Quiet Exhast Options

[SteveM]

Hi all, I'm currently in France heading for Alpe D'huez but have noticed that my exhaust note is annoyingly loud on long stints at motorway speeds 130 - 150 Kmh.
At home just riding around its not so noticeable, but after 850 kilometres on Monday I was left wishing it was way quieter. The exhaust is completely standard ('11 plate GSA) except it's been de-catted and had the flap removed. I'm sure the packing is slowly breaking down in the end can making it louder, but I'm not sure if it's possible to repack - I don't think it is.
When I get home I'm going to get a new tailpipe and headers if need be.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a really quiet system? I'm not concerned about any potential power loss due to quietness. Cheers, Steve.

 

[Rocketman]

Ear plugs could be your friend ,have great trip

 

[TLSgazza]

As above, well fitting earplugs. Mine is decatted with standard end can and I find it loud without plugs in,

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

There won't be any packing in the stock exhaust, it will be a proper resonance silencer. Maybe a can from an older none exhaust flap will be quieter? They were made to meet noise regs without the assistance of the exhaust valve. Putting the cat and flap back in would quieten it down a bit as well. Other than that as others have said, earplugs should be used on long trips.

 

[Martyn H]

Put it back to standard, & I'm sure you'll notice a real difference in sound volume.

 

[SteveM]

Thanks guys. Earplugs are the immediate solution. I'm probably looking at a problem that doesn't exist whilst in the UK. But of course I do love taking my bike on holiday to France every year. Maybe I'll get some decent earplugs at home just for my annual holidays - a cheap fix

 

[kyrano]

Loud exhausts saves lives

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on? Bluetoothing music gives me the same concerns!

For me, no earplugs, no music, no phones and as above loud bikes save lives!

 

[tspivey]

Are you sure the annoying noise is the exhaust? I have 2011 TC with standard set up and when I'm riding it I think it's the air box/induction area that gives of a droning noise that gets on my wick. I seem to remember reading something years ago about a sporty noise being designed in that could be modified/removed by fitting an earlier box or cutting out some baffle or something. Never had it to bits to look though.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on? Bluetoothing music gives me the same concerns!

For me, no earplugs, no music, no phones and as above loud bikes save lives!

If they don't use their eyes they won't use their ears.

I hope you enjoy your deafness later in life. I hear tinnitus can be a lot of fun!

 

[bikemad]

If they don't use their eyes they won't use their ears.

I hope you enjoy your deafness later in life. I hear tinnitus can be a lot of fun!

Good post I realised years ago that on 2-3 hour rides I'd feel very fatigued then after trying ear plugs solved the issue,I cannot understand the igronant don't or won't wear them brigade it's your hearing you only get it once !

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

Thank you all very much for your concern, despite spending my working life in a very noisy and dangerous industry my hearing is still better than most.

I have a solution to the noisy bike problem.

 

[Guigsy]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on?

Try it, you'll be surprised how much more you can hear of what's going on around you if your ears aren't being overwhelmed. Plus most earplugs have some degree of selective filtering so they knock out the low pitch thump of exhausts and wind turbulence more than the mid range stuff that's actually useful.

 

[TLSgazza]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on? Bluetoothing music gives me the same concerns!

For me, no earplugs, no music, no phones and as above loud bikes save lives!

You need to listen to my tinnitus, then you'd want to wear earplugs before you get it as bad, plus because of it I am getting deafer all the time, earplugs for me, what exactly is it that you think you need to hear while you are riding your bike, all I need is the Sat nav telling me where to go.

 

[stanley]

I have tinnitus; it's dreadful :-\
Caused by noisy working environments and bikes mainly. Not wearing earplugs for anything other than a local potter about is just stupid.


Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on? Bluetoothing music gives me the same concerns!

For me, no earplugs, no music, no phones and as above loud bikes save lives!

What are you fucking talking about! Loud pipes save lives eh? What a load of old horse shit and just imagine what a bit of training could do.......

 

[Pukmeister]

Loud pipes just annoy people.

I've removed my end can and put the standard BMW one on due to excess noise when touring plus annoying my neighbours on the early morning start-up.

I'm no worse off than before, the cars didn't see me then or now.

 

[DING-DONG]

My TC has keihan decat headers and Akro end can with baffle still fitted and after some long days last week touring and a stint of 790 miles splash n dash home, my ears are still ringing, I never learn

 

[Neil W]

Always found my gsa tc too noisy as standard with the drone of the exhaust. I fitted a MIVV titanium pipe (with the baffles left in ) it was much quieter than standard, lighter and with no loss of performance

 

[E. Buygum]

Riders using earplugs on bikes concern me, how can you hear what's going on? Bluetoothing music gives me the same concerns!

For me, no earplugs, no music, no phones and as above loud bikes save lives!

Over a certain speed you can't hear what's going on in any case. I'm not a fan of music or phones on a bike either but, trust me, tinnutis is feckin horrible and the wind noise in a typical helmet is enough to bring it on over the years and miles. Always wear sunscreen, always wear earplugs.