Drilling Stock exhaust

[Kmutt]

So I have been reading alot about people drilling their stock exhausts instead of buying aftermarket pipes. I have not read much on somebody doing this on a rocket touring or a standard. has anybody got any info on this or might I be the guinea pig? The touring does not have "tips" just a center hole coming through the mufflers. Im thinking taking the mufflers off would be the way to go and than drill out some baffles but any opinions would be appreciated.

mutt

 

[xhdskip]

Have thought about it, haven't done it.
Heck, I thought about getting the rotozip out and cutting out the guts just to see what it would sound like opened up.
You wanna go first?
Don't know if just a 12 minute tune would be nescessary or if we'd need a tuneboy after this mod.
Pig9r? Flip? Tom? Dave? Anybody know the answer ?

 

[oweee]

I gutted mine out and shortened with a chop saw . Sounded very nice but too loud--would scare the ****e out of harley riders and actually hurt my ears. I put some large washers back in that had a 1.25 inch hole now its perfect----dialed her in with tuneboy.
O

 

[Baggage1]

Way back, there was a post of someone who drilled out the stock pipe with a drill on a stick. Much wadding and several holes thru 2 metal discs produced the desired sound. I understand the desire for loud but it has become more fun for this seasoned guy to ride stealth.

 

[Molinoman]

Stealth is the key...I agree.

Dennis

28 dtg Dubai
29 dtg Home

 

[HeR3tic]

I'm with you there Bob, stealthy in lieu of noise. When the Doppler effect is understood the rational for "loud pipes saves lives" looses much of it's reasoning.

Kmutt, do you have the silencer upgrade (aka, cat box replacer)? I went that route on my Tourer, not to be confused with the Touring. Great sound improvement and a lot more giddy up. I surely understand the cost difference. I believe I'd rent one of them thar safe cracker scopes and steer into the depths of the muffy innards, or a 24 inch long 1/4" drill bit and go to reaming 'er out. But if I could, I'd adapt the Touring Silencer setup on my Tourer in a heart beat.

 

[wilbur-t]

I drilled mine years ago just for fun because I had made a deal for a set of TOR's the dealer took off. Then the deal fell through. I never went for anything else because I fell in love with the way mine sounds. [Cat box removed.] Also I like the way the stock pipes look and I am a cheap SOB. There was a thread on the .com site that told how to do it and had cut-away pics of the stock silencers. Don't know about your model, though.

 

[Kmutt]

I know it can be done maybe I will be the guinea pig. I will have to make arrangements though in case I fubar the stock muffs. Im not really looking for loud....I would however like to hear the bike when at highway speed. Ill keep digging to see if anybody with a touring has done this yet.


mutt

 

[Manic_Mechanic]

Don't bother drilling the silencers unless you get the catbox eliminator. I did the eliminator first and then started drilling. You will need at least a 10 in long bit in order to get through both baffle plates.
Start with a small bit and take your time. It must be stainless cause it sure was a ***** to penetrate. Then step up to a quarter inch bit. After that it's what ever your chuck will accomodate.
Whatever you do don't drill while the engine is running or put your face back there to close cause the fiberglass that you just drilled through will make you itch like a ****** ******! I had to use packaging tape to get it all out of my skin. Loosing all my arm hair was worth it. The end result was a sound that was not too obnoxious at low revs but at speed was throaty, more like a european sports car. Still I wanted Jardines and when funds were available I got my wish. Fortunately for me another captain opted for a turbo and put his jars up for sale. Someday (harley open house in York) I'll pull the baffles out of the jars and show other riders how obnoxious it is to make needless noise.

 

[Kmutt]

Thanks MM. Still looking into this. I just had my tires replaced and now I have a high frequency vibration that wasnt there before so this should be good for a few conversations with the dealer. After this gets settled Ill be on to the exhaust. although it is prime riding season so I may just wait.

mutt