 The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Granted this is fairly subjective and there are probably very few that have heard all or even most of these but I think we can get a pretty rough scale going. I'm starting this from a few different threads. I propose two subjective measures, overall loudness and sound quality, a 1-10 scale from rappy/barky to deep/thunderous. And this is all subjective and relative and we'll never have 100% agreement, but I think we can get close. Also, this is not a contest. Not everybody wants loud pipes just like not everybody wants quiet. If there's a tie we'll put them on the same line. Loudest to Quietest (with sound quality rank in parentheses): Non-Baffled: Straight pipes, no baffles, e.g. fishtails (5) Thunderbike, no baffles (8) Sceptres, no baffles (8) Specialty Spares, no baffles (9) Epco, no baffles (2) D&D, no baffles (4) Bubs, no baffles (6) Aftermarket: Thunderbike (8) Sceptres (8) Specialty Spares (9) Epco (2) D&D (4) Bubs (6) Factory: Short TORs, gutted (6) Long TORs, gutted (6) Stock pipes, completely gutted (7) Stock pipes, 2 baffles drilled (8) Stock pipes, 1 baffle drilled (7) Short TORs (6) Long TORs (6) Stock pipes (4) Discuss (civilly, please). Feel free to reorder, mix and match, etc. Don't get your panties in a bunch when someone disagrees with you. I've heard all of these, I think, but rarely together, so this initial list is just a shot in the dark. Personally I think my Specialty Spares slashcuts (with worn baffles) are some of the loudest pipes around, but don't hold a candle to fishtails. That said, I like the deeper sound of the SS over the fishtails. Also, I've currently got factory pipes split out. That's probably the biggest gap I have in my listening experience. I've only ever heard 2 baffles drilled out of stock pipes, so totally gutted pipes could be the loudest thing out there. Lastly, if someone has access to a db meter and wants to take it to the next large gathering for some informal testing, that would be most excellent. And it would settle most disputes that are sure to crop up in this discussion. 
Last edited by FriarJohn; 07/13/2011 2:40 PM.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Good meaasure of where I sit, so to speak with pipes. I wonder if there are different TORs though. I have long slash cut TORs for my EFI Speedmaster that seem quite loud. They are straight through with baffles around the circumference. The way the TORS are referred to, you'd think they were relatively quiet. I beg to differ, even with custom earplugs they are more than loud enough. I'd love to know how these pipes measure up with the new impending SAE J2825 tests that will be coming to some jurisdictions. CLICKY H.
2010 Speedmaster Black/New England White
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Thx for giving my Thunderbike's such a high rating. I ordered a set for my Trophy and the Kiwi's are giving me a a good deal because I was the first one to buy thier Speedmaster pipes in either North America or Canada I can't remember which. You are probably one of the only people on this forum who has heard all of these pipes so I trust your rating. 
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Again, it's not a value judgment and it's not a contest. Loudest doesn't work for everyone. This is more about the characteristics of each set of pipes.
Freedom has a set of Thunderbikes for his Speedmaster but they won't fit on his bike with the Voyager trike kit. I guess I'll be paying more attention to bike exhausts this weekend in Nelson.
I may have to filter all the no-baffle pipes towards the top. I'm pretty sure all of those pipes without baffles would be similarly loud.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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If Fredom's pipes are a length problem maybe they will swap him for a set of shorties. I have a set of the stock 2003 Shotgun's and shorty slash cut offroad quiet version. Had a set of the short offroad loud version but they were just obnoxious so I sold them. Freedom if you are listening drop me a line maybe we can work something out.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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He had his stock pipes cut down. He said he's hanging on to the Thunderbike pipes.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Quote:
I may have to filter all the no-baffle pipes towards the top. I'm pretty sure all of those pipes without baffles would be similarly loud.
Yeah, I'm thinkin' the same thing. Our SSs without baffles are in effect, straight pipes.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Slash cut stock is louder than tapered cut to long cannons (both gutted completely except the reducer) and the short slash cut JC Whitney are louder than both.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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One of the reasons I bought the Bubs (way back when) was because someone, here, mentioned that the Bubs were tuned for our bikes.
I do know the tone of the Bubs is far better & deeper than the TORs. They also have more "bark" than TORs. They should be rated at least a 7, if not an 8.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Remember the idea is that more bark would be a lower number.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Massaged the list a bit. Reorganized is more like it. I'm guessing that any of the pipes without any baffles at all would be similarly loud. Just on the loudness scale they may all be the same volume. Where there could be a difference is in the tone. Certainly unbaffled fishtails are more rappy than thunder-y.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Remember the idea is that more bark would be a lower number.
Um, ok ??? 
Nevertheless, the sound quality of Bubs is certainly far better than TORs. They should be at least a 7, if not an 8 (I know the SS crowd won't like that...lol).
