Is performance synonymous with loud?

[Rocket Tone]

Now I know this might be an unusual request. Please do not crucify me I mean no blasphemy. I have just purchased a 2005 Rocket Standard. Its incredible and has just about everything I could want to add on already there. I'm actually looking through pics of rockets to see if there's anything left to add. Well there is one thing I am wondering, there are aftermarket pipes on this bike and they sound great... But they're a bit loud.

Everything is OEM the pipes have the Triumph brand on them and has their little disclaimer about the loud sound on them but they are REALLY loud. I picked this bike up in San Diego California then drove the bike nearly 2k miles back home. A few hours into the ride I purchased a set of earplugs which did help a bunch but after I got home my ears rang for a while and my lady isn't happy with the volume we picked this bike to be a good all around bike for me and her to take rides on (and the fact that near nothing on the road can touch it didn't hurt). I don't mind some volume I love a deep powerful sounding machine, but sounding powerful and being loud to me are not always the same. I made the near pipeless Harleys I passed sound like *****cats! It also has some loud popping on heavy deceleration but I believe that is a different issue all together. (supposedly its got over 150 hp and 150 tq at the wheel last dyno years ago but I have no proof of that)

TL'DR

I have aftermarket pipes on my motorcycle and they are very loud. is there anything I can do to quiet the pipes without hurting performance any? If not, so be it. I'll take the loud pipes if it means performance gains.

Oh and the person I purchased it from did not have any of the stock gear for me to take to just put back on.

Thanks

 

[CanberraR3]

Not blasphemous at all mate; not everyone likes or wants loud. You have TOR (Triumph Off Road) pipes by the sound of it. There's probably plenty of guys who'd sell you their standard set; I know I would except shipping would be too much. I kept them in case I want to put the bike back to standard, which I now know will never happen, or if I sell it and want to chuck the original gear into the deal.

You will loose some power putting standard pipes back on, but maybe not all that much. Depends really what else has been done.

There are other options, such as Staintune, Thunderbike, Maddogs. They'll bolt straight on and probably give you a bit more go. Their sound is deeper and more mellow than TORs, but still not really quiet. You could also look at going 3 into 1; there are some quiet options there too (although mostly they're loud). You could also look at a whole new system and change out the stock header for something with better flow, starting with Jardine and then some of the more custom options. How much money you got??

The popping is quite likely due to running too lean. You might find that is fixed just by putting the standard pipes on. Otherwise, you really should have it looked at as it could be doing damage. A few options to get the mix right: Power Commander, Dobeck, Tune ECU, TuneBoy. If you put a different exhaust system on you'll most likely need to have it retuned anyway.

 

[TR3ROADSTER]

http://www.foranexhausts.com.au/

 

[TR3ROADSTER]

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhRsbeZZg0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Rocket Tone]

I like those pipes very much. i just when for a ride and maybe over reacted a bit since my last ride was so long. the pipes sound great it must Have been the time in the saddle my last trip. its loud but nothing to make me go deaf. i do want to check into the popping but that didn't happen once, only when i decelerate from high speed. Thanks for the info.

 

[xhdskip]

Rocket Tone,
Got to agree with the diagnosis.
You need to get a proper tune on it before you burn a valve.
there's several "cheap" ways to do it.
cheapest is Tune ECU, all that costs is a $16.00 cable off e-bay
and knowing how to use the computer good enough to utilize it.
Next cheapest is I'd say the Dobeck, EFI management,
that's what I use, and they give a veterans discount if that applies.
Price goes up from there.
Good luck.
oh yea, if ya want to swap your TORS out,
I've got some stock mufflers I'm not using.
Now, to your opening question, the answer is NO.
I like loud, but not everybody does, so if you want a relatively cheap mod
that will unleash "some" of the potential hidden inside your beast,
get yourself a Gi-Pro w/ATRE.
you get a nifty gear indicator and some extra UMMMPh.

 

[CanberraR3]

+1 on the GiPro + ATRE.

 

[xhdskip]

here's a couple of pictures of my exhaust.
The first one is a harley drag pipe welded on the header.
3 into 1, loud, even with the baffle installed.

Below here's a picture of my new pipes
I'm suppose to get in two days.
Not everybody's cup of tea, but hey, I like em.
can't say for sure how loud they are yet.

these are attached to a Jardine header.

and lastly,
here's a pic of the prototype's I been waiting on,
and wanting for over 2 years.
So, until these get done, I'll run the ones above
and see how I like them.
Here's a pic of the prototype mini-preds.

Still not exactly what i want, but the closest so far.
But the others are here,
and since I'm not even sure if the mini preds ever got made or not,
I'll run the triples above, and be happy for awhile.
Besides, they're one of a kind too, and cool,
an should be plenty loud, with that unique Triumph Triple sound.
Kinda old school lookin' like the rest of my bike, so it'll work out.
Hey, I'm happy with em and haven't even heard em yet.
Good luck on getting yours sorted out,
if ya end up wanting stock pipes, like I said,
I got some, I'll swap ya out.

 

[CanberraR3]

They be loud Skip. I can hear them already.

 

[xhdskip]

Wish I could Richard,
I CAN'T WAIT.
I hope Hans sees this thread,
he wanted to see the mini preds and asked me about them a week or so ago.
Can't wit till he sees what I'm getting instead, or first,
I should say, just in case the mini-preds ever do come in....
That sure is a clean motorcycle in the pics huh?
He probably washes his more than I do,
I usually try to wash mine every May,
but I missed this year, maybe next year.....