back in!

The Thunderbike pipes are great I have even had comments from mates who ride Harleys saying that they sound great...

Duck
PFFP