I can still remember odatbob complimenting me on the sound of my Bubs, on a ride from Issaquah back to Renton. He had TORs on his 07 TBA.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Interesting, I bought my Specialty Spares because I thought they had a very "throaty" sound. The only others I've been able to compare to besides stock are Bubs and TORs. I like the sound of my pipes with new re-packed baffle material the best. As the baffles age they do get more raspy at high rpms. New baffles reduce the volume a bit but don't hurt the low end growl.
Great pipes. I hope Dale gets the company going again. Mine are 6 years old with 22,000 miles on them and still look like new. I order Moose fiberglass 4-stroke muffler packing to re-pack them.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
Nevertheless, the sound quality of Bubs is certainly far better than TORs. They should be at least a 7, if not an 8 (I know the SS crowd won't like that...lol).
I think you're still missing the point. It's not a competition. Higher numbers aren't better, just different. I think I'm going to have to change the number scale to a more descriptive continuum, like "rappy, growly, neither rappy nor deep, mellow tone, deep tone, thunderous." I need a damned thesaurus...
I like Bubs, too. Almost got some after riding behind AmyLee. Then I heard Zdenko's Specialty Spares and liked them better. Doesn't mean SS is better than Bub. Just means my subjective preference is for SS. If I somehow lose both of my sets of SS pipes there's a good chance I'd buy Bubs now that SS is out of business.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I rode with a member here once and he had BUBs, great sound but too tame for me.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Quote:
Good meaasure of where I sit, so to speak with pipes.
I wonder if there are different TORs though. I have long slash cut TORs for my EFI Speedmaster that seem quite loud. They are straight through with baffles around the circumference. The way the TORS are referred to, you'd think they were relatively quiet. I beg to differ, even with custom earplugs they are more than loud enough.
I'd love to know how these pipes measure up with the new impending SAE J2825 tests that will be coming to some jurisdictions.
CLICKY
H.
Indeed there are, I have two set's of long slash TOR's. One on a 2003 America, one on a 2004 Speedmaster.They look identical but the Speedmaster is much louder and throatier.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Member
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Member
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Mine aren't on the list unless you add "short TORs, gutted, 6" cut off and wrapped with stainless tips" but I would rate the loudness as "UnGodly" or possibly "Genuinely Painful On Trips Of 20 Minutes Or More Without Ear Protection Causing My Ears To Ring For About 2 Hours" but you can edit that last bit down.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Quote:
Indeed there are, I have two set's of long slash TOR's. One on a 2003 America, one on a 2004 Speedmaster.They look identical but the Speedmaster is much louder and throatier.
Yah, I'm taking them off the bike. These are just WAY too loud for my wife and I, even with custom fitted earplugs. Just did a 2000 km trip and at the end of a 700 km day our ears were ringing. I like my hearing.
Thanks,
H.
2010 Speedmaster Black/New England White
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
Mine aren't on the list unless you add "short TORs, gutted, 6" cut off and wrapped with stainless tips" but I would rate the loudness as "UnGodly" or possibly "Genuinely Painful On Trips Of 20 Minutes Or More Without Ear Protection Causing My Ears To Ring For About 2 Hours" but you can edit that last bit down.
I'm going to go with the "unbaffled anything" category here. 
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Staintunes would probably be somewhere in the lower third of the unbaffled pipes - but that's a guess. Sound quality would be a 7 or 8. Build quality would be a 10.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Member
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Member
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Quote:
Quote:
Mine aren't on the list unless you add "short TORs, gutted, 6" cut off and wrapped with stainless tips" but I would rate the loudness as "UnGodly" or possibly "Genuinely Painful On Trips Of 20 Minutes Or More Without Ear Protection Causing My Ears To Ring For About 2 Hours" but you can edit that last bit down.
I'm going to go with the "unbaffled anything" category here.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I used to ride with a guy (my friend in prison) who had Sceptres with no baffles and both my stock cut off long cannons with no baffles and Wendy's slash cut stock pipes with no baffles were as loud or louder than his Sceptres.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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I suppose there are only so many ways you can shape the sound coming out of an empty tube.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
Staintunes would probably be somewhere in the lower third of the unbaffled pipes - but that's a guess. Sound quality would be a 7 or 8. Build quality would be a 10.
Do staintunes have baffles? Are you saying they're as loud as unbaffled?
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Mine aren't on the list unless you add "short TORs, gutted, 6" cut off and wrapped with stainless tips" but I would rate the loudness as "UnGodly" or possibly "Genuinely Painful On Trips Of 20 Minutes Or More Without Ear Protection Causing My Ears To Ring For About 2 Hours" but you can edit that last bit down.
I'm going to go with the "unbaffled anything" category here.
Okay, I have a new category for you: "Custom." 
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
Quote:
Staintunes would probably be somewhere in the lower third of the unbaffled pipes - but that's a guess. Sound quality would be a 7 or 8. Build quality would be a 10.
Do staintunes have baffles? Are you saying they're as loud as unbaffled?
I am not sure you guys are meaning the same thing when you say "unbaffled". I make mufflers - all kinds, from performance systems to truck and generator mufflers.
A baffle is a plate which blocks the gas flow within the muffler. The plate has a restrictive hole which the gas must pass through.
Stock Mufflers
Stock mufflers have a series of these plates and chambers. Usually these mufflers do not have any packing (fibreglass or stainless wool) but rely totally on the series of chambers and restrictions for silencing. The gas follows a circuitous route as opposed to a direct path.
Gutted mufflers (that were baffled)
So when you totally gut a stock muffler you effectively have an un-silenced exhaust system. There is no longer any baffle plates and no packing. The empty barrel will affect the tone but otherwise it is the same as pipes with no muffler at all.
Straight Through Mufflers
These aftermarket mufflers have no baffle plates and no restrictions. The gas flows in a direct path but the tube inside the muffler is perforated and has packing (fibreglass or stainless wool) between the perf and the outer case. This system has a silencing affect as some of the gas (and sound and pressure waves) pass into the packed chamber. This is the arrangement on most aftermarket pipes. These do not have baffles. So when you say "un-baffled" you are including these mufflers.
There are also combinations of muffler design which include baffles, packing and chambers but don't really apply to this discussion.
As a side note on sound: fibreglass packing will give a deeper note than stainless wool. But stainless wool never degrades while fibreglass will need to be replaced every 2-3 years and your exhaust note (tone and volume) will change as the glass degrades. I don't recommend domestic grade fibreglass as it is not heat rated, is not in a long strand and will degrade much faster and blow out.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Thanks for the distinction and explanation.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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How would this list look if the sub-categories were eliminated?
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Not much different. I'm guessing that any debaffled pipe is going to be louder than the loudest baffled pipe. Factory pipes (unmodified or slightly modified) are probably going to be quieter than just about any other pipe. Problem is a lot of this is subjective.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Oh, and add to that the same pipes made in different batches might be the same. Like Keith's Specialty Spares from the last batch are way louder than older Specialty Spares.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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I have long slash cut gutted stock and short TORs..guess someone is going to have to send me some BUBs and Specialty Spares and the others AND I will test them out and let you know... I will be waiting for FedEx or UPS truck  Its just me I guess but even with the gutted stock exhaust EVEN the wind noise is LOUDER then the exhaust when I wear a half helmet!! So I am confused when people say that TORs are WAY TOO LOUD 
Are we there YET? I gotta go pee!!
08 SpeedMASTER, Black and Red!
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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I installed long TORS slash cuts on my 2010 America. If these are only 1 step above stock, I can't imagine how loud these other pipes must be. The TORS are plenty loud enough for me.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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I had long TOR slash cuts on my 2002 america - and I found them to be very tame - there must be different variants or something - with varied baffling.....as soon as I was in 3rd gear (going fast enough to bein 3rd gear) - the wind drowned out the pipes completely (with a half helmet).
with the 20" helix turnouts, I can hear the pipes all the way through 5th - unless it gets extra windy for some reason.
...you're gonna feel a little pressure....
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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I wear either a full helmet or a 3/4 helmet as well as custom ear plugs. I can hear the TORS at any speed. They are as loud as most Harleys IMHO.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Chuck, have you changed or eliminated the airbox at all? When I put K&N pods on my first bike my short TORs really woke up at full throttle. Even now, with TORs on my second bike and only a drilled airbox with the snorkel removed, the TORs have a nice growl to them at full throttle. But I would never say they were Harley loud. Now the Specialty Spares, I call those loud (but not the loudest of course).
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Where do Staintunes fit in all this? I saw no mention of them 
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Never heard them that I can remember. I'll have to rely on someone else' input.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Well I'm running a set on my traveling bike and at cruise they are very quiet with a nice civilized growl on accel. They are of complete Stainless construction and seem well built. Almost identical in noise level to the short TOR slashcuts they replaced, evidently they flow better than TOR s as I had to jet to 130 s and I'm still a froghair lean. Evidently they aren't that popular or more folks would be running them. Surprised to learn that.
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Re: The Official Exhaust Loudness Scale Thread
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Air box removal definately changes the sound. I can hear my pipes and Wendys too in front of me when I ride with no helmet but put my 1/2 helmet on and the wind noise drowns them out at highway speeds. We both run straight pipes as I stated before. When I wear my 1/2 helmet if I don't wear ear plugs I can't hear at the end of the ride.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